Industry News

Emerald Carpets celebrates 50th anniversary, transitions Mainline Carpets brand

October 30, 2026

Emerald Carpets, Dalton, Ga., is celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary. Additionally, the company announced that the Mainline Carpets brand will transition to be under the Emerald Carpets brand later this year. The transition reflects the company’s commitment to creating a simpler, more unified experience for customers while continuing to provide the same products, services, relationships …

Industry News

Seshadri Ramkumar inducted into Red Raider Inventor Hall of Fame

October 30, 2026

Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., a professor at Texas Tech University’s Department of Environmental Toxicology, was inducted into the school’s inaugural Red Raider Inventor Hall of Fame Oct. 28. He was recognized for his invention and commercialization efforts, including developing FiberTect, a nonwoven decontamination wipe; a fabric hand method; soft body armor; and a cotton oil absorbent. …

Industry News

Americhem acquires Noble Biomaterials

October 29, 2026

Americhem, a global designer and manufacturer of custom polymer solutions, announced the acquisition of Noble Biomaterials, an advanced materials company that specializes in antimicrobial and conductivity solutions for soft surface applications. Noble Biomaterials provides proprietary materials technology for mission-critical applications across markets including apparel and textiles, healthcare, and aerospace and defense. Its flagship platforms include …

Industry News

Arclin announces investment to expand Nomex manufacturing capacity

October 28, 2026

Arclin, a materials science company, Alpharetta, Ga., announced a multimillion-dollar investment to expand floc production capacity at its Asturias, Spain facility, investing in the long-term growth of the Nomex® business. Since acquiring Nomex in April, Arclin has focused on investing in capacity, reliability and long-term growth to meet increasing customer demand. The company is delivering …

What's New?

Thread supports balance and movement comfort

October 26, 2026

Bursa, Turkey-based Durak Tekstil has developed Durak Maxibalance, a new product engineered with bio-ceramic and FAR (far infrared) IR technology. The company, a manufacturer of industrial sewing and embroidery threads, says its bio-ceramic embroidery thread offers features designed to support balance and movement comfort by reflecting the energy absorbed from the body back into it. …

What's New?

Penguin-inspired material can passively heat or cool

October 26, 2026

Inspired by penguins, the masters of thermal management, scientists have created a material that can passively switch between heating and cooling modes. The intent was to create a material to stay comfortable in weather extremes, even when temperatures change.  Developed by a joint team of Chinese researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology, Henan Normal University, …

EcoNote

Addressing aramids recycling challenges 

October 26, 2026

Recycling textiles is a formidable challenge being researched around the world. But when the materials have been designed to be the toughest, strongest, most durable materials out there, made to protect people’s lives, the task of trying to recycle them is next level. Even though textile recycling and sustainability regulations worldwide have carved out exceptions …

Features

Remarkable smart textiles

October 26, 2026

Textiles have evolved from being largely a fashion or comfort choice, to life-saving materials, thanks to growth in the advanced textiles sector. Advanced textiles have also become increasingly relevant due to climate and global political scenarios.  For example, inadequate school infrastructure, such as inefficient ventilation and insulation, have been among the complaints sparking recent protests …

My Take

You don’t know what you don’t know

October 26, 2026

In past blog posts, I’ve talked about how little I knew about the advanced textiles world when I first took an assignment at what was then the Industrial Fabrics Association International. I had been a newspaper and radio journalist, so many things about the work were familiar to me. That is, I had some tools …

Industry News

New Mexico appeals preliminary injunction on PFAS labeling rule

October 22, 2026

New Mexico appealed a preliminary injunction against the state’s PFAS labeling requirement Oct. 16. The preliminary injunction was issued by U.S. District Judge Margaret Strickland Sept. 21, temporarily halting the state’s PFAS labeling rule following a lawsuit filed in July challenging the regulation. If the preliminary injunction is lifted, the rule will take effect Jan. …

ATA News

Discounted hotel, airline rates available for Advanced Textiles Expo 2026

September 18, 2026

Through Oct. 5, get discounted hotel rooms for Advanced Textiles Expo®, Nov. 3–5 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., and the Emerging Technologies (ET) Conference Nov. 2. Discounted flights with Delta Air Lines are also available for Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) members and nonmembers. Join textile industry professionals for educational sessions, hands-on …

ATA News

2026 International Achievement Award submissions due Aug. 28

August 13, 2026

Submissions for the 2026 International Achievement Awards (IAA) are due Aug. 28. Project submissions are $25 per entry, and winners are recognized online, in print and at Advanced Textiles Expo®, Nov. 3–5, 2026 in Orlando, Fla. For more than 75 years, the IAAs recognize outstanding and innovative projects representing the latest accomplishments in design and …

