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 …

Industry News

NC State to host free FutureTEX webinar

September 18, 2026

North Carolina State University (NC State) will be hosting a free webinar Oct. 8, 2026, 3–5 p.m. EST. This informational webinar will share more about the university’s recent FutureTEX award and drive industry engagement in the initiative. The FutureTEX award — which includes $36 million in its first year and has a ceiling of $480 million …

Industry News

CreateMe strengthens leadership team

September 18, 2026

CreateMe Technologies, an AI robotics company, announced three leadership appointments as the company enters its next phase of commercialization. John W. Jacobson joins as vice president of commercialization, Leslie Lambert as vice president of people and business operations, and Ashley Nicole Stickler has been promoted to vice president of marketing and partnerships. John W. Jacobson joins in the …

ATA News

FSA launches LinkedIn page

September 16, 2026

The Fabric Structures Association (FSA), a member group of Advanced Textiles Association, has launched an FSA LinkedIn page. The page will allow architects, designers, engineers and other professionals to connect and stay up to date on the latest FSA projects and opportunities. It will showcase and celebrate the innovative work of FSA members, highlighting the …

Industry News

INDA names Ben Muller executive director

September 16, 2026

The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) announced that Ben Muller has joined the association as executive director. Muller brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning nonprofit organizations, corporations and trade associations. Most recently, Muller served on the senior executive team of the High Point Market Authority, where he led marketing, public …

Industry News

Archroma and Lameirinho announce partnership to deploy InOneGO

September 15, 2026

Archroma, a specialty chemicals provider, and Lameirinho, a home textiles manufacturer based in Portugal, have announced a collaboration to bring InOneGO by Archroma, a new single-step dyeing process, into commercial production. Lameirinho’s first InOneGo bedlinens collection is now available worldwide. InOneGO by Archroma is a continuous dyeing process that combines coloration, fixation and softening into …

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 …

In the Industry

Freudenberg acquires Foshan United Medical Ltd.

September 14, 2026

German technical textiles manufacturer Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg), has acquired Foshan United Medical Ltd. (UMT), a full-service supplier of advanced wound care products. The company with headquarters and state-of-the-art production facilities in Foshan, China, has a workforce of about 200.  “Freudenberg Performance Materials and Foshan United Medical are a perfect strategic match. Going forward, the …

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

Features

Today’s advanced textiles global landscape

May 26, 2026

One might be tempted to question why we in America should care about the technical textiles sector beyond U.S. borders. The U.S., along with the EU, take the lead in industrial, nonwovens and functional materials—sectors that grow at least on par with the GDP growth rate in developed economies. In developing and emerging economies, such …

Features

Smart textile sensing technology for large-scale use

May 12, 2026

In the early years of development, smart textiles (or e-textiles) were commonly referred to as “smart materials and systems.” In the 1990s early adopters (such as civil engineers) saw attendant technologies as necessary in order to deliver the performance needed, such as structural health monitoring or earthquake warning systems.  On one level, technology integration is …

Features

What’s next in medical textiles?

April 27, 2026

The medical, defense and protective textiles (MDP) are market segments within advanced textiles which show promise even when stressful situations, such as war and natural calamities, dominate our attention. It is ironic that during challenging times prices of commodity products are in high demand, and, interestingly, the growing demand for life-saving products seems to be …

Industry News

NC State to host free FutureTEX webinar

September 18, 2026

North Carolina State University (NC State) will be hosting a free webinar Oct. 8, 2026, 3–5 p.m. EST. This informational webinar will share more about the university’s recent FutureTEX award and drive industry engagement in the initiative. The FutureTEX award — which includes $36 million in its first year and has a ceiling of $480 million …

Industry News

CreateMe strengthens leadership team

September 18, 2026

CreateMe Technologies, an AI robotics company, announced three leadership appointments as the company enters its next phase of commercialization. John W. Jacobson joins as vice president of commercialization, Leslie Lambert as vice president of people and business operations, and Ashley Nicole Stickler has been promoted to vice president of marketing and partnerships. John W. Jacobson joins in the …

Industry News

INDA names Ben Muller executive director

September 16, 2026

The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) announced that Ben Muller has joined the association as executive director. Muller brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning nonprofit organizations, corporations and trade associations. Most recently, Muller served on the senior executive team of the High Point Market Authority, where he led marketing, public …

