EcoNote

ZDHC recognizes ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX

September 20, 2017

ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX certification has been recognized by the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) as an indicator of conformance with the organization’s Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL). The ZDHC’s mission includes removing hazardous chemicals from the apparel and footwear value chain so that they do not harm workers, consumers or the environment. John Frazier, senior …

Industry News

Diagonal Consulting and ROVETEX form partnership

September 19, 2017

Diagonal Consulting (India) and ROVETEX (Israel) will join forces. ROVETEX, global textile management consulting firm based in Israel, and Diagonal Consulting (India), strategic and project consulting firm in fibers, textiles and nonwovens, will jointly offer strategic and operational consultation services to the Indian industry. “A team of highly qualified and experienced domain experts in textile …

What's New?

Beer-resistant shoes debut in time for Oktoberfest

September 18, 2017

Oktoberfest can be celebrated this year with a shoe from adidas that’s made especially to withstand spilled beer – and anything else that might land on them. “Prost” shoes are made of leather coated in DBP resin to make the shoes resistant to spills they could encounter among the festivals celebrants. The leather construction of …

My Take

Trade deals and hurricanes

September 11, 2017

It’s hard not to talk about hurricanes as I write this. Irma is churning its way up the length of Florida, Jose is hot on its heels and Texas residents are a long ways from recovering their lives after Harvey’s devastation. I’m also thinking of all the textile products that help protect people and property …

Industry News

OTEXA to feature U.S. textile companies at London event

September 11, 2017

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has announced that military, security, and technical textiles from 14 U.S. textile and military apparel manufacturers companies will be featured in its sponsored sample booth at the upcoming Defense & Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2017, September 12-15, in London. “U.S. textile companies will showcase their premier state-of-the-art technology and products,” …

EcoNote

‘Twistron’ yarns can harvest energy

September 11, 2017

An international research team has developed high-tech yarns that generate electricity when they are stretched or twisted. The team is led by scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas and Hanyang University in South Korea and includes researchers from South Korea, Virginia Tech, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and China. They recently published their findings …

Industry News

USTR releases NAFTA negotiating objectives

September 11, 2017

The office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer recently released a summary of the negotiating objectives for the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The Trump administration will seek an agreement that reduces the U.S. trade deficit and improves market access in Canada and Mexico for U.S. manufacturing, agriculture …

What's New?

Stanford develops a soft, expanding robot

September 11, 2017

Mechanical engineers at Stanford University have created a robot inspired by organisms that cover distance by growing, such as vines, fungi and nerve cells. According to Stanford sources, the researchers’ aim is to establish a new approach to getting mobility from a mechanism. “It’s very, very different from the way that animals or people get …

Featured

A new NAFTA?

September 11, 2017

How trade deals currently in discussion could impact the textile industry As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump promised to improve U.S. trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Since taking office and after threatening to withdraw the United States from NAFTA unless its terms were renegotiated, President Trump has cajoled Mexico and …

EcoNote

Sustainability report on INSQIN waterborne PU

September 8, 2017

A recent life-cycle assessment (LCA) suggests that Covestro’s INSQIN, which uses waterborne polyurethane (PU) for the manufacture of PU synthetic, is a more sustainable way to produce coated textiles than solvent-based technologies, according to information provided by the company. An independent third party conducted a review of the LCA study and results in accordance with …

Featured

A new NAFTA?

September 11, 2017

How trade deals currently in discussion could impact the textile industry As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump promised to improve U.S. trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Since taking office and after threatening to withdraw the United States from NAFTA unless its terms were renegotiated, President Trump has cajoled Mexico and …

Featured

Fabrics go multifunctional

August 21, 2017

The development of sophisticated functional fabrics has been a phased process. Textiles have evolved from being just commodity materials to providing an array of benefits, including additional comfort and protection, improved hygiene, and supporting healthcare. The innate nature of fibers can provide certain special characteristics—cotton adds breathability and a smooth hand, and wool offers thermal …

Featured

Extraordinary workwear

August 7, 2017

VR and AR industries offer high-tech solutions for demanding work environments There was a time when “workwear” meant basically suits and coveralls, but the sector is now recognised as covering a broad field that stretches from spacesuits to medical workers. Providing protection, comfort and identification are standard, but it is challenging for the textile industry …