ATA News

Judge applications open for 2026 International Achievement Awards

May 14, 2026

Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) is now accepting applications for judges for the 2026 International Achievement Awards (IAAs). The IAAs are an annual competition that celebrates the best projects in the specialty fabrics industry, showcasing ATA members’ technical skills and accomplishments. Judges will have the chance to recognize excellence in textiles and influence the future of …

ATA News

Registration opens for Advanced Textiles Expo

May 13, 2026

Registration is open for Advanced Textiles Expo® 2026. The show returns Nov. 3–5, 2026, in Orlando, Fla., at the Orange County Convention Center (West Building). Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) expects 4,000+ attendees and 300+ exhibitors. Exhibit booths are still open as well. Expo programming Attendees can look forward to show floor education with hands-on learning, …

Expo News

Plan your stay: Official housing for Advanced Textiles Expo 2025 now open

March 11, 2025

We are pleased to announce that Site & Stay has been selected as the official housing partner for Advanced Textiles Expo® 2025, taking place Nov. 5–7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. Hotel booking is now open, offering attendees and exhibitors exclusive access to discounted rates at our official host hotels—all conveniently located …

Expo News

Advanced Textiles Expo 2024 brings more than 4,200 attendees, showcasing innovation and collaboration

October 17, 2024

Advanced Textiles Expo® 2024, the largest event of Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA), concluded with resounding success Sept. 24–26 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Once again held in conjunction with Sun Shading Expo North America—organized by Messe Stuttgart, founders of R + T and the world’s largest trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun shading …

Expo News

ATA negotiates lower rates for exhibitors at Advanced Textiles Expo

August 14, 2024

The Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) has renegotiated its General Services Contractor contract for the 2025–2027 Advanced Textiles Expo® shows. By selecting Freeman through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, we have secured rates that significantly lower the cost burden on our exhibitors. RFP process Key achievements This successful negotiation translates directly to cost savings for …

ATA News

Messe Stuttgart’s Sun Shading Expo North America moves co-location debut with IFAI Expo to 2022

July 6, 2021

Messe Stuttgart announced that its new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more. IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place …

Expo News

Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021

May 10, 2021

Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021. IFAI Expo celebrates the 100th anniversary of the show this November, and you won’t want to miss it! After a long hiatus of in-person events, this year’s show is the perfect place to reconnect with your industry. Register now to get the Early Bird rate! Early Bird rates end …

Expo News

Standard for active illumination developed in Europe

November 16, 2020

In a session at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, “Smart Textiles Standardization, Active Illumination,” Dr. Jan Beringer, senior scientific expert Hohenstein Group, explained the new standard for active illumination that will soon be implemented in European Union countries.  Organizations worked together to develop the standards. It is notable, he said that both textile and electronics industries …

Features

Remarkable smart textiles

October 26, 2026

Textiles have evolved from being largely a fashion or comfort choice, to life-saving materials, thanks to growth in the advanced textiles sector. Advanced textiles have also become increasingly relevant due to climate and global political scenarios.  For example, inadequate school infrastructure, such as inefficient ventilation and insulation, have been among the complaints sparking recent protests …

Features

Knitted responsive tension structures 

October 12, 2026

Responsive textiles are materials that transform shape, color or size based on environmental cues, using either sensors and microcontrollers or the natural properties of the materials themselves to communicate information or alter their surroundings. In the field of architecture, these textiles can be used to create both temporary and permanent shelters that have the potential …

Features

Trade and tariffs, Part II: What can be done

September 28, 2026

Editor’s Note: As president and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), Kimberly Glas is in a unique position to view the impact this administration’s approach to trade in general, and tariffs, in particular, has had on the textile industry. In Part II of an interview conducted with Glas, she also addresses steps that could be …

Features

Trade and tariffs, Part I: The larger picture

September 14, 2026

Editor’s note: The current administration’s trade decisions, including tariffs, have had a significant impact on the textile industry. I asked Kimberly Glas, National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) president and CEO, to offer the organization’s perspective on the current trade situation. For example, earlier this summer, CNBC.com reported that the U.S. proposed tariffs of up to 12.5 …

Features

The complex nature of the smart textiles business

August 24, 2026

Textiles and other manufacturing sectors are witnessing a revival in terms of investments and government support. This is important for developed economies, such as in the U.S., the EU and U.K., which need to focus on advanced textiles manufacturing and research to be competitive in the global marketplace.  In the U.S. today, only three percent …

