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The Department of Industrial Technology (DOIT), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) showcased 42 groundbreaking textile innovations at the 2025 Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS) on October 14, in collaboration with six major research institutes-the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI), the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), the Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute (FTR), the Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC), and the Printing Technology Research Institute (PITRI). The exhibition highlighted Taiwan's latest achievements in digital manufacturing, circular recycling, and product innovation, underscoring the nation's strong technological capability and global competitiveness in the textile industry.
Director-General Chao-Chung Kuo of DoIT stated that although Taiwan commands more than 70% of the global functional fabric market, the industry must continue advancing toward digitalization, decarbonization, and high-value transformation to maintain its edge. The showcased innovations align with the government's net-zero, AI, and sustainability policies, while addressing trade challenges and strengthening Taiwan's position in global markets through technological breakthroughs and international collaboration.
Among the highlights was "A Slice of Shoe," Taiwan's first 3D one-piece formed shoe developed by the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI). Utilizing a proprietary melt-blown fiber forming process, the technology enables a shoe upper to be produced in just six minutes, reducing production time by more than 80% compared with traditional eight-step processes. Despite weighing less than 50 grams, the upper can withstand 5 kilograms of tensile strength and seamlessly bond with the sole, saving about 35% of assembly time.
The shoe's mono-material design allows for easier recycling, while automated manufacturing significantly reduces both energy consumption and labor demand. The innovation has already been adopted by Japan's leading sports brand Mizuno and received the 2025 iF Design Award. Future applications will expand to bicycle saddles and sports protective gear, demonstrating Taiwan's leadership in intelligent footwear manufacturing and green innovation.
The DoIT Pavilion centered on three core themes-digitalization, low-carbon solutions, and value-added innovation-featuring several key technologies that are reshaping the future of Taiwan's textile industry:
AI-enhanced Multispectral Imaging for Textile Recycling:
Developed by TTRI, this system can accurately identify blended fabrics within one second, with an error margin of plus or minus15%. It overcomes more than 70% of the challenges in textile waste sorting, reducing the conventional 1-2 hour process to just seconds. Each kilogram of textile recycled with this technology helps reduce 5.09-9.13 kilograms of Carbon Dioxide emissions, advancing the goals of circular sustainability.
Nonwoven Recycled Products:
Developed by the Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC), this low-shear physical recycling process transforms 100% of waste edge trims and offcuts-totaling 30,000 to 40,000 tons annually-into reusable products. Carbon emissions are reduced by more than 60%, with applications across furniture and lifestyle goods, generating an estimated NT$400-500 million in market value.
Auxetic Response Stress-relieving Protective Geary:
Developed by the Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute (FTIS), this innovation uses supercritical physical foaming combined with an expanded lattice structure to reduce joint pressure by 40% and improve footwear comfort, with an estimated market potential exceeding NT$200 million.
The DOIT Pavilion brought together technologies spanning fibers, fabrics, machinery, digital AI systems, testing, and end-product applications, showcasing Taiwan's integrated R&D strength and innovation ecosystem.