East Germany Takes to TT in Big Way

Technical textiles, which includes fabrics for architectures, auto-mobiles and parachutes, is becoming increasingly important in East Germany, according to the Association of South-East German Textile and Clothing Industry (VTI).

The textile manufacturers in Saxony and Thuringia states were among the pioneers of industrial revolution in Germany, and these states have a world-renowned high-tech industry with great tradition, the association said.

VTI said the Saxony-Thuringia region is one of the few European regions that has a complete textile chain, including spinning, weaving, knitting, home textiles, clothing nonwovens and technical textiles.

East Germany has about 260 textile and clothing companies that employ a total of about 16,000 people, with 12,000 of them in Saxony and 2,500 in Thuringia. About 45 per cent of the region´s textile production is technical textiles, while home textiles and apparel account for 30 per cent and 25 per cent share, respectively, VTI said.