The Future of Fabricare in Africa is incredibly Bright - CINET

Eniibukun Adebayo
May 15
2 min read

Attending the CINET Global Best Practices Awards Conference during Interclean Amsterdam 2026 was far more than participating in a global conference.

I EXPERIENCED PERSPECTIVE.

For every session attended, every conversation shared, every company visited, and every innovation demonstrated, one thought kept resonating strongly within me:

AFRICA’S FUTURE IN THE GLOBAL FABRICARE AND PROFESSIONAL TEXTILE CARE INDUSTRY IS INCREDIBLY PROMISING, BUT WE MUST BECOME MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT BUILDING IT.

It was both inspiring and humbling to engage with manufacturers, innovators, consultants, researchers, and industry professionals from Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond, all united by one common goal:

advancing the future of Professional Textile Care through innovation, sustainability, technology, structure, and collaboration.

Four highly engaging days, the conference explored critical industry themes including:

✔️ Healthcare Textile Care & Hygiene Management

✔️ Hospitality Textile Care Systems

✔️ Sustainability & Circularity in Professional Textile Care

✔️ Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Automation

✔️ Smarter Textile Care Services & Operational Efficiency

✔️ Workforce Development & Technical Training

✔️ Strategy & Roadmap 2050 for Professional Textile Care

✔️ Innovation Programs from China, India, Europe, and South-East Asia

The High Level Robotics Conference and Masterclasses were particularly eye-opening, revealing how automation, data, smart systems, and AI-driven service models are already reshaping the future of textile care globally.

The company visits were another major highlight.

Company visitations and operational facilities was another very impactful activity for me.

Seeing organizations like NEWASCO (operating successfully for over 235 years under the 8th generation of the founding family) and MedoClean (over 135 years under the 4th generation) was deeply inspiring.

The discussion around: Operational Systems, Workforce Structure, Quality Control Culture, Sustainability Thinking, Process Discipline, Leadership Continuity, Long-term Industry Vision, reminded me that the future of the textile care industry in Africa will not be built by equipment alone, but by people willing to think differently, collaborate intentionally, and invest consistently in knowledge, standards & human capacity development.

CLEARLY, THIS TRANSFORMATION WILL REQUIRE LEADERSHIP.

I am sincerely grateful to CINET for creating such a remarkable global platform where industry stakeholders can learn, connect, exchange ideas, and collectively shape the future of Professional Textile Care globally.

For us at Fabricare Professionals & Drycleaners Association (FPDA) and CleanAce Foundation & Academy, this experience has further deepened our commitment to:

✔️ Raising industry standards

✔️ Building a highly trained workforce

✔️ Driving structured professional education

✔️ Strengthening collaboration across the industry

✔️ Advancing technical knowledge and certification

✔️ Supporting sustainability and operational excellence

✔️ Contributing meaningfully to the future of Fabricare in Africa