Features

User acceptance in smart fabric products

August 10, 2026

Summer is a time for rest and renewal, much needed to bring fresh energy and perspective to challenges facing the textile industry. The work of The Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) is particularly inspirational at this time in considering how some persistent user issues around e-textiles and wearables might be addressed. Aalto is …

Features

Quality, standards and balanced regulation

July 27, 2026

Today over 90 percent of textiles are imported in the U.S. Globalization has altered the manufacturing dynamics where cost has dominated the trade, shifting labor-intensive industries, such as textiles, leather, jewelry and others, away from the most developed nations. This trend has continued for over 35 years, but recently, discussions have begun to bring back …

Features

From prototype to product

July 13, 2026

The Global Electronics Association through its IPC standardization efforts has been a driving force in global electronics standardization for nearly 70 years. The last time we checked in with Advanced Textiles readers, you may have known us as IPC. In summer 2026, our organization went through a rebranding effort—an evolution in our organization that reflects …

Features

Rediscovering natural fibers’ technical prowess, Part II

June 22, 2026

Editor’s note: This feature is the second part of a two-part article by this writer on the topic of natural fibers in advanced textile materials and products. Part I focused on cotton and wool; This article discusses bast fiber: plant-based fibers that grow within the stems of certain plants.  According to textilelearner.net, the fibers are …

Features

Rediscovering natural fibers’ technical prowess, Part I

June 8, 2026

Editor’s note: There’s a lot to talk about in natural fiber technologies, so this feature represents just Part I of a two-part article by writer Debra Cobb on the topic this month. Part I focuses on wool and cotton; Part II discusses bast fibers—hemp, flax, jute and ramie. – jp When it comes to technical …

Industry News

Emerald Carpets celebrates 50th anniversary, transitions Mainline Carpets brand

October 30, 2026

Emerald Carpets, Dalton, Ga., is celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary. Additionally, the company announced that the Mainline Carpets brand will transition to be under the Emerald Carpets brand later this year. The transition reflects the company’s commitment to creating a simpler, more unified experience for customers while continuing to provide the same products, services, relationships …

Industry News

Seshadri Ramkumar inducted into Red Raider Inventor Hall of Fame

October 30, 2026

Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., a professor at Texas Tech University’s Department of Environmental Toxicology, was inducted into the school’s inaugural Red Raider Inventor Hall of Fame Oct. 28. He was recognized for his invention and commercialization efforts, including developing FiberTect, a nonwoven decontamination wipe; a fabric hand method; soft body armor; and a cotton oil absorbent. …

Industry News

Americhem acquires Noble Biomaterials

October 29, 2026

Americhem, a global designer and manufacturer of custom polymer solutions, announced the acquisition of Noble Biomaterials, an advanced materials company that specializes in antimicrobial and conductivity solutions for soft surface applications. Noble Biomaterials provides proprietary materials technology for mission-critical applications across markets including apparel and textiles, healthcare, and aerospace and defense. Its flagship platforms include …

Industry News

Arclin announces investment to expand Nomex manufacturing capacity

October 28, 2026

Arclin, a materials science company, Alpharetta, Ga., announced a multimillion-dollar investment to expand floc production capacity at its Asturias, Spain facility, investing in the long-term growth of the Nomex® business. Since acquiring Nomex in April, Arclin has focused on investing in capacity, reliability and long-term growth to meet increasing customer demand. The company is delivering …

Industry News

New Mexico appeals preliminary injunction on PFAS labeling rule

October 22, 2026

New Mexico appealed a preliminary injunction against the state’s PFAS labeling requirement Oct. 16. The preliminary injunction was issued by U.S. District Judge Margaret Strickland Sept. 21, temporarily halting the state’s PFAS labeling rule following a lawsuit filed in July challenging the regulation. If the preliminary injunction is lifted, the rule will take effect Jan. …

Industry News

Nicca names Archroma exclusive ZELAN distributor

October 19, 2026

Archroma and Nicca Chemical are collaborating to support the continued growth of ZELAN™ non-fluorinated durable water repellents across the global textile industry. The announcement follows Nicca’s acquisition of the ZELAN business from The Chemours Company in March. Under the new agreement with Nicca, Archroma will continue as the exclusive textile industry distributor of ZELAN DWR …