Featured

Antimicrobial use in today’s textile industry

July 24, 2017

Where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. Increased use of woven and nonwoven textiles, as well as growing awareness of microbes and their associated healthcare concerns, has been driving demand for antimicrobial use in textile applications. The inclusion of antimicrobials has especially been emphasized in performance and medical textiles where biological burdens …

Featured

Sustainable solutions in antimicrobials

July 24, 2017

With environmental concerns about traditional treatments, the industry works to offer more eco-friendly options. Antimicrobial properties are fast becoming an expected treatment in textiles for applications that range from hospital drapes and linen, to contract and domestic textiles, as well as clothing. While offering protection from germs is a positive, there has been some disquiet …

Featured

Rethinking odor control

July 10, 2017

New antimicrobial technologies focus on treatments for ‘permastink.’ It’s everywhere, and it’s not attractive. Permastink—the unpleasant smell that won’t wash out of textile products—has become a topic of conversation for consumers and brands alike. Polyester and other synthetic fibers are the materials of choice for the active performance and athleisure styles consumers now wear throughout …

Featured

Today’s nonwoven sector: an overview

June 26, 2017

Versatility in fiber content can lead to expanding applications. Nonwoven fabrics have become a mainstay in the textiles sector. Compared to commodity textiles, nonwovens, industrial textiles, smart and wearable textiles are relatively new entrants into the industry. But the nonwovens sector is an organized one and has been established for five decades. This sector has …

Featured

The new nonwovens

June 12, 2017

Improvements in performance include more eco-friendly materials and processes. The global market for nonwovens is expected to grow from its 2015 level of $2.9 billion to $8 billion by 2022, according to Stratistics Market Research Consulting, specialists in global cross-sector market research. Existing market sectors such as health, hygiene and automotive applications are expanding, and …

Featured

Thermal regulation heats up

May 22, 2017

Refined materials and improved processes impact climate control applications. New developments in climate control for technical textiles are seeing the emergence of more refined materials offering enhanced possibilities in a range of industries from automotive to architecture. At the TechTextil trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, in May, a number of these innovations were showcased, reflecting …

Featured

TAPPI meeting showcases innovation and collaboration

May 22, 2017

The Technical Association of the Paper and Pulp Industry (TAPPI) hosted the PaperCon International Conference in April with about 1600 attendees and 75 exhibitors gathered in the Minneapolis Convention Center. The unique feature of this event has been the co-location of the nonwovens conference of TAPPI, referred to as NET Inc. TAPPI has been gaining …

Industry News

Diagonal Consulting and ROVETEX form partnership

September 19, 2017

Diagonal Consulting (India) and ROVETEX (Israel) will join forces. ROVETEX, global textile management consulting firm based in Israel, and Diagonal Consulting (India), strategic and project consulting firm in fibers, textiles and nonwovens, will jointly offer strategic and operational consultation services to the Indian industry. “A team of highly qualified and experienced domain experts in textile …

Industry News

OTEXA to feature U.S. textile companies at London event

September 11, 2017

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has announced that military, security, and technical textiles from 14 U.S. textile and military apparel manufacturers companies will be featured in its sponsored sample booth at the upcoming Defense & Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2017, September 12-15, in London. “U.S. textile companies will showcase their premier state-of-the-art technology and products,” …

Industry News

USTR releases NAFTA negotiating objectives

September 11, 2017

The office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer recently released a summary of the negotiating objectives for the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The Trump administration will seek an agreement that reduces the U.S. trade deficit and improves market access in Canada and Mexico for U.S. manufacturing, agriculture …

Industry News

ATEX expands meltblown capacity

September 5, 2017

Nonwovens company ATEX Inc. has announced commercialization of a significant capacity increase for its meltblown and composites production, located in Gainesville, Georgia. The company, which specializes in spunmelt technologies, will be effectively doubling output and providing a new platform to develop novel products. This expansion allows ATEX to meet increasing customer demand for products in …

Industry News

AMSilk named one of 50 most innovative companies

September 1, 2017

AMSilk GmbH, Munich, Germany, announces that it was recently chosen by the German edition of MIT Technology Review as one of the 50 most innovative companies in the world. The list honors companies that have achieved a technological breakthrough by creating industry-changing products. The company was named among the three finalists in the “Technology” category. …

