About the Industry

Technical and nonwoven textiles and fibres are widely regarded as the most thriving and fastest changing sector of the global textile industry. Innovation in new materials, processes and applications is expanding non-traditional end uses for both new and existing textile products. In contrast to popular perception of the broader textiles, clothing and footwear industries, technical and nonwoven textiles and fibres are high-technology and high value-adding manufacturing processes.

Whilst they play a much more important role than is commonly acknowledged, technical and nonwoven textiles often go unnoticed as they are produced for functional properties rather than aesthetic or decorative characteristics. They are frequently used in a range of downstream applications in other manufacturing and service industries and, thus, not highly visible at the retail level. Taken from the TTNA’s Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry to the Post 2005 TCF Assistance Arrangements in March 2003:Nonwoven technology is one of the conventional sectors of the “traditional” industry and was best known for making felt used in craft products such as stuffed toys, hats and shoe linings, to name a few. Indeed, felted fabrics were around for centuries before weaving or knitting technology were invented.