•Publication Date：06/13/2014
•Source： Taiwan Today
The ingenuity of Taiwan textile sector will be on display at the World Cup June 12 to July 13 in Brazil, with several teams sporting uniforms made from locally produced functional fabric, according to the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Produced using polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, recycled bottle yarns first developed by Ecomax Textile Co. Ltd. from central Taiwan’s Changhua County, the kits are re-establishing Taiwan as a key player in the global performance textile industry.
According to the MOEA, local industry heavyweights such as Eclat Textile Co. Ltd., Singtex Industrial Co. Ltd., and Super Textile Corp., account for nearly 70 percent of the global market, which is projected to grow to US$60 billion next year.
“These uniforms show how innovative Taiwan’s textile manufacturing skills have become and how far the country has progressed in its recycling technology,” the ministry added.
According to state-supported Taiwan Textile Research Institute, on average, a sports jersey uses eight recycled plastic bottles and is 13 percent lighter than those employing conventional fabrics. They also wick away sweat more effectively.
In the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa, over 13 million recycled bottles were used to produce jerseys for retailers and nine teams, including Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands and U.S.
According to the MOEA, the government has assisted the local sector in enhancing quality and added value of their functional textiles since 2008. “State-supported organizations such as Taiwan Textile Federation and TTRI also played a key role in promoting vertical integration, as well as introducing advanced technologies,” the ministry said.
These efforts have seen more than 60 local firms take part in strategic alliances turning out more than 200 new products every year for sports such as basketball, jogging, mountain climbing, skiing, tennis and yoga.
