Industry News

Fifteen U.S. state attorneys general oppose proposed revision to TSCA PFAS reporting policy

January 9, 2026

Fifteen U.S. state attorneys general have submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), expressing their opposition to a proposed revision to PFAS reporting policy under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The comments were submitted Dec. 22 by attorneys general of Connecticut, Illinois, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, …

EcoNote

Chupps sandal-shaped billboard biodegrades

January 8, 2026

Mumbai, India-based footwear brand Chupps found a highly visible way to advertise the company’s commitment to simple footwear made from eco-friendly materials. It created a biodegradable billboard shaped like a sandal that was designed to disappear and dissolve in the rain.  Made from natural materials, the project was installed at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai and …

EcoNote

France’s ban on PFAS is now in force

January 8, 2026

Cosmetics and clothes made with PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, have officially been banned in France. This follows mounting concern over the adverse health impacts of these persistent pollutants. The landmark bill was passed on February 20, 2025, with more than 140,000 citizens calling on their MPs to support the ban. While it has …

Features

Maintaining critical funding for advanced textiles

January 8, 2026

On January 5, 2026, the Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives released conference bills for important appropriations that fund federal research and allied agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). As of this writing, these bills are expected to pass through both houses …

What's New?

Swiss startup announces smart socks for sensing and pain

January 8, 2026

ETH Zurich spin-off MYNERVA has created a smart sock that can help people with diabetes feel the ground again while walking. Named Leia, the device has electrodes sewn into it, which restores the user’s sensation to the foot sole as well as reduces their chronic pain. When the electrodes stimulate specific nerve strands, the body releases chemical messengers, and these block pain signals …

Out There

Xiaomi launches voice-controlled, mite-fighting blanket

January 8, 2026

Ever since Xiaomi was founded 15 years ago in Beijing, it has expanded from producing smartphones to AR glasses, robotic dogs, and even electric cars. Now, the company has introduced another innovation: a smart blanket with voice control that also fights mites. The Mijia Smart Electric blanket is designed to be used as an additional layer on top of a …

Industry News

PFAS laws in several U.S. states take effect

January 8, 2026

Several U.S. state laws related to the use of PFAS in products, such as bans and warning label mandates, went into effect Jan. 1. These states include Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota and Vermont. Visit Advanced Textile Association’s PFAS Resource Center for information and updates about other state PFAS laws and regulations. Connecticut Most products (including …

Industry News

Oerlikon receives regulatory approvals for Barmag sale to Rieter

January 6, 2026

Oerlikon announced that the company has received all regulatory clearances for the divestment of its Barmag business to Rieter, with closing scheduled for early February 2026. The transaction, announced in May 2025, values Barmag at an enterprise value of CHF 850 million (around $1 billion), excluding a potential earn-out of up to CHF 100 million. …

Industry News

ExxonMobil, Milliken, Ravago develop recycled PP compounds for automotives

January 5, 2026

ExxonMobil, Milliken and Ravago have developed high-performance polypropylene (PP) compounds that incorporate recycled content and meet various automotive requirements. These requirements include stiffness, impact resistance, and fast injection molding cycle times, which comply with emerging end-of-life vehicle requirements in the European Union. Automotive original equipment manufacturers have traditionally limited the use of recycled PP to …

Industry News

CBP collects $1 billion since end of de minimis loophole

January 1, 2026

In mid-December U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that it has collected more than $1 billion in duties on more than 246 million low-cost shipments since the phasing out the de minimis loophole began May 2, 2025. The phaseout began with low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong no longer being eligible for duty-free …

Expo News

Plan your stay: Official housing for Advanced Textiles Expo 2025 now open

March 11, 2025

We are pleased to announce that Site & Stay has been selected as the official housing partner for Advanced Textiles Expo® 2025, taking place Nov. 5–7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. Hotel booking is now open, offering attendees and exhibitors exclusive access to discounted rates at our official host hotels—all conveniently located …

Expo News

Advanced Textiles Expo 2024 brings more than 4,200 attendees, showcasing innovation and collaboration

October 17, 2024

Advanced Textiles Expo® 2024, the largest event of Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA), concluded with resounding success Sept. 24–26 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Once again held in conjunction with Sun Shading Expo North America—organized by Messe Stuttgart, founders of R + T and the world’s largest trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun shading …