Industry News

Reshoring Textiles acquires Sans Technical Fibers

October 15, 2026

Reshoring Textiles has acquired Sans Technical Fibers, an American producer of high-tenacity LDI nylon 6.6 and polyester yarns. Sans will operate alongside Spinnere as a sister company within Reshoring Textiles. John Garner has been named its CEO and Robert Antoshak has been named chief marketing officer of Reshoring Textiles. The acquisition adds domestic filament production …

Industry News

Unifi Inc., yarn manufacturers launch YarnProof initiative

October 14, 2026

Unifi Inc., together with polyester filament yarn manufacturers across North and Central America, has launched YarnProof™, an industry-wide initiative designed to provide immediate, physical verification of polyester filament yarn origin throughout the supply chain. YarnProof, powered by FibreTrace® technology, embeds an invisible and permanent tracer into polyester filament yarn during extrusion. The tracer remains with …

Industry News

Humberto Medrano joins Herculite as Southwestern regional sales manager

October 12, 2026

Herculite Products Inc. announced that Humberto Medrano has been hired as regional sales manager covering the Southwest to develop and grow relationships with end product manufacturers and related sales personnel for all awning and marine brands. Medrano holds a Bachelor of Science in electronic engineering from DeVry University. He has more than 40 years of …

Industry News

Registration open for 2027 Pitch to the Pack competition

October 8, 2026

Registration is now open for the 2027 Wells Fargo Pitch to the Pack competition. The competition is open to all entrepreneurs working in a textile-based business, with opportunities to win cash awards and sponsorships for prototyping and business development. Teams must register by Nov. 9 and submit their video application by Nov. 19. Judges will …

Out There

MIT soft robot swims with living muscle cells

October 12, 2026

An MIT robot powered by a single layer of living muscle cells swam through a watery maze, following a light held in a researcher’s hand. It is slow, tiny and nowhere near ready for the open ocean, but its thin design could point toward softer, cheaper swimming machines. The robot is about the size of …

Out There

Synthetics are turned into furniture with structural fusion

September 28, 2026

Fast Fashion Architecture is a research project developed by London-based multidisciplinary designer Taylor Leung of 12103 Design Studio in collaboration with several other designers at The Bartlett School of Architecture. The project investigates how discarded synthetic textiles can be transformed into a construction material for furniture, structures and architectural space. The project examines the relationship between the production methods …

Out There

Connecting to the body with bio-based textiles and biosensors

July 13, 2026

Berlin-based design and research firm WINT Design Lab envisions, prototypes and designs regenerative futures through devices and biotextiles that allow humans to connect with their bodies more, and free themselves from fossil materials that harm them and the environment. The industry currently produces materials that run almost entirely on fossil fuels, but the design lab …

Out There

Materials from mycelium tiles to bio-melanin fibers

June 8, 2026

Thailand’s ‘Slow Hand Design 2026’exhibition returned to Milan Design Week 2026, with an exhibition titled â€śHeritage Reimagined.” Thai designers are pushing the boundaries of upcycling by blending ancestral craftsmanship with cutting-edge biotechnology through innovative materials such as mycelium-grown tiles and bio-melanin fibers.  Mush Composites creates surfaces cultivated from mycelium, naturally turning agricultural waste into materials in non-replicable …

Out There

POCO soft robot rethinks human-AI connection

May 12, 2026

POCO is a soft, robotic companion developed by designer Mehrnaz Amouei that examines alternative relationships between humans and artificial intelligence. The project focuses on interaction models based on presence, responsiveness, and clearly defined limitations, rather than systems that interpret or direct emotional states. As AI increasingly operates within personal and emotional contexts, questions emerge around dependency, interpretation …

Out There

Konel unveils a wearable bag to calm the wearer

April 27, 2026

During Milan Design Week 2026, Tokyo-based creative agency Konel Inc. released a translucent, wearable bag that converts the user’s heartbeats into slow pulses to help them be aware of their current state and calm them down. Named “Pulse Pack,” the self-calming product measures the heartbeat in real time and responds to the accessory with a …

Out There

Kinetic clothing captures energy in human motion

March 9, 2026

The Birds of Static project by designer Wren Walker investigates how garment structure can influence the capture of energy from human movement. The concept draws on the principle of static electricity, in which charge imbalances can generate electrical energy when conducted through a circuit. Walker’s work takes inspiration from Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs), a technology that …

Out There

Solar motorcycle is self-charging

February 23, 2026

Sardinia-based MASK Architects has introduced SOLARIS, a self-charging solar motorcycle developed as part of the studio’s “Invent and Integrate” design approach led by founders Ă–znur Pınar Cer and Danilo Petta. The project explores autonomous mobility through a vehicle capable of generating its own power without reliance on fuel, electrical grids or commercial charging networks. SOLARIS …

