January 16, 2019
Even though a bike helmet is essential for protection, many people won’t wear one because it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient or not particularly attractive. Two former SpaceX engineers hope to change that. Co-founders David Hall and Jordan Klein have introduced Park & Diamond™, a helmet that looks and feels like a traditional baseball cap—yet complies with U.S., …
January 14, 2019
Leading U.S. flame resistant (FR) textiles brand Westex™ by Milliken™ and global aramid fiber producer Teijin Aramid have announced a joint technology and commercial partnership for Southeast Asia and Australasia. With this partnership, the two companies plan to improve the reputable aramid-based FR solutions in the Asian market. As a brand of Milliken & Company, …
January 11, 2019
Cut-resistant fabrics have been developed following thousands of injuries suffered by individuals in industry, homeland security, and extreme sports. Now, UK-based PPSS Group is urging product designers to think innovatively about the potential applications of its technical textile, Cut-Tex® PRO. Cut-Tex® PRO has been effectively used in slash resistant clothing for law enforcement, security, and …
January 10, 2019
If there were a formula for writing a hit song, we could all do it. Efforts have certainly been made to figure out just what’s required to reach the top of the charts, but there simply isn’t a single defined path that can be taken to ensure musical success. In manufacturing, businesses that look to …
January 9, 2019
A systems approach is needed to meet all the requirements of high-performance garments. Comfort for the human body needs to be comprehensive. This complicates the technologies that are available to reach the ultimate goal of providing physiological, environmental and psychological comfort. A definition that fits technologically well to clothing is a “feeling of relief.” In …
January 9, 2019
At the end of 2018, the European Commission launched the Circular Plastics Alliance, which will be made up of industry stakeholders from the whole plastics value chain. The Commission described this as part of its ongoing effort to drive the European Union towards a circular economy, to stimulate innovation, reduce plastic waste and increase recycled …
January 9, 2019
My job is impacting my personal life in a somewhat unusual way: I chronically read hangtags on textile products. Clothing, housewares and especially outdoor gear get a close look. Are these flannel lounge pants 100 percent cotton? They better be. … Just how water resistant is this water-resistant jacket? … This shirt is UV resistant, …
January 9, 2019
Textile finishing company Devan Chemicals has presented further findings on its Moov&Cool® “cool comfort” technology for the apparel/sportswear market. The patented polymer technology was first introduced in 2018. Moov&Cool provides a cool comfort feel through a combination of durable heat absorption capacity, thermo conductivity and a unique, balanced moisture transfer system. In addition to a …
January 9, 2019
Scientists from the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) are developing a new device, the Personal Heating Dexterity Device (PhD2) for warming hands and fingers in cold weather without the help of gloves. The problem with working in freezing temperatures is the inevitable trade-off: either warm hands or dexterous fingers, but both has …
January 2, 2019
A team at the University of Exeter’s engineering department has developed a new technique that may make incorporating electronic fibers into clothing an everyday manufacturing occurrence. It’s anticipated that graphene, known as the thinnest material on the planet, could make that possible. By weaving graphene-based fibers directly into the fabric, researches are eliminating the need …
October 18, 2018
Advanced Textile Products and the Narrow Fabrics Institute, divisions of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), recently selected the winners of the 2018 Advanced Textiles Student Design Competition. The awards were announced during IFAI Expo 2018, held in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 15-18. First Place First-place honors went to J. Walter Lee, Stephanie Wang and Caroline …
October 17, 2018
When you plan to sell a textile product, there are numerous reasons to test it before taking it to market. Many of those testing results tell you what you can ultimately communicate to others about your product, and what they can expect of your product. Dr. Emiel DenHartog, North Carolina State University, College of Textiles, …
October 17, 2018
All the best from Texas: Wednesday morning, Oct. 17, at IFAI Expo led off with lists of winners for the year, including the most popular products on the show floor. The seventh annual Show Stopper competition was designed to showcase the best of the best in the industry, from fabrics, equipment and chemicals to services …
October 17, 2018
Service Thread, based in Laurinburg, N.C., was awarded the 2018 Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) Greater Good Award at IFAI Expo 2018 in Dallas, Texas. The Greater Good Award focuses on an IFAI member company that does good business—and strives to be a good neighbor, good citizen, and good partner. Nomination criteria were based on the …
October 17, 2018
Jeff Rasmussen, IFAI market research director, presented a brief overview of the advanced textiles market at IFAI’s Expo 2018 in Dallas this week. His research reveals that steady growth should be expected at 8.8 percent for 2018 (the same as 2017). In his Advanced Textiles Market Update, Rasmussen pointed to the overlay between the smart …
October 17, 2018