Expo News

ATA negotiates lower rates for exhibitors at Advanced Textiles Expo

August 14, 2024

The Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) has renegotiated its General Services Contractor contract for the 2025–2027 Advanced Textiles Expo® shows. By selecting Freeman through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, we have secured rates that significantly lower the cost burden on our exhibitors. RFP process Key achievements This successful negotiation translates directly to cost savings for …

ATA News

Messe Stuttgart’s Sun Shading Expo North America moves co-location debut with IFAI Expo to 2022

July 6, 2021

Messe Stuttgart announced that its new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more. IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place …

Expo News

Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021

May 10, 2021

Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021. IFAI Expo celebrates the 100th anniversary of the show this November, and you won’t want to miss it! After a long hiatus of in-person events, this year’s show is the perfect place to reconnect with your industry. Register now to get the Early Bird rate! Early Bird rates end …

Expo News

Standard for active illumination developed in Europe

November 16, 2020

In a session at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, “Smart Textiles Standardization, Active Illumination,” Dr. Jan Beringer, senior scientific expert Hohenstein Group, explained the new standard for active illumination that will soon be implemented in European Union countries.  Organizations worked together to develop the standards. It is notable, he said that both textile and electronics industries …

Expo News

Textile industry leaders call for policy changes to support U.S. production of PPE

November 13, 2020

The U.S. textile industry has stepped up to meet the demand for face masks, medical gowns, wipes and other products necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but it needs policy changes from Washington so that the U.S. is not caught off-guard again in a future crisis, according to association leaders speaking at Industrial Fabrics Association …

Expo News

The larger issues in respiratory protection

November 12, 2020

Dr. Bryran Ormond, assistant professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State explained respiratory protection in an “Ask an Expert” session with Jing Liang, Medical PPE Consulting LLC. Dr. Ormand has typically worked in the area of chemical and biological protective equipment, but with the onslaught of the pandemic, began to focus on respiratory protection generally, …

Expo News

Surgical gowns require extra manufacturing considerations

November 11, 2020

All surgical gowns are not created equal, and a Nov. 11 presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020 helped sort out the differences. The finer points of surgical gowns were discussed by Dr. Martin King, a professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, and Jing Liang, president of Medical PPE Consulting LLC. …

Expo News

Rodgers: Textiles are the “T” in STEM

November 11, 2020

How do you create a channel from research to application? How do you create a pathway toward understanding complex human problems across supply chains and market sectors? STEM—a curriculum based on teaching science, technology, engineering and math—has branched out from basic chemistry and biology and physics classes, into collaborative efforts, including textiles, according to Stephanie …

Features

Maintaining critical funding for advanced textiles

January 8, 2026

On January 5, 2026, the Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives released conference bills for important appropriations that fund federal research and allied agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). As of this writing, these bills are expected to pass through both houses …

Features

Wearables lead protective market advances

December 15, 2025

Protective clothing is becoming smarter, with e-textiles bringing new capability in health and environmental monitoring that’s paired with location tracking to offer protection for workers in hazardous locations. At E-Textiles 2025 in Lille, France, a number of European advances were presented around smart protective clothing with new developments including uniforms, footwear and protective gloves for military …

Features

Niche markets for protective clothing

December 8, 2025

You may have wondered about “niche markets,” and why they are important. A niche market essentially specializes in a smaller area of a broader market. That niche allows you to create a more focused business so you can establish a loyal customer base because you are concentrating on your customers’ specific needs. This helps to …

Features

Emerging Technologies Conference 2025: Part II

November 17, 2025

Sustainability in the textiles industry is a growing concern with changing regulations and global supply chains. New technologies and processes, however, are blossoming to replace materials considered toxic, reduce water consumption and create safer environments for workers and consumers. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence technology is developing fast, offering tools to streamline work and support research and …

Features

Emerging Technologies Conference at ATA Expo 2025

November 10, 2025

The Advanced Textiles Association Emerging Technologies Conference (ETC) in Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 4. offered attendees real-world mechanisms for moving their businesses forward in a changing industry landscape. Two presentations dealt with entities established specifically to support research and development, connect various areas of expertise and provide the means to move innovations into commercialization.  Advanced textiles: pushing the …

Features

Functionality under the radar

October 27, 2025

Functional textiles are the wave of the future, having huge growth prospects that will influence the survival and growth of the global textiles sector. Market analysis firms have, in recent years, been actively estimating the size of this sector. The field is varied, and hence the type of functionalization and the product types and applications …

Features

Doing business with the U.S. Military

October 13, 2025

There are always questions regarding how a company would introduce a product into the U.S. military marketplace, and for those who have tried to do so, many of these attempts have been met with bewilderment, frustration and resignation. Case studies and examples abound across a wide range of technologies, not just for textile products. Such …

Features Members only content

How natural can technical textiles be?

