Sportswear and outdoor clothing often require technical fabrics that are engineered to provide performance-enhancing properties like moisture-wicking, breathability, durability and weather resistance.
These specialized fabrics—like nylon, spandex and performance wools—help keep the wearer comfortable and protected during physical activity and in challenging outdoor environments.
For Taiwan, a leading global producer of high-performance and functional textiles, this expertise has been a cornerstone of its reputation. The country has supplied innovative fabrics to the global outdoor and sportswear industries for decades, cementing its role as a trusted partner in performance apparel, according to the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF).
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As brands and retailers take a closer look at the environmental impact of their products and production methods—spurred by rising consumer demand for ethically made apparel—Taiwan is stepping up to the plate, helping the industry meet customer expectations with next-generation fabrics that balance performance and responsibility.
This industry-wide shift is being accelerated by programs like the Textile Export Promotion Project (TEPP). Commissioned by Taiwan’s International Trade Administration and executed by the TTF, TEPP has been instrumental in showcasing a new wave of manufacturers who are proving that the most advanced materials can also be the most sustainable.
Here are six TEPP-backed companies that are driving this shift and reshaping the future of performance apparel.
Singtex Group
Singtex Group, headquartered in the Xinzhuang District of Taiwan, is brewing up innovations that transform morning coffee leftovers into sustainable apparel.
Its signature development, S.Café®, uses a patented, low-temperature, high-pressure process to recycle used coffee grounds into nano-sized particles that are embedded into yarn. The result is a performance fabric with natural benefits: enhanced moisture management, odor control, ultraviolet (UV) protection and faster drying times.
By increasing the surface area of the fibers, S.Café® yarns disperse sweat more efficiently, allowing moisture to evaporate quickly while keeping the wearer cool, dry and comfortable—all while giving coffee waste a second life.
Grandetex Development Co. Ltd.
Grandetex Development Co. Ltd.—which specializes in functional fabric for indoor, outdoor, sportswear, activewear and workwear—is also turning waste into innovation with its breakthrough Secao® technology.
The process repurposes agricultural byproducts—specifically discarded cacao husks—into high-performance, sustainable yarn through a proprietary fermentation and hydrolysis method. The resulting fibers are naturally rich in polyphenols, giving them inherent anti-odor and moisture-wicking properties.
By engineering these agri-waste particles at the nano level—meaning that the leftover biomass from agriculture has been processed to create extremely tiny particles, typically ranging in size from 1 to 100 nanometers—Grandetex creates fabrics that not only feel cool to the touch but also maintain full biodegradability at the end of their lifecycle, closing the loop on both performance and sustainability.
Li Peng Enterprise
Li Peng Enterprise, founded in 1975, is tackling waste by giving plastic a second life.
Its signature innovation, RePET®, transforms discarded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles—commonly used for lightweight, durable beverage containers—into recycled polyester fibers. Produced through eco-friendly recycling processes, RePET® reduces dependence on petroleum, conserves natural resources and lightens environmental impact without sacrificing quality.
Beyond recycling, Li Peng is also rethinking how color is applied to textiles. Through a solution-dyeing process that introduces pigment at the polymer melt stage—before yarn is even spun—the company eliminates the water- and energy-intensive post-dyeing process entirely. The result? Fabrics that require far less water and chemicals while delivering superior colorfastness that holds up through heavy wear and repeated washing.
Hitex Textile Co.
With a focus on customer satisfaction, Hitex Textile Co. is developing solutions that strengthen the critical interface between the wearer and the elements.
As a Global Recycled Standard (GRS)-certified company, one of Hitex’s specialties is workwear fabrics made with recycled content, particularly for the construction, fire safety and security sectors. Leveraging its performance technologies, Hitex produces textiles that are flame-retardant, reflective, cut- and puncture-resistant, high-visibility, anti-static and more.
Wu Luen
Founded in 1985, Wu Luen is an integrated factory specializing in knitting, dyeing, printing and laminating, with a focus on durable, high-performance solutions.
The company’s collections blend GRS-certified recycled PET, bio-based nylons and biodegradable fibers with conventional materials, then enhance them with functional finishes for moisture management and odor control. For sportswear brands, Wu Luen provides a “one-stop shop” for performance knits that meet leading environmental and social standards, including Bluesign®, Oeko-Tex® and GRS certifications, TTF noted.
Da Fon
Positioning itself as a crucial supply chain partner, Da Fon connects global brands with Taiwan’s ecosystem of certified mills.
Based in Taipei, the company serves the performance and lifestyle sector with a vision to “drive sustainable textile solutions by pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable.” Its portfolio of certified, eco-innovative fabrics is designed to meet exacting technical demands—highlighted by the ITS iCOOL® Collection, which blends natural and synthetic fibers. Through versatile structural designs, iCOOL® fabrics maximize comfort, enhance cooling performance and deliver superior moisture-wicking control, offering brands advanced tools for heat and comfort management.
To learn more about the Taiwan Textile Select section under TITAS and the Taiwan-based manufacturers, click here. Additionally, you can connect with these manufacturers at the Taiwan Textile Select area during TITAS, held in Taiwan from October 14 to 16.