An update on fiber production did not reveal any big surprises, but it did provide some important details assessing the nature of the market today. In a “Campfire” session on the show floor, Darrell Collier, Tecnon OrbiChem, showed participants the growth trajectory and market dominance that polyester since it entered the textile market. Collier also …
October 17, 2018
The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) has announced W.L. Gore & Associates Inc., Newark, Del., as the winner of the 2018 IFF Innovation Award. The company’s GORE-TEX® PYRAD® fabric won in the category of Fabrics, Fibers and Films. The award was presented at IFAI Expo 2018 at IFAI’s annual meeting, held Wednesday, Oct. 17, at the …
October 17, 2018
The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has awarded this year’s International Achievement Awards (IAA) for design excellence in specialty fabrics applications, announced at the awards breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at IFAI Expo 2018. IFAI Expo is the largest specialty fabrics trade show in North America, held this year at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention …
October 17, 2018
Asking yourself one simple question can help make your business a magnet for new customers, says marketing professional Madeleine MacRae, owner of MM MacRae Coaching & Consulting. “That question is ‘Who is your ideal client?’” In her Oct. 16 Expo session on distinguishing yourself in the marketplace, MacRae says answering this question is the key …
October 16, 2018
A variety of advanced textile products were discussed in sessions during IFAI’s Pre-Expo Conference Oct. 15. Caroline Portoghese explained how her company’s product, called GlideWear, offers innovative skin protection by reducing friction and shear to prevent skin tears and blisters. The product has been used by athletes, burn patients wearing compression garments, in wheelchair components …
January 9, 2019
A systems approach is needed to meet all the requirements of high-performance garments. Comfort for the human body needs to be comprehensive. This complicates the technologies that are available to reach the ultimate goal of providing physiological, environmental and psychological comfort. A definition that fits technologically well to clothing is a “feeling of relief.” In …
December 17, 2018
Both large picture and incremental changes can have a positive impact. Two major challenges facing the advanced textile industry in its pursuit of sustainability are first, meeting consumer expectations and secondly, meeting global industry standards. This second challenge one might expect to be more straightforward, but for the fact that new information about environmental impacts …
December 10, 2018
Textiles are part of a larger, more comprehensive sustainability picture. Sustainability may be understood as a way to judiciously consume resources while leaving, or even enhancing, the availability of resources for future generations. The term “sustainability” has developed a powerful vibe that impacts our society in general and the business community, specifically. Environmental contamination stresses …
November 26, 2018
Successful new developments and designs have prompted encouraging growth rates, but challenges remain. A series of novel developments in medical textiles see smart textiles coupled with smart design to deliver benefits to both patients and medical professionals. With the medical textile market predicted to grow at a CAGR of 4.23 percent during the period 2018-2022, …
November 12, 2018
With breakthrough technologies and standards under development, it’s been a turning point year for e-textiles. IFAI’s Expo 2018 in Dallas in October offered a good variety of topics in its presentations and a range of products across advanced textiles markets. Medical and health, protective and safety, smart fabrics, solar textiles and military applications were among …
October 22, 2018
There’s a new appreciation for the versatility of natural fibers in high tech fabrics. Since the industrial revolution, textiles have transitioned from natural fibers of cotton, wool, silk and linen, to textiles created from petroleum products and reconstituted wood pulp. Today’s synthetic fibers are stronger, cheaper to manufacture, and have proven easily adaptable to a …
October 8, 2018
Bio-based technologies show promise in addressing textile sustainability concerns. The introduction of new regulations and standards can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the industry or material group that it is directed at. Europe adopted a European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy earlier this year and is seriously considering the introduction …
September 24, 2018
The DHS addresses crucial needs with its First Responder PPE Program. First responders—from firefighters to law enforcement to emergency medical services technicians—need to be ready daily to handle any situation they encounter, and they need the appropriate gear to quickly respond to emergencies. They courageously confront risk, drawing on their experience to make sound decisions in …
September 24, 2018
Behind every effective PPE are materials designed for specific and critical purposes. When we think of personal protective equipment (PPE), we may first visualize the end applications: a firefighters turnout gear or a soldier’s helmet, perhaps. How these products are constructed is important, but the materials that go into them are equally crucial in making …
September 10, 2018
Participants can benefit from strong growth predictions when armed with solid information. The protective textiles sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4 percent, according to a recent report by Leeds, U.K.-based WTiN Intelligence Service. Earlier estimates by other market survey agencies, such as Grand View Research, estimated the annual growth rate …
January 14, 2019