September 22, 2025

According to a recent report by the United Nations, the progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 has been slow. It is alarming to note that about 18 percent of the 139 targets are showing regression below the 2015 levels. Governments must have swift action plans to support the SDGs of the United …

Features Members only content

Test tube textiles

September 8, 2025

The creation of sustainable textiles has been top-of-mind for the textile industry since the 1990s. Along with recycled polyester and circular textile-to-textile manufacturing, fibers created in the lab from bio-based inputs are also finding a place in an expanding menu of innovative textile fibers. With a focus on performance and tunability, biosynthetic fibers are now …

Features

3D construction in textiles

August 22, 2025

Editor’s note: Early in my career writing about functional textiles, the board chair of what was then the Industrial Fabrics Association International walked me through the JEC show, running concurrent with our Expo. He gestured around the displays, most of them featuring rigid composites, and said simply, “There are textiles in everything here.” We might …

Industry News

Fifteen U.S. state attorneys general oppose proposed revision to TSCA PFAS reporting policy

January 9, 2026

Fifteen U.S. state attorneys general have submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), expressing their opposition to a proposed revision to PFAS reporting policy under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The comments were submitted Dec. 22 by attorneys general of Connecticut, Illinois, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, …

Industry News

PFAS laws in several U.S. states take effect

January 8, 2026

Several U.S. state laws related to the use of PFAS in products, such as bans and warning label mandates, went into effect Jan. 1. These states include Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota and Vermont. Visit Advanced Textile Association’s PFAS Resource Center for information and updates about other state PFAS laws and regulations. Connecticut Most products (including …

Industry News

Oerlikon receives regulatory approvals for Barmag sale to Rieter

January 6, 2026

Oerlikon announced that the company has received all regulatory clearances for the divestment of its Barmag business to Rieter, with closing scheduled for early February 2026. The transaction, announced in May 2025, values Barmag at an enterprise value of CHF 850 million (around $1 billion), excluding a potential earn-out of up to CHF 100 million. …

Industry News

ExxonMobil, Milliken, Ravago develop recycled PP compounds for automotives

January 5, 2026

ExxonMobil, Milliken and Ravago have developed high-performance polypropylene (PP) compounds that incorporate recycled content and meet various automotive requirements. These requirements include stiffness, impact resistance, and fast injection molding cycle times, which comply with emerging end-of-life vehicle requirements in the European Union. Automotive original equipment manufacturers have traditionally limited the use of recycled PP to …

Industry News

CBP collects $1 billion since end of de minimis loophole

January 1, 2026

In mid-December U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that it has collected more than $1 billion in duties on more than 246 million low-cost shipments since the phasing out the de minimis loophole began May 2, 2025. The phaseout began with low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong no longer being eligible for duty-free …

Company News

Teijin Ltd. to acquire Asahi Kasei Advance

December 29, 2025

In December 2025 Teijin Ltd. and Asahi Kasei Corp. agreed to an absorption-type merger between Asahi Kasei Advance Corp. and Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., where Teijin Frontier will serve as the surviving company and become a joint venture between Asahi Kasei (20%) and Teijin (80%), effective Oct. 1, 2026. An announcement about the new company …

Industry News

Minnesota updates PFAS reporting and fee requirements

December 26, 2025

On Dec. 8, The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) published a revision to some language in its rule regarding the reporting of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and the fees associated with it. The final rule has added detail and flexibility for manufacturers, including: the ability of a group of manufacturers to report jointly; the grouping …

Industry News

PFAS labeling law updates for Connecticut

December 23, 2025

Beginning July 1, 2026, Connecticut requires that certain types of products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) be labeled. Textile-related products include apparel, carpets and rugs, fabric treatments, juvenile products, textile furnishings, and upholstered furniture. According to the order, acceptable label phrasing includes: “‘Contains PFAS,’  ‘Made with PFAS,’  ‘Made with PFAS chemicals,’ ‘Made with …

