Functional jacket designed to close the textile loop
January 31st, 2020
rEvolution Hybrid, an upcycled functional jacket, is the latest development from wear2wear. The three-layer jacket was developed and produced in collaboration with the European industry partnership, which aims to rapidly close the textile loop. Sympatex Technologies and Schoeller Textil are two wear2wear founding members. According to a recent news release from Sympatex, the jacket is made from […]
System of alpine expedition apparel and gear introduced
January 31st, 2020
The North Face announces that it has introduced The Summit Series Advanced Mountain Kit, a breathable, packable, warm and lightweight layering system, according to a recent news release. Based on input from elite athletes, designers and other innovators, North Face set out to create clothing and gear specific to alpine expeditions, the company stated. The […]
Student Design Challenge for 2020 opens
January 28th, 2020
Applications are now being accepted for the Advanced Textile Products Student Design Challenge for 2020. This is an annual contest sponsored by Advanced Textiles Products, a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI). The competition was established to encourage college and university students of design, textiles engineering, and allied curricula to solve safety and […]
EXOlung claims unlimited air supply for divers
January 27th, 2020
The EXOlung, an underwater breathing device, has been designed to give divers an unlimited air supply, its creator says. The device translates the diver’s swimming motions into air movement, keeping breathing air flowing—as long as the diver keeps swimming. EXOlung uses a buoy that floats on the surface of the water to provide the diver […]
New IPC standard reflects growth of e-textiles industry
January 27th, 2020
by Chris Jorgensen During a meeting at IPC APEX EXPO 2017, members of the e-textiles industry approached IPC (Association Connecting Electronics Industries) to help achieve their goal of developing international standards for their burgeoning field. IPC standards are open international standards, meaning anyone can participate in the process and can influence IPC standards, and because […]
Can we create researchers?
January 27th, 2020
by Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D. How do we create researchers and make manufacturing sectors, such as textiles and materials, competitive? Research needs to continue its progression from intellectual curiosity to transformational—from carrying out activities to creating high-performance textiles that markets will adopt. This progression requires changes in mindsets and skill sets. Strategies can be followed to […]
The future with plant-regenerated synthetics
January 27th, 2020
Sustainability issues leap to the forefront in creating new synthetic fibers. by Ericka Ford, Ph.D. Robert Hooke’s 1664 belief—that plants eaten by the silkworm could spin into a silk alternative—was an oversimplification of the biological processes that ultimately allowed the food satiated silkworm to spin silk. Nevertheless, the timely invention of the regenerated cellulosic fiber, […]
AATCC conference focus is sustainability
January 23rd, 2020
Going Green in Greenville is the theme of the AATCC’s 2020 International Conference being held March 10–12 in Greenville, S.C. The conference includes presentations and speakers addressing topics from five areas: sustainability, technology, e-textiles, comfort and wellness, and protective textiles/flammability. Elizabeth McCormick, former Black Hawk pilot and disabled veteran, will provide the keynote presentation, “YOU. In the Pilot’s […]
Toray reunites with Patagonia
January 22nd, 2020
A revamped Torrentshell 3L line of waterproof/breathable jackets will launch spring 2020. According to Toray, the debut marks the resumption of a long-standing partnership between Toray and Patagonia. The 2020 Torrentshell 3L line has three layers and a new hydrophobic membrane, custom-designed for Patagonia by Toray. The new fabric uses 100 percent recycled face fabric […]
Regional supply chains and global trade
January 21st, 2020
According to a recent Behind the Seams article, the regional production and trade network (RPTN) concept says that geographically proximate countries form regional supply chains, with three primary textile and apparel regional supply chains in operation: Asia, European and Western Hemisphere. In the Asia RPTN, the supply chain dynamic boils down to more economically advanced countries like […]