Textiles in hybrids
March 12th, 2018
Manufacturers are finding new ways to enhance product performance with textiles. As the demands made on textiles have increased, the nature of what is defined as “textile” has greatly expanded, often including non-textiles or treating them in a textile manner. Hybrids that bring together different materials and processes can offer the benefit of conventional textiles […]
Muskin “leather” is grown from fungus spores
March 12th, 2018
The production of leather and textiles is often a resource-heavy process, and the industries are responsible for diverse impacts, including human, animal or ecological, depending on the material type and production methods. The growth in popularity of vegan lifestyle choices, as well as an increased concern for animal welfare in livestock farming, has prompted a […]
What is a textile?
March 12th, 2018
Easy answers: woven, knit or felted materials, generally composed of yarn or fibers. Hmm. Nonwovens, then? Same deal, only not knitted or woven. Sometimes. Felted, then? How about films? Plastics, generally? Shall I go on? Regardless of your take on this question, I would challenge you to find two dictionary definitions of the word “textile” […]
Cephalopods may be the key to better camouflage for soldiers
March 12th, 2018
U.S. Army Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms could benefit from a new study about cephalopods. A research team led by Leila Deravi at Northeastern University has set out to discover how the stealth capabilities of cephalopods could help protect soldiers. Cephalopods are tentacled mollusks including squid, octopi, cuttlefish and the nautilus. These species can change their […]
CEOs demo their companies’ bobsled suits
March 9th, 2018
HeiQ and KJUS sponsored tailor-made bob suits for a special event at the Olympia Bob Run St.Moritz–Celerina in the Engadine Valley, Switzerland. Skintight and aerodynamic suits are essential to reduce drag on the way into the bobsled and down the run. The gear includes a proprietary HeiQ finishing technology intended to minimize air resistance and […]
Adidas Futurecraft 4D uses 3-D printed midsole
March 8th, 2018
“When a footwear innovator like adidas approaches a company that’s never made shoes, the industry takes notice,” says an article in Sourcing Journal. The footwear brand relied on Carbon Inc., a firm that marries molecular science to 3-D manufacturing, to help develop a new adidas sneaker. Engineers and designers at adidas set out to use liquids for the new […]
PolyOne drives textile sustainability with colorant technology
March 6th, 2018
PolyOne Corp. announces that it continues to advance its fiber colorant technology, ColorMatrix™ Fiber Colorant Solutions, which helps textile manufacturers, converters and brands improve sustainability efforts, operational efficiencies and market response rates. The company’s clorant solutions combine colorants and specialized melt-spinning equipment to provide an adaptive, innovative system for coloring polyester fiber. This allows textile […]
KPS to sell American & Efird
March 5th, 2018
KPS Capital Partners has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement, through an affiliate, to sell its portfolio company American & Efird (A&E) to Platinum Equity Capital Partners. A&E is a U.S. manufacturer and global distributor of industrial and consumer sewing thread, embroidery thread and technical textiles for the apparel, automotive components, home furnishings, […]
New workwear brand announced for glass and metal industry workers
March 2nd, 2018
PPSS Group’s cut-resistant fabric Cut-Tex PRO will be used in a new workwear clothing brand, CutPRO, to protect people working in the glass and metal production and processing industries. A press release issued by the company says PPSS worked with a British university to design and supply the “ultimate cut-resistant garment design” for personal protective […]