Leading U.S. flame resistant (FR) textiles brand Westex™ by Milliken™ and global aramid fiber producer Teijin Aramid have announced a joint technology and commercial partnership for Southeast Asia and Australasia. With this partnership, the two companies plan to improve the reputable aramid-based FR solutions in the Asian market. As a brand of Milliken & Company, …
January 11, 2019
Cut-resistant fabrics have been developed following thousands of injuries suffered by individuals in industry, homeland security, and extreme sports. Now, UK-based PPSS Group is urging product designers to think innovatively about the potential applications of its technical textile, Cut-Tex® PRO. Cut-Tex® PRO has been effectively used in slash resistant clothing for law enforcement, security, and …
January 10, 2019
If there were a formula for writing a hit song, we could all do it. Efforts have certainly been made to figure out just what’s required to reach the top of the charts, but there simply isn’t a single defined path that can be taken to ensure musical success. In manufacturing, businesses that look to …
December 21, 2018
Testing service provider and research partner, Hohenstein, has opened a textile-testing laboratory in Gurugram, India, offering its customized services in one of the world’s textile hotspots. The business cites good, consistent cooperation, expediting a close exchange among the laboratories in Germany, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and India to ensure more customer proximity and faster order processing. …
December 13, 2018
Huntsman Textile Effects and The Chemours Company FC LLC have agreed to expand their long-term alliance in the area of durable water repellence (DWR). By combining the strengths of both companies, the expanded cooperation unlocks the full potential of the alliance to develop and deliver new, sustainable DWR solutions and chemistry. The alliance puts them …
December 10, 2018
The Advanced Textile Products Student Design Challenge encourages college and university students of design, textiles engineering and allied curricula to solve safety and protection problems using technical textiles and narrow fabrics in functional designs. The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) offers this annual challenge to honor and recognize the innovations of students who work in …
December 4, 2018
EuroFibers, a Dutch supplier of high-performance fibers, introduced its new sister company EuroFabrics, a recent release announces. EuroFabrics is a key distributor in Europe, the Middle East and Africa of American SuperFabric, an abrasion-resistant and cut-resistant fabric, and it is a supplier of BodyShield. EuroFabrics offers performance fabrics with features like cut, slash, abrasion or …
November 29, 2018
This year’s winner of the SKAPA prize is Joakim Staberg who developed Coloreel, a machine for digital thread coloring that dyes threads while in production, a recent release says. Joakim Staberg received this year’s award of 500,000 krona from the Foundation SKAPAs chair, Minoo Akhtarzand, and one of Sweden’s well-known innovators, Håkan Lans. The award …
November 27, 2018
The U.S. International Trade Commission held public hearings in Washington, D.C., as part of its investigation into the likely impact of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on the U.S. economy. National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) president and CEO Auggie Tantillo testified on the General Manufacturing panel on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, the hearing’s second day. Tantillo prefaced his …
November 22, 2018
Recent breakthroughs in fibers and fabrics are transforming these age-old materials into high tech for the first time in history, creating in the process new opportunities for fabric-based startups and entrepreneurs. Fabrics that can see, hear, sense, communicate, store and convert energy, regulate temperature, monitor health and change color will soon be possible. Interested industry …
December 19, 2018
Joris de Groot teamed up with Low & Bonar, a manufacturer of performance materials, for the in4nite II project, which examined various techniques applied in the manufacturing of car interiors and translated them into a collection of shoes. Designboom.com reports that Studio de Groot has molded Low & Bonar Colback car upholstery material around shoe lasts. The …
December 17, 2018
Joris de Groot teamed up with Low & Bonar, a manufacturer of performance materials, for the in4nite II project, which examined various techniques applied in the manufacturing of car interiors and translated them into a collection of shoes. Designboom.com reports that Studio de Groot has molded Low & Bonar Colback car upholstery material around shoe …
December 10, 2018
London-based designer Nir Meiri selects materials for his creations that most would not consider. Recently, the Nir Meiri Design Studio presented Mycelium Lights at the London Design Festival 2018. According to designboom.com, this is its latest project—the result of ongoing material research in mycelium, the vegetative part of the fungus, which has led to the …
November 26, 2018
A group of six students from Guangzhou, China, has designed a concept called NET GUARD that’s a combination of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and cloth net for rescuing people from fires in high-rise buildings. When the drone and net combination receives a distress signal, it uses GPS to pinpoint the location of the fire. …
October 22, 2018
Scientists at Yale University have developed a robotic skin that can be applied to inanimate objects seemingly bringing them to life. The elastic “skin” sheets are embedded with a variety of sensors and actuators capable of animating the legs of a stuffed animal or causing a foam tube to flex. This type of robotic technology …
