“Father of Data” – TextilWirtschaft Feature on GTS

The textile industry is increasingly shaped by one key resource: data.
In its latest issue, the renowned German industry magazine TextilWirtschaft highlights this development in a multi-page feature titled “Vater der Daten” (“Father of Data”), published in TextilWirtschaft No. 11 on March 12, 2026 (pages 42–47).

The article focuses on Andreas R. Schneider, founder and CEO of Global Textile Scheme (GTS), and explores his long-standing commitment to improving data structures and processes across the textile value chain. As an industry expert with decades of experience in sourcing and digital transformation, Schneider has been advocating for structured product data and automated data exchange long before the topic became central to the industry.

Today, these topics are more relevant than ever. Growing regulatory requirements, increasing product complexity and initiatives such as the Digital Product Passport are accelerating the need for reliable, machine-readable product data throughout the textile supply chain. The Global Textile Scheme initiative aims to address this challenge by providing a standardized framework that enables companies to exchange detailed product data efficiently and automatically across systems and organizations.

The TextilWirtschaft feature provides insights into the background of the initiative, the motivation behind the development of GTS and the broader industry context in which standardized data structures are becoming a key foundation for efficiency, transparency and circular economy in the textile sector.

By highlighting the vision and ongoing work behind Global Textile Scheme, the article underlines the importance of collaborative industry standards for the future of digital product development and supply chain transparency.

Download the full article (TextilWirtschaft 11/2026, pages 42–47):