Industry News

Vomela acquires Moss

December 22, 2025

On Dec. 16, The Vomela Companies announced the acquisition of Moss Inc. As part of the acquisition, Vomela will merge its Fusion events business unit into Moss, which will operate under the unified name Moss, A Vomela Company, to be led by its president and CEO Jason Popp. With 1,600 employees at 20+ locations across …

Industry News

President Trump signs National Defense Authorization Act

December 19, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Dec. 18. The U.S. Senate and House passed the act earlier this month, following the reconciliation of the House and Senate versions of the bill in a conference committee. The final NDAA retains the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) level under the …

Out There

Xiaomi launches voice-controlled, mite-fighting blanket

January 8, 2026

Ever since Xiaomi was founded 15 years ago in Beijing, it has expanded from producing smartphones to AR glasses, robotic dogs, and even electric cars. Now, the company has introduced another innovation: a smart blanket with voice control that also fights mites. The Mijia Smart Electric blanket is designed to be used as an additional layer on top of a …

Out There

Coperni’s C+ regenerative clothes have probiotics

October 13, 2025

Skincare within regenerative clothing defines Coperni’s C+, a series of everyday wear infused with probiotics and prebiotics. Capable of restoring the skin’s microbiome, each garment contains living microorganisms that interact with the skin during wear, support the skin’s natural balance, and help it repair itself over time.  The C+ line is made using a biobased …

Out There

Suture-free tissue reconstruction is now possible

September 8, 2025

For tissue repair, surgeons are currently limited to mechanical solutions like sutures and staples, which can cause their own damage, or meshes and glues that may not adequately bond with tissues and can be rejected by the body.  Medical startup Tissium now offers surgeons a new solution based on a biopolymer technology first developed at …

Out There

Bioluminescent dress glows with living algae

July 14, 2025

A project titled “Sympoiesis” from designer Iris van Herpen and biodesigner Christopher Bellamy of Bio Crafted, lit up the runway at Paris Haute Couture Week, in early July of this year. The collaboration allowed them to utilize the capabilities of living microorganisms, including bioluminescent microalgae.   Of the 17 looks presented in the show, the opening …

Out There

Material made from fungi reacts to its surroundings

June 4, 2025

Researchers at EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) have created a living biodegradable material made from fungi that can allow trash bags to decompose organic waste. It is one of the many potential applications of the studied fungi.  In the field of electronics, the living biodegradable material made from fungi can be used to produce sensors, as well …

Out There

Puffer jacket doubles as monitoring sleepwear

April 24, 2025

The ZZZN Sleep Apparel System is a voluminous puffer jacket that doubles as a cozy sleep sack, so users can doze off anywhere and anytime in comfort. But beyond its apparent comfortability, it also offers biometric data monitoring and headphones that play  music with frequency bands to help people fall asleep.  The ZZZN puffer jacket for sleep modernizes “Yagi,” a traditional Japanese winter nightwear. …

Out There

Gaia Communication System feels the health of nature

February 24, 2025

Pavels Hedström has introduced the Gaia Communication System, a vest and a pair of gloves with sensors so that users feel the health of plants, insects, soil and air. Unveiled under his design practice Inxects, the Swedish architect has installed multiple haptic sensors around the vest and gloves, each of which correspond to a natural object.  The …

Out There

Rewoven silk cocoon waste used as a leather alternative 

December 9, 2024

Japanese designer Hiroto Ikebe recently showcased a leather alternative he developed using rewoven silk cocoon waste. His exhibition COCOON ANATOMY, shown during DESIGNART Tokyo 2024, displayed clothing that was designed to demonstrate that silk materials typically discarded or not used for mass production can be repurposed into fabrics and materials with multiple uses.  The leather alternative comes from raw silk, …

Out There

Project explores human-bacterial interaction in textile design

September 18, 2024

Carolina De Lara’s project, Bacterial Brickbats, explores the interaction between bacterial cellulose and knit textiles to challenge traditional, human-centered design in fashion and textiles. The project negotiates human/non-human liaisons by proposing a study where sharing agency between designer and bacterial cellulose produces a material library illustrating differing needs, creative or biological, resulting in an expressive …

Out There

Solid-knitting machine builds reconfigurable objects

August 12, 2024

A new materials technique has blended the usefulness of knitting needles and yarn with cutting-edge technology to create the equipment and process to make a solid-knit object of almost any kind. Yuichi Hirose first dreamed up this technique when he was a student at Keio University in Tokyo. There, working on digital fabrication methods in …

What's New?

