TEXTILES.ORG
Educated guesswork
January 15th, 2024
On a semi-regular basis, this publication has run a “year in review” feature in January. That may mean the previous year, or it could include the year that’s just begun. This January, it means both. We are starting, logically, with the previous year, but the upcoming feature (“Looking ahead”) may seem like déjà vu all […]
2023: The year that was
January 15th, 2024
If one was to run a political, economic, social, technology (PEST) analysis on the smart and advanced textile industry for the year, “P” would dominate, as politics has impacted all sectors. But that is not to diminish important developments that have taken place in the industry, in some cases because of the conflicts, and in others despite them. Toray recycled […]
Resiliency in the face of change
January 23rd, 2023
Sewbo makes use of off-the-shelf industrial robots by temporarily stiffening fabrics, allowing robots to build garments from rigid cloth. The water-soluble stiffener is removed at the end of the manufacturing process with a rinse in hot water, leaving a soft, assembled product. Photo: Sewbo. Editor’s note: This month in our features we’re looking at the […]
The year ahead in textiles
January 9th, 2023
Spools are stored nearby for use in a manufacturing facility at NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles. Photo: Janet Preus. Will 2023 be the year that heralds a deglobalized, but more highly networked, textile industry? If so, what might that look like? One may look at this topic through four different lenses, starting with the […]
Workforce, supply chain and manufacturing
April 11th, 2022
Printed antenna designs are optimized for improving efficiency of communication close to the body. The NEXT Research Lab at NC State works with researchers from Penn State University in the design of these antennas to support wearable electronics. This year’s Smart Fabrics Summit zeroed in on the industry’s most important issues, building a new in-person […]
Opportunity awaits a stronger textile industry
January 24th, 2022
Changes in trade policy are designed to support “investments here at home” and strengthen U.S. global competitiveness. Editor’s note: Bill Jackson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles, responds to questions on issues of importance to companies in the textile industry, particularly those engaged in international trade. Q: Supply chain issues persist, as we all know. Businesses […]
Understanding the U.S. trade agenda
November 22nd, 2021
What companies in the advanced textiles industry need to know. by Janet Preus A panel lead by trade attorney Nate Bolin, partner, DLA Piper, with the Hon. Bill Jackson, asst. U.S. trade representative for textiles, and John Macisso, legal counsel and director of global trade compliance, Albany International Corp., discussed priorities of the Biden administration […]
Manufacturing revival: a timely necessity
March 8th, 2021
The U.S. is shaping its future in the international textile market. by Seshadri Ramkumar In the past two decades, most advanced nations have focused on advanced technology, paying specific attention to sectors such as information technology and biotechnology. While these fields are vital to the economy, COVID-19 has exposed vulnerabilities in the manufacture of products […]
A year like no other
January 25th, 2021
Examining the past year and looking ahead to a new normal. by Janet Preus Editor’s note: What our editorial calendar intended to cover and what we actually covered in 2020 presents an interesting perspective on the larger picture, overwhelmingly impacted by a worldwide pandemic. This article is a brief retrospective of the “year like no […]
Supply chains get tripped up due to “essential” and “non-essential” designation
March 30th, 2020
The need for more medical textile products, such as face masks and hospital gowns, has been well publicized since the exponential growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. But equally important is a means to get the materials required to make the products, a means of transportation to move materials and end products and getting the final […]