Industry News

Antimicrobial coating materials market slated for growth

August 31, 2017

A recent report from Frost & Sullivan says the global antimicrobial coating materials market generated revenues of $701.3 million in 2016 and is expected to register a CAGR of 7.9 percent through 2021. Market drivers include technology advancements, consumer awareness of the benefits of antimicrobial coatings, and the need to tackle the rising resistance of pathogens to antibiotics. “There …

Industry News

Textile coatings market estimated to reach $4.92 billion by 2025

August 25, 2017

A new report by Transparency Market Research says that the global textile coatings market was valued at $3.4 billion in 2016 and is anticipated to reach $4.92 billion by 2025. The report notes that the rise in demand for textile coatings in protective clothing, building and construction, transportation, medical and industrial applications is driving the market. Innovations in adding …

Industry News

2017 RISE Innovation Award finalists named

August 21, 2017

The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) has announced this year’s RISE Award finalists. The award recognizes innovations that use advanced science and engineering principles to creatively solve challenges within the nonwovens and engineered fabrics industry. The finalists for 2017: PurPod100™ is a certified 100 percent compostable pod by Club Coffee for the Keurig …

Industry News

MIT hosts smart fabric “hackathon”

August 21, 2017

MIT was the site of a three-day hackathon recently, which brought together students and researchers from MIT and around Boston who developed functional fabric concepts to solve major issues, including those facing soldiers in combat or training, first responders, victims and workers in refugee camps. The event was hosted by the MIT Innovation Initiative, the …

Industry News

Fiber Industries to open new plant

August 18, 2017

Fiber Industries LLC is preparing to open a new textile production plant in Darlington County, S.C., to be operational in early 2018. According to the South Carolina Dept. of Commerce, the development is projected to bring more than $30 million in capital investment and lead to the creation of at least 135 new jobs. Fiber …

Of Interest

New jeans stimulate skin revitalization

March 14, 2016

The latest products manufactured in partnership by Italian clothier Calzedonia and Emana®, the smart-yarn developed by the global business unit Fibras of the Solvay Group, look like standard jeans, but feature a polyamide yarn incorporated with bioactive minerals that, in contact with the body, facilitate heat exchange which boosts skin microcirculation, thereby improving the skin’s …

Of Interest

September 2014

September 9, 2014

.of-interest dd { height: 1.25em; overflow: hidden; margin-bottom: .75em; } Schiller Bikes “baycycle” is engineered for the water Schiller | product Forbes magazine takes note of smart textiles Forbes | article

Of Interest

June 2014

June 14, 2014

Texworld USA has announced a full roster of complimentary seminars organized by Lenzing Fibers, producer of man-made cellulose fibers Knitting Industry | article Graphene Flagship Announces large influx of partners through competitive call Graphene Flagship | pdf Oct. 1, 2014 deadline for EUREKA water tech Cluster ACQUEAU call for projects Eureka Network | article

Of Interest

May 2014

May 15, 2014

dd{margin-bottom:.75em;} Researchers look for more eco-friendly chemicals used in textile manufacturing Research and Markets | article Environmentally benign single-layer breathable Nanowebs developed Commodity Online | article “Thinnest feasible membrane” is extremely light and breathable ETH Zurich | article Forbes gets interested in smart textiles and wearable technology Forbes | article

Of Interest

February 2014

February 7, 2014

Electronic textile cushion This short video shows an electronic textile cushion recently produced by Ioannis Anastasopoulos of the Advanced Textiles Research Group, Nottingham Trent University, U.K.. The LED chips and interconnects have been fully integrated into the fabric structure. “Power pocket” could do more than store your phone Scientists at the University of Southampton are …

Of Interest

December 2013

December 16, 2013

Wearable Computing: Adaptive Tech to Blink and Bling Wearable computing, creative use of e-textiles—developed by someone amazingly young! Chinese giant takes control of Pakistan’s Masood Textile Chinese textiles conglomerate Shandong Ruyi Technology Group has acquired a 52 percent share of Masood Textile Mills (MTM) based in Pakistan.

