• Manifesto in the Media

    Several media published interesting articles about our ‘Manifesto for Smart, Productive and Sustainable Apparel Manufacturing’ after our press release on the 15th of June. Here, you can read a selection of the articles.

  • Report by Andrew Martin about new alliances by suppliers
    Textile industry veteran and former Cascale executive Andrew Martin reports on how suppliers are building new alliances in a push to remodel how fashion’s sustainability transition is defined, financed, and governed. Read the full article here.
  • Interview Fibre2Fashion with Stefano Festa Marzotto
    President Stefano Festa Marzotto was interviewed by Fibre2fashion. They spoke about the need for stronger collaboration across the value chain. It has never been more critical than now. They also  talked about the importance of shared responsibility, fair partnerships, and long-term alignment in building a more resilient and sustainable global apparel industry.

    Read full interview: https://www.fibre2fashion.com//interviews/face2face/international-apparel-federation/stefano-festa-marzotto/14372/

  • Interview Just Style with Stefano Festa Marzotto
    Just Style interviewed Stefano Festa Marzotte about his new role at the helm of IAF as the successor of Cem Altan. An important quote by Stefano in the interview:  “If I win and you lose, both of us lose. But if we work together and find a solution that is useful for you, me and everyone in the supply chain, everyone wins. One broken part in the middle means everyone loses.”

    Read full interview: https://www.just-style.com/interviews/iaf-marzotto-respect-key-to-apparel-future/

  • IAF warns of gap between training and required skills
    In its latest survey, the International Apparel Federation (IAF) analyzed the growing gap between academic training and the fashion industry’s technological demands. The study reveals that the sector faces critical difficulties in recruiting talent in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), sustainability, and 3D digital design, while traditional manual and administrative roles are in decline.

    According to the IAF, the industry’s future success will depend largely on collaboration between companies and educational institutions to align technological innovation with the skills of new professionals. The survey addressed topics such as necessary skills, emerging job roles, the future talent shortage, the industry’s appeal, and the importance of collaboration between the business sector and education.

    Key findings include the widespread perception that Artificial Intelligence could render certain roles obsolete, although uncertainty remains regarding the extent of this displacement. While repetitive manual tasks and simple administrative functions are shifting toward digitalization and higher value-added activities, core operations like sewing continue to pose a significant challenge for physical automation.

    For Portuguese companies competing in the European market, a key takeaway is the need to accelerate the upskilling of pattern-making teams. Demand for digital pattern makers is rising, particularly for professionals capable of creating digital twins that accurately replicate the physical behavior of fabrics.

    At the same time, new roles are emerging, such as circular product designers, 3D digital designers, and specialists in automation and smart production. Conversely, traditional roles—such as manual pattern making, manual quality control, and factory-floor management based solely on conventional methods—are in decline.

    The report also identifies a gap regarding management and productivity. There is a global shortage of institutions capable of training middle managers to handle modern industrial organization concepts, such as lean manufacturing. According to survey respondents, companies also need professionals who can interpret data and transform that information into actionable insights for decision-making.

    In this context, young people entering the workforce should possess skills related to the use of advanced business intelligence tools. One solution highlighted by the survey involves the co-creation of curricula by companies and educational institutions, aligning training more closely with the industry’s specific needs.

    The IAF survey can be accessed by contacting the ATP (Textile and Apparel Association of Portugal).

    This is a translation of an article of Jornal-t (24-8-2026).

    Read the original article here: https://jornal-t.pt/noticia/iaf-alerta-para-desfasamento-entre-formacao-e-competencias-exigidas/