September 14, 2020
Known for its solar-powered and origami-inspired lighting, Solight Design, based in New York, N.Y., has ventured into the mask design arena with the SEEUS95 clear, self-adhering, earloop-free mask, which the company says can provide better protection than masks made with nonwoven polypropylene, woven or knit fabrics. The mask features a natural filter made of bamboo, silk, …
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. consumers send about 70 percent of the clothes and footwear produced each year to landfill. Project Biogarmentry, by designer Roya Aghighi, has been launched to address the drastic increase in the environmental impact of textile waste and air pollution. Using the fields of synthetic biology and design, its …
September 8, 2020
London-based smart textile designer Michelle Rinow has unveiled her Transforming Touch Series, which was developed based on research about the benefits of sensory play for adults. “Many people think play is just for children, but I believe play is necessary through all stages of life and should be accessible to people no matter their physical abilities, age …
July 27, 2020
With mask-wearing now a part of everyday life worldwide, designers and innovators have tried to provide improved face coverings that address a variety of concerns. Some have been made transparent; others are made with biodegradable materials to address disposal problems. But among the innovations, there hasn’t been a mask that connects to the Internet … until …
June 22, 2020
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University have demonstrated a new method for ‘programming’ liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) that enables them to twist and bend in the presence of light. This made it possible to replicate the complex twisting actions of the human muscle system in the materials, a breakthrough particularly useful for applications in soft robotics …
June 8, 2020
Octopus, squid and other sea creatures can perform a disappearing act by using specialized tissues in their bodies to manipulate the transmission and reflection of light, and now researchers at the University of California Irvine have engineered human cells to have similar transparent abilities. In a paper published recently in Nature Communications, the scientists described how …
May 25, 2020
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the race has been on to provide adequate numbers of personal protective equipment (PPE). Designers, manufacturers and individuals at home have come out in force to offer creative solutions ranging from 3D printed shields to DIY face masks. Since many of these designs have used plastic-based material, Elizabeth Bridges and Garrett Benisch of Sum …
May 11, 2020
Los Angeles-based creative studio Production Club offers a solution for the music and night life industries, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has recently released renderings of its latest concept, the Micrashell Protective Suit. As stay-at-home restrictions are eased, there is still a need to be assured of safety, even when you first venture out socially. Designed …
May 5, 2020
The textile industry is set to put microalgae to work to develop materials for fabrics, apparel and footwear, according to a Sportstextile.com article. Companies around the world are collaborating, researching and producing materials using some of the simplest organisms. Finishes Research has made algae’s contributions to the textile industry into a rapidly changing landscape, the article reports. …
April 27, 2020
Infrared radiation, which is invisible, is used for various purposes, including for coronavirus detection (through thermal imaging cameras and biosensors). A Korean research team has developed a technology that visualizes infrared radiation and expands its application range, a report on www.phys.org says. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has announced that Dr. Kwon Seok-joon’s research …