Of Interest

November 2013

November 12, 2013

Structuring shade Shade structure reduces heat gain – for an entire building. The nanosilver debate A court ruling addresses limiting nanosilver in textiles. Call to reduce toxic chemicals Ecotextile online reports that the Natural Resource Defense Council has called for a new ‘Five Step Program’ to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in the global …

Of Interest

October 2013

October 8, 2013

“Knitted Light” A project at the Swedish School of Textiles uses three-dimensional patterns to create textile surfaces with complex properties that are capable of reflecting, filtering and transmitting light. Answer your glove Bluetooth phone gloves have been available in the marketplace for a while. Are they calling to you?

Of Interest

September 2013

September 10, 2013

KYMIRA Sportswear Not every observer buys into the claims of this sportswear company. It uses a new, but quite credible technology. What do you think? New nanomaterial increases yield of solar cells Researchers have optimized the nanostructures so that a solar cell provides more electricity and loses less energy in the form of heat. Paper-thin …

Of Interest

August 2013

July 31, 2013

The ultimate in a customized shoe The ‘DNA 3D printed shoe’ will be designed according to the individual’s foot contours and how that person moves. Under the sea Three Massachusetts research facilities will receive funding to help find out if undersea ”kites” can reliably produce renewable energy. Bountiful bamboo One researcher’s fascination with textile engineering, …

Out There

Floating Cloud is also a lamp

September 6, 2017

Floating Cloud, a magnetically levitating ambient lamp, merges the levitation technology developed by Dutch company Crealev with the form and function of the Cloud product of Richard Clarkson Studio LLC, Brooklyn, N.Y. The result of the collaborative project is a lamp, constructed of PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate), polyester fiber, magnetic and electrical components, resembling a cloud hovering above …

Out There

Jewelry functions as little robots

August 21, 2017

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab are investigating how accessories can be made into mobile, adaptable “assistants.” According to the Media Lab, “Kino” is a collection of jewelry engineered with the functionality of miniature robots that can wander across clothing, change location and reconfigure the garment’s appearance. “This work explores a dynamic …

Out There

Fabric-wrapped structure surrounds award-winning “mediateque”

August 7, 2017

A few years ago, the city of Tbilisi in Georgia announced a competition to build “mediatheque” in several spots of the city. The first completed project was in Vake Park, which has now been nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2017. The entire building is surrounded by a fabric-wrapped structure that gives it …

Out There

Museum of Modern Art features digitally knit solar installation

July 24, 2017

A digitally knit structure, installed within the courtyard of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), was the winner of MoMA PS1 Young Architects Program. The annual initiative tasks creatives with designing a temporary outdoor installation that provides shade, seating and water. “Lumen,” by the Jenny Sabin Studio is an immersive, interactive pavilion consisting of more than 1 million …

Out There

KI ecobe debuts a modular shoe

July 10, 2017

KI ecobe has developed a new modular shoe designed to transition from home to outdoors, to work and back again. Each part serves a different function of support or comfort. The ecobe insole, outsole, inboot, shoelaces and KI strap can be mixed and matched for a possible 10,215 combinations of colors and styles. Consumers are …

Out There

Interactive Bodyscape lights up movement

June 26, 2017

An interactive, 3D printed high-fashion garment was inspired by the behavior of the human body, says its creator, Behnaz Farahi, Los Angeles–based designer and technologist. As the wearer moves, “Bodyscape” lights up with LED lighting controlled by a gyroscope tracking her shoulder movements. Not only a technologically advanced fashion item, it raises fashion to the …

Out There

Plastic is recycled to make architectural mesh

June 12, 2017

Kaynemaile™ architectural mesh, from “Lord of the Rings” set designer Kayne Horsham, draws on the designer’s experience in the art of creating chainmail. During his work on the fantasy trilogy, he wove millions of rings into armor robes for Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom. Horsham experimented with meshes using plastic via an injection molding process, …

Out There

Largest aircraft takes to the sky again

May 22, 2017

Hybrid Air Vehicles recently completed the Airlander 10’s third test flight, which lasted almost three hours. Called the largest aircraft on the planet, it has no internal structure, but maintains its huge barrel shape due to the pressure stabilization of the helium inside the hull and the “smart,” strong Vectran material of which it is constructed. …

Out There

Let your shoes find your way

May 9, 2017

Dominic Wilcox has created functional GPS shoes that promise to guide the wearer to any destination, anywhere in the world. A Global Footprint project in Northamptonshire, U.K., an area famous for shoe making, commissioned Wilcox to create a pair of shoes. As he sketched his way to coming up with a design, he was inspired …

Out There

“Kitty Hawk” makes flying over water accessible

May 5, 2017

An new electric aircraft, designed to be flown over fresh water, has been introduced by Kitty Hawk Corp. Dubbed the Kitty Hawk Flyer, the aircraft has been tested and is legal to operate in the United States in uncongested areas under the ultralight category of FAA regulations. Users won’t need a pilot’s license to operate …

What's New?