Industry News

Archroma and Lameirinho announce partnership to deploy InOneGO

September 15, 2026

Archroma, a specialty chemicals provider, and Lameirinho, a home textiles manufacturer based in Portugal, have announced a collaboration to bring InOneGO by Archroma, a new single-step dyeing process, into commercial production. Lameirinho’s first InOneGo bedlinens collection is now available worldwide. InOneGO by Archroma is a continuous dyeing process that combines coloration, fixation and softening into …

Industry News

Lectra strengthens partnership with Caron Technology

September 14, 2026

Lectra, a technology company based in Paris, France, has announced the strengthening of its industrial alliance with Caron Technology, an Italian company founded in 1993 that specializes in preparation systems operating before the cutting process. To support this new phase of development, Lectra acquired 70% of Caron Technology’s equity in August for €1.9 million (approximately …

Industry News

Trivantage appoints James Dillport outside sales representative

September 11, 2026

Trivantage, a supplier of specialty fabrics, hardware and accessories, has announced the appointment of James Dillport as an outside sales representative serving Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. Dillport brings 10 years of industry experience to Trivantage. In his new role, Dillport will help customers navigate products, applications and emerging innovations. “Building strong relationships and …

Industry News

Fayetteville Technical Community College, North Carolina Military Business Center announce executive leadership transition

September 10, 2026

Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) and the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) announced a succession of executive leadership. Scott Dorney, the organization’s founder and executive director since 2004, will transition leadership responsibilities to Martin J. “Jimmy” Hendrix III, who will assume the role of executive director effective Oct. 1. Since opening in 2005, the NCMBC has …

Industry News

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill passes PFAS bill

September 2, 2026

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed bill S1281 into law Aug. 27. The law prohibits the sale, manufacture and distribution of apparel and diaper products containing intentionally added PFAS beginning in 2028. Apparel The bill defines “apparel” as: Diaper products The bill defines a “diaper product” as an absorbent product, either disposable or reusable, manufactured …

Industry News

Lafuente Sign & Awning opens new headquarters, production facility

September 2, 2026

Lafuente Sign & Awning opened its new headquarters and production facility in Peabody, Mass., Aug. 25. The move was led by Andrew Lafuente, the company’s founder and principal. The expanded Peabody headquarters replaces the company’s former dual-floor layout with a single-level, linear production flow, enabling a more streamlined, assembly-style process. From welding and fabrication to …

Industry News

Schotex Global appoints Mats Jengard Nordic sales director

September 1, 2026

Sustainable and high-performance textile and textile technology developer Schotex Global® Co. Ltd. announced that the company has named Mats Jengard as its head of sales for the Nordic region.  Jengard brings more than 25 years of successful sales and project management experience to his position at Schotex.  Based in Sweden, Jengard has served as sales manager for established …

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 “Heritage 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 Öznur 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 …

Out There

Coperni’s C+ regenerative clothes have probiotics

October 13, 2025

Skincare within regenerative clothing defines Coperni’s C+, a series of everyday wear infused with probiotics and prebiotics. Capable of restoring the skin’s microbiome, each garment contains living microorganisms that interact with the skin during wear, support the skin’s natural balance, and help it repair itself over time.  The C+ line is made using a biobased …

Out There

Suture-free tissue reconstruction is now possible

September 8, 2025

For tissue repair, surgeons are currently limited to mechanical solutions like sutures and staples, which can cause their own damage, or meshes and glues that may not adequately bond with tissues and can be rejected by the body.  Medical startup Tissium now offers surgeons a new solution based on a biopolymer technology first developed at …

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 …

What's New?

Hypershell introduces new exoskeleton products

June 22, 2026

Shanghai-based Hypershell Co., Ltd. has introduced its Hypershell X Series intuitive exoskeleton designed to deliver support that feels more natural, immediate and closely aligned with the wearer. The new range includes Hypershell X Ultra S, Hypershell X Max S and Hypershell X Pro S, offering different levels of support, range and terrain capability for hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, …

What's New?

DITF announces climate control for workwear

May 26, 2026

Conventional protective workwear often reaches its limits during strenuