TEXTILES.ORG
Smart exoskeleton for dogs helps them walk again
February 9th, 2026
Repawse is an attachable, powered smart exoskeleton for dogs that helps them walk more naturally after an injury. Photo: courtesy of Leijing Zhou, via A’ Design Award and Competition. An attachable powered exoskeleton for dogs named “Repawse” allows them to walk again after an injury or illness. A design project led by Zhou Leijing and her team in Hangzhou, […]
Powering a more climate friendly future
February 9th, 2026
Aruppukkottai, India-based Jayalakshmi Textiles has its own power generation using wind and solar sources. Photo: Jayalakshmi Textiles. Textiles have typically been an industry with high energy consumption. In some circumstances it can be highly labor intensive and show lower productivity, depending on the level of modernization. The industry over the past many years has been […]
Big questions: bigger rewards
February 9th, 2026
If I have learned one thing while working in the textiles industry, it is that innovative solutions are in the making all the time. If this industry can figure out how to make a single fiber conductive, so that a shirt can monitor vital signs 24-7, it can figure out how to make itself a […]
Stretchy sweat-activated yarn batteries developed for smart fabrics
February 9th, 2026
A strain-insensitive stretchable sweat-activated yarn battery was developed by researchers in China. Their work was published in Wearable Electronics. Image: D. Li, et al. Incorporating sweat-activated batteries into smart fabrics for athletic use may have jumped another hurdle. Researchers at the School of Materials & Energy, Southwest University in China developed a fiber wrapping technique […]
New Jersey passes PFAS laws
February 9th, 2026
The New Jersey state government passed Bill S1042 on Jan. 12, 2026, and Bill A5195/5223 on Jan. 20, 2026. Bill S1042, known as the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act, establishes requirements, prohibitions and programs for the regulation of PFAS. Bill A5195/5223 concerns PFAS usage in certain firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE), requiring producers to disclose […]
Nalco Water and ANDRITZ announce 3-year collaboration
February 9th, 2026
Image: Nalco Water/Ecolab Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, has entered a strategic three-year collaboration with international technology group ANDRITZ to support product development at the PrimeLineTIAC Tissue Innovation and Application Center (TIAC) in Graz, Austria. The partnership aims to support the future of the tissue and towel industry and meet rising consumer expectations for softness, […]
Rieter completes acquisition of Barmag
February 6th, 2026
Thomas Oetterli, CEO of Rieter. Image: Rieter Rieter has completed the acquisition of Barmag as of Feb. 2, 2026. Barmag will be consolidated and integrated into the Rieter Group as the “Man-Made Fiber” Division. The management of Barmag will remain with the company. Georg Stausberg will continue to lead the division and report to Thomas […]
Southern Textile Research Conference 2026 set for May
February 5th, 2026
Image: STRC The Southern Textile Research Conference (STRC) will return this year in May at Myrtle Beach, S.C. The conference will focus on integrating advanced materials, manufacturing technologies, and digital intelligence across the textile industry. The 2026 conference is scheduled for May 17–19 at the Embassy Suites Myrtle Beach. The theme is “Integrating Materials, Machines, […]
AEC Narrow Fabrics celebrates 40th anniversary
February 4th, 2026
Image: AEC Narrow Fabrics AEC Narrow Fabrics, a textile company in Asheboro, N.C., celebrated its 40th anniversary in January. Formally known as Asheboro Elastics Corp, it was founded in 1986 by Keith and Jane Crisco. “Reaching 40 years is a deeply meaningful milestone,” says Jeff Crisco, AEC president and second-generation leader. “This is legacy creation, […]
President Trump signs trade agreements with India, Guatemala and El Salvador
February 3rd, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump signed reciprocal trade agreements with India, Guatemala and El Salvador in late January and early February. India After a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Trump has agreed to lower reciprocal tariffs on India from 50% to 18%. The White House has not yet issued a fact sheet with […]