Out There

Flying umbrella has autonomous capabilities

January 26, 2026

John Tse of I Build Stuff has created an autonomous flying umbrella that follows and shields the user from rain and sunlight. An updated version of the remote-controlled one, the hands-free device hovers above the user and trails them wherever they go, keeping them dry or cool without needing to hold anything.  The autonomous flying umbrella is actually a drone disguised …

Out There

Xiaomi launches voice-controlled, mite-fighting blanket

January 8, 2026

Ever since Xiaomi was founded 15 years ago in Beijing, it has expanded from producing smartphones to AR glasses, robotic dogs, and even electric cars. Now, the company has introduced another innovation: a smart blanket with voice control that also fights mites. The Mijia Smart Electric blanket is designed to be used as an additional layer on top of a …

What's New?

Thread supports balance and movement comfort

October 26, 2026

Bursa, Turkey-based Durak Tekstil has developed Durak Maxibalance, a new product engineered with bio-ceramic and FAR (far infrared) IR technology. The company, a manufacturer of industrial sewing and embroidery threads, says its bio-ceramic embroidery thread offers features designed to support balance and movement comfort by reflecting the energy absorbed from the body back into it. …

What's New?

Penguin-inspired material can passively heat or cool

October 26, 2026

Inspired by penguins, the masters of thermal management, scientists have created a material that can passively switch between heating and cooling modes. The intent was to create a material to stay comfortable in weather extremes, even when temperatures change.  Developed by a joint team of Chinese researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology, Henan Normal University, …

What's New?

Printable smart clothing cools — and generates electricity

October 12, 2026

Scientists have now created a printable textile that can cool, detect movement and generate electricity without external systems or multiple layers. According to a report in newatlascom, researchers in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois have created a zirconium oxide (ZrOâ‚‚) nanocomposite textile material that combines passive cooling and biomechanical energy …

What's New?

Fusing silk gives it Kevlar-like strength

September 28, 2026

Silk is known for its beauty and comfort in luxurious clothing, but it also has a range of uses from edible food-preservation wrappers to skin-friendly wearable health monitoring sensors. A simple new approach has now made it possible for silk to also be about as tough as Kevlar. Silk fibers are typically harvested and dissolved before they’re turned …

What's New?

Cotton-like fabric stores and releases heat

September 28, 2026

Cotton may be soft and warm, but it’s not generally recommended for cold-weather sporting activities because it traps moisture, becoming wet and ultimately drawing heat away from the body. Scientists have now created a synthetic fabric that is claimed to repel moisture while still replicating the coziness of cotton. Developed by Shihui Zhang, Zhihua Zhang, …

What's New?

BRM Introduces Kevlar® EXO™ webbing 

September 14, 2026

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), a company that designs, develops and manufactures specialized engineered woven fabrics, announces the availability of advanced webbing solutions utilizing Kevlar® EXO™, an aramid fiber platform engineered for demanding performance and protection. The new Kevlar EXO offerings expand BRM’s portfolio of high-performance tapes and webbings for mission-critical applications in defense, aerospace and …

What's New?

Standard knitting machines used for shape-shifting smart textile

September 14, 2026

Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed knitted fabrics that can switch between stable shapes, sense motion, and function as soft electrical switches, using the same weft-knitting machines already common in garment factories. The findings point toward a manufacturing-compatible route to programmable textiles. The work was …

What's New?

IEEE releases study on radiative cooling fabrics

August 24, 2026

Radiative cooling presents an energy-efficient way to keep buildings and wearables cool. While previous studies have developed passive cooling fabrics with high infrared emissivity and low solar absorption, these materials are generally designed for near-ambient conditions and perform poorly under mechanical stress and extreme heat, limiting their use in demanding applications, such as for protective …

What's New?

E-thread enables a discreet wearable medical monitor 

August 10, 2026

There is generally a stigma attached to wearable technology – even something as ubiquitous as eyeglasses, and moreso if it involves medical monitoring. Now, researchers at Tufts University, a private research institution based in Massachusetts, have created a wearable technology that’s so thin, light, flexible, and unobtrusive that users will barely notice they’re wearing it. …

What's New?

Soft robots move with a tiny, soft pump

July 27, 2026

Soft robots have a “cardiovascular” problem: while their bodies can deform and bend, their hearts, the pumps that keep them moving, have remained bulky and rigid. Researchers at the University of Bristol have created a “soft” miniature pump that weighs about as much as a single dried pumpkin seed but can generate enough hydraulic pressure …