Beer-resistant shoes debut in time for Oktoberfest

September 18, 2017

Oktoberfest can be celebrated this year with a shoe from adidas that’s made especially to withstand spilled beer – and anything else that might land on them. “Prost” shoes are made of leather coated in DBP resin to make the shoes resistant to spills they could encounter among the festivals celebrants. The leather construction of …

What's New?

Stanford develops a soft, expanding robot

September 11, 2017

Mechanical engineers at Stanford University have created a robot inspired by organisms that cover distance by growing, such as vines, fungi and nerve cells. According to Stanford sources, the researchers’ aim is to establish a new approach to getting mobility from a mechanism. “It’s very, very different from the way that animals or people get …

What's New?

Transparent, halogen-free aqueous FR coating developed

September 7, 2017

Three Japanese companies have collaborated to develop a new aqueous, transparent flame-retardant coating. Landex Coat Flame Retardant Clear is the joint project of Dainichi Giken Co. Ltd., Daimaru Kogyo Co. Ltd. and Teijin Ltd. The new product is a halogen-free acrylic coating that can be applied to the surfaces of timber, paper, fiber, rubber and plastic. Application …

What's New?

ZIPPKOOL® supports worker safety

August 29, 2017

Heat safety is often a major concern for workers. Scheduled for release in February 2018, the new ZIPPCOOL® helmet cooler and ANSI Class 3 High Visibility Cooling Jacket aim to keep workers in construction, agriculture and manufacturing cool in hot environments. The company reports that the ZIPPKOOL Cooling Jacket works in hot environments between 80 …

What's New?

Solar jacket charges itself to glow in the dark

August 21, 2017

Twin brothers and adventure athletes Nick and Steve Tidball have created a jacket made from material that can be charged to glow in the dark by exposing it to almost any light source. The company’s Solar Charged Jacket stores light to glow in the dark, and it protects from driving rain and winds, too. Their …

What's New?

Taiwanese innovation showcases performance fabrics

August 16, 2017

Taiwanese textile manufacturers recently presented products at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market at a launch hosted by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council. New-product categories included fabric printing technology; smart textiles measuring heart rate and motion data; textile innovations utilizing fewer chemicals, water and raw materials while preserving function and complex colors; a PFC-free durable …

What's New?

Denim North America introduces new product line

August 15, 2017

Denim North America, a division of DNA Textile Group, recently introduced a new product line called FYnesse® Denim. According to the company, the product offers performance stretch with reduced shrinkage for  better fabric utilization and increased garment-to-garment sizing consistency. FYnesse Denim incorporates FYnesse yarn, developed and produced by Fiber & Yarn Products, a division of Poole Co. The …

What's New?

DuPont launches Intexar smart clothing technology

August 10, 2017

DuPont Advanced Materials recently announced the availability of its newest stretchable electronic inks and films for smart clothing. The announcement coincides with the launch of a new brand identity, DuPont Intexar smart clothing technology. The company says Intexar creates intelligent garments by connecting fabrics to biometric data including heart rate, breathing rate, form awareness and …

What's New?

Toung Loong Textile creates new line using INVISTA technology

August 7, 2017

According to INVISTA, Taiwan’s Toung Loong Textile is launching a new line of fabrics consisting of a blend of INVISTA’s COOLMAX® AIR technology with LYCRA® fiber. The fabrics are specifically designed to meet the needs of women’s fitness wear. The high-performance fibers are engineered to maximize consumer comfort with moisture-management performance, breathability and fast drying times. …

What's New?

Smart glove translates American Sign Language into text

August 7, 2017

Engineers at the University of California San Diego announce that they have developed a smart glove that wirelessly translates the American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet into text and controls a virtual hand to mimic sign language gestures. The device, which engineers call “The Language of Glove,” was built for less than $100 using stretchable and …