Powering a more climate friendly future

February 9, 2026  |  Features

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 in past decades has been addressing these issues, and it has opportunities to be more clima…
Navigating change

January 26, 2026  |  Features

EDITOR’S NOTE: With a new administration in Washington as of one year ago, change and its inherent uncertainties have been ongoing. I asked these experts in the industry to respond to questions about navigating the changes.
Textiles and Tariffs

January 26, 2026  |  Features

The U.S. – China trade deal has led to positive reactions by global financial markets, but uncertainty persists—and uncertainty is not good for business in terms of expansion and investments. Given the current scenario, China comes out to be a loser in the emerging textiles trade landscape, whil…
Maintaining critical funding for advanced textiles

January 8, 2026  |  Features

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). The…
Wearables lead protective market advances

December 15, 2025  |  Features

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 aro…
Niche markets for protective clothing

December 8, 2025  |  Features

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 customer…
Emerging Technologies Conference 2025: Part II

November 17, 2025  |  Features

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,…
Emerging Technologies Conference at ATA Expo 2025

November 10, 2025  |  Features

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…