Surmountable challenges

October 28, 2024  |  Features

The smart fabric segment of the textile industry is poised to grow from $4.19 billion in 2024 to $15.21 billion by 2032, according to a Business Research Insights market report, but stumbling blocks remain that keep smart products from wider acceptance, and therefore even larger commercial success. …
The biomaterials alternative 

October 14, 2024  |  Features

This year’s Emerging Technologies Conference, presented by the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) had a clear focus on the topics on everyone’s minds, with sessions addressing sustainability and PFAS updates, smart textiles and e-textile technology, biomaterials, artificial intelligence, texti…
Navigating global trade compliance

September 18, 2024  |  Features

Manufacturers of advanced textiles often are new entrants in young markets, so the regulatory hurdles can feel high—or invisible, until you hit them. This article highlights three regulatory issues related to global trade compliance, which advanced textile manufacturers must navigate to succeed in…
Demystifying international patent rights

September 9, 2024  |  Features

Seeking patent rights in the U.S. can be daunting enough to prevent some from seeking protection, and the thought of seeking patent rights outside of the U.S. is unfathomable. But even though the process can be arduous, the benefits of patent rights can far outweigh the time and expense to obtain th…
High-tech textiles in high-growth markets

August 26, 2024  |  Features

The 2024 Olympics in Paris captivated a global audience. But while the games were in progress, the athletes—and spectators, too—were feeling the effects of heat reaching 97 o (36.11 °C), prompting authorities to look for better protection. A Rings of Fire II report points out that the average t…
Smart garments for elderly healthcare

August 12, 2024  |  Features

Americans over the age of 75 years are expected to account for more than 50 percent of the anticipated 19 million population increase in the country over the coming decade. This is according to a March 2024 report by Wells Fargo that goes on to warn, “Assuming the share of the population that has …
Next generation smart textiles are in development

July 29, 2024  |  Features

In May of 2022, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), a project of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, announced a program instigated to develop sensor systems that can record and store audio, video and location data. It also seeks to develop a garment t…
Collaborating with the defense industry

July 15, 2024  |  Features

NATO’s 75th Anniversary Summit in Washington, D.C. recently ended with a commitment from its members to reach the 2 percent GDP target for defense spending, although the timeline to achieve this goal may vary among some members. As of this year, 23 out of 32 members will reach this target. This sp…