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Autonomous sailing vessel to cross the Atlantic
August 31st, 2015
“MARS” is not headed to the red planet, although it is unmanned. This vessel is headed across the Atlantic Ocean, powered exclusively by solar technology. The Mayflower Autonomous Research Ship (MARS) is a sailing vessel designed by Shuttleworth Design for unlimited range. Carrying a variety of drones, the vessel will conduct experiments throughout the voyage. […]
UltraTech introduces multirepellent EverShield
August 28th, 2015
Jacksonville, Fla.-based spill-containment specialist UltraTech International Inc. has added EverShield to its product line. The fabric protection establishes a polymer coating that encases each fiber of the material, increasing durability. The coating—which deflects water, food, oil and more—maintains performance levels of long-chain fluorocarbons using the more environmentally friendly C6 fluoropolymers. The product is also water-based […]
Textile chemicals guide available
August 27th, 2015
With more customers wanting to know what is in their textile products, and chemical regulations for products becoming more stringent, ChemSec saw the need to provide a guide. The non-profit International Chemical Secretariat in Goteborg, Sweden, is offering the ChemSec Textile Guide to show companies how they can identify problematic chemicals in their production and […]
Aquafil, Speedo to recycle swimwear fabric
August 21st, 2015
Italian yarn company Aquafil has partnered with Speedo USA to recycle the latter’s swimwear scrap material into Econyl nylon. Speedo’s PowerFLEX Eco swimwear will be made from the nylon 6, creating a closed-loop manufacturing partnership between the two companies. In the swimwear industry, post-production fabric waste has previously been unsuitable for traditional recycling due to […]
Seeing the unseen—in color
August 21st, 2015
Co-founder of The Unseen, Lauren Bowker, identifies herself as an alchemist and leads the London-based design studio with a blend of material science and “magick.” The studio recently developed a sculptural jacket that is capable of detecting and reacting to brain activity, the company says, then changing its color based on how the wearer is […]
Will graphene disrupt the textile industry?
August 21st, 2015
Graphene discussions prominent in Ideas for Change Conference. During the 20th century, new textile polymers, chemicals and manufacturing methods came thick and fast—until 2005, when the WTO (World Trade Organization) dismantled the tariff system for textiles, and the race to ever-cheaper manufacturing provided little incentive for R&D in consumer textiles. Today, textile innovation is being […]
Smart textile market to see dramatic growth
August 21st, 2015
The global market for smart textiles and fabrics is expected to be valued at $1.59 billion by 2020, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 24.1 percent from 2013 to 2020, according to a report by market analysts at San Francisco-based Grand View Research. The market is expected to be fueled by the growing […]
Green medical textiles: the next phase
August 21st, 2015
Certain segments of the population today have a greater awareness of the composition of the individual constituents in products and are particular about a product’s environmental footprint. More importantly, among consumers who buy textiles and related products, environmental issues are of concern. Green products and technologies are desired particularly in metropolitan areas in developed economies. […]
Thermo-color map reveals weather conditions
August 21st, 2015
Rolled, fabric maps are about as old as maps themselves, but a new map designed by Camilla Hempleman offers additional useful features for visitors and residents in her native Bath, England. The Bath °C Thermo Color Map uses thermo-chromic inks and Tyvek® fabric, and is activated at different temperatures, which reveals layers of hand-illustrated buildings […]
Convention eyes wearable tech advances
August 19th, 2015
The rapidly growing market for wearable technology will be the focus of Sourcing at Magic, a trade show and conference slated Aug. 16-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The value of the global wearable-technology market is predicted to reach $20 billion this year and $70 billion by 2025, according to the conference presenters. Wearable […]