Swiss startup announces smart socks for sensing and pain

January 8, 2026

ETH Zurich spin-off MYNERVA has created a smart sock that can help people with diabetes feel the ground again while walking. Named Leia, the device has electrodes sewn into it, which restores the user’s sensation to the foot sole as well as reduces their chronic pain. When the electrodes stimulate specific nerve strands, the body releases chemical messengers, and these block pain signals …

What's New?

Finger bandage-like device can “feel the digital world” 

December 15, 2025

Engineers at Northwestern University have created VoxeLite, a bandage-like device that stretches around the fingertip to let users “feel the digital world.” Comprised of a series of nodes, the wrap helps create digital touch that replicates the way a human fingertip senses real-life touch. This means the device makes signals that match the natural signals our skin detects, which …

What's New?

Study shows advantages of new wound healing technology

December 15, 2025

From silver nanofibers to smart, sensory-packed dressings, the next generation of wound-healing technology is blurring the line between biology and engineering. As scientific understanding and technology have improved, so, too, have the approaches developed to aid wound healing and infection control. Researchers from National Taiwan University (NTU) led a review of recent research into advanced …

What's New?

These boots are made for walking—on the moon

December 8, 2025

As NASA’s Artemis mission to the Moon approaches, the Emerging Technologies Conference at ATA’s Expo 2025 offered an update on the preparations. In a session titled, “Creating the Artemis Lunar Boots,” Morgan Campbell revisited the challenges human space travel has always faced, focusing on the planned mission to return to the Moon—77 years after the …

What's New?

Freudenberg offers binder-free PLA/wood pulp nonwovens

November 10, 2025

With its new PLA/wood pulp materials that use no chemical binder, Freudenberg Performance Materials says that it has achieved a technological breakthrough with sustainability benefits. The company’s innovative materials combine the advantages of both components, addressing the needs of specific segments within plant propagation systems, packaging, filtration, apparel and healthcare. The innovation lies in combining …

What's New?

Infrared-responsive textile is launched

November 10, 2025

Akira Kumada, SOLAMENT™ product manager, Takisada-Nagoya Co. Ltd., spoke on the company’s infrared-responsive textile at ATA’s Emerging Technologies Conference Nov. 4 in Indianapolis, Ind.  SOLAMENT™ is made from CWO®. Its nanoscale particles capable of absorbing near-infrared (NIR) energy were invented by Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., and the product has been “widely utilized for heat-blocking …

What's New?

Cephalopods inspire soft robotics’ skin

October 27, 2025

Inspired by the color-changing ability of cephalopods such as octopi and squid, University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers are developing a material that could one day be used in sensors and soft robotics applications.  The skins of octopuses and their cephalopod brethren are some of the most colorful, high-definition, morphing displays evolution has produced, but it’s their ability to …

What's New?

Lamp changes brightness by pressing its stretchable textile

September 22, 2025

WINT Design Lab, which focuses on sustainable product innovations, and electronics firm Fraunhofer IZM have partnered to produce a lamp that can change its brightness when the user presses the surface’s stretchable textile. “Soft Interfaces” uses a liquid metal dispensing technology placed inside a fabric that’s new to product applications.  The liquid metal, called Galinstan, is embedded into the touch-sensitive fabric …

What's New?

AI helps chemists develop tougher plastics

August 22, 2025

A new strategy for strengthening polymer materials could lead to more durable plastics and cut down on plastic waste, according to researchers at MIT and Duke University. Using machine learning, the researchers identified crosslinker molecules that can be added to polymer materials, allowing them to withstand more force before tearing. These crosslinkers belong to a …

What's New?

Seatbelt sensor system adjusts to each wearer

July 28, 2025

In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin created the three-point seatbelt and offered the design plans for free to automakers around the world. Since its introduction, the relatively simple, but game-changing, design has been credited with saving more than a million lives worldwide. Now the car brand is back with a high-tech seatbelt upgrade. The new …