October 18, 2018
Russian design studio Aotta presents a new sound-absorbing and lightweight panel made of hemp husks. A completely organic material, the husks are routinely disposed of as useless waste. That means the material is a cheap resource. Aotta’s hemp husk panels are a naturally porous membrane for absorbing sound reflections, and it can regulate the humidity …
October 8, 2018
Biomimicry has revealed ways that nature can be copied to create new products and improve existing ones. Recently, a team of researchers from the University of New Hampshire in the U.S. has shown how the seed coats of certain plants could help in the development of flexible materials that are strong and resilient. An article …
August 20, 2018
Researchers in Switzerland have fabricated a lightweight 80-square-meter concrete slab ceiling that uses 3D sand printing for its formwork. The ceiling consists of 11 segments of Smart Slab, which is 20 millimeters at its thinnest point and is reported to be less than half the weight of a conventional concrete ceiling, although even at half …
August 6, 2018
Moscow-based designer Alex Shtanuk will be contributing a piece of space travel nostalgia to the 2018 Burning Man gathering later this summer in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, while giving festival attendees a place to escape the desert heat. A giant “space blanket” will provide a casual place for festival goers to find a …
July 23, 2018
Artist Julie Helles Ericksen has created a jacket with QR codes woven into it that can access digital information as the wearer shares it. According to Ericksen, “We communicate to others through what we wear, what we post on social media and what we choose to hide. We curate ourselves to present different versions.” Ericksen …
January 16, 2019
Even though a bike helmet is essential for protection, many people won’t wear one because it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient or not particularly attractive. Two former SpaceX engineers hope to change that. Co-founders David Hall and Jordan Klein have introduced Park & Diamond™, a helmet that looks and feels like a traditional baseball cap—yet complies with U.S., …
January 9, 2019
Textile finishing company Devan Chemicals has presented further findings on its Moov&Cool® “cool comfort” technology for the apparel/sportswear market. The patented polymer technology was first introduced in 2018. Moov&Cool provides a cool comfort feel through a combination of durable heat absorption capacity, thermo conductivity and a unique, balanced moisture transfer system. In addition to a …
January 9, 2019
Scientists from the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) are developing a new device, the Personal Heating Dexterity Device (PhD2) for warming hands and fingers in cold weather without the help of gloves. The problem with working in freezing temperatures is the inevitable trade-off: either warm hands or dexterous fingers, but both has …
January 2, 2019
A team at the University of Exeter’s engineering department has developed a new technique that may make incorporating electronic fibers into clothing an everyday manufacturing occurrence. It’s anticipated that graphene, known as the thinnest material on the planet, could make that possible. By weaving graphene-based fibers directly into the fabric, researches are eliminating the need …
December 31, 2018
German family-run brand Thies has launched a footwear line made from “olivenleder,” a vegan leather created from olive leaves. The shoes are created via a process offered by wet-green®. Developed by a company of the same name, the product is a plant-based concentrate produced from an aqueous olive leaf extract. This patented method for producing leather uses the …
December 17, 2018
The French company Hexaflex has developed a patented padding technology based on hexagonal-pyramidal shapes molded with TPE, a recent release says. The design uses a thermoplastic elastomer compound from KRAIBURG TPE and is intended to provide flexibility, lightweight and full articulation characteristics of the modular system for shock- and vibration-absorbing applications for sportswear, personal protection …
December 14, 2018
Improving the water system on Penn State University’s main campus included replacing the water tower, and with its replacement came the opportunity to create an oasis-like area. The new water tower includes a seating and stage area covered by Flexlight Xtrem TX30-III membrane from Serge Ferrari, the company says. Initial design of the tensile structure …
December 12, 2018
Teijin Frontier has developed a polyester, high-gauge knitting material laminated with a breathable film to produce thin, lightweight and breathable textiles. Textiles laminated with breathable film are widely used for functional sportswear, due to their waterproofness and stretchability. The new material is compact, form-stable and moisture-permeable. It has a glossy, translucent appearance and a smooth …
December 10, 2018
BeBop Sensors, a creator of smart fabric sensor technology, has won Time magazine’s Best Inventions 2018 Award for its Forte Wireless Data Glove, a recent release announced. The wireless data glove incorporates haptics and sensing designed for applications in the industrial, medical, virtual reality (VR), gaming and design markets. Patrick Lucas Austin, technology columnist for Time, thinks the ability …
December 6, 2018
The KinisTM Nomad 804 is the latest offering of barefoot performance socks from Kinis, designed to allow the wearer’s feet to move freely and function naturally. The company says that ncorporating the Nomad 804 in training exercises will gradually strengthen the wearer’s feet, which ultimately will support overall improved mobility and balance. The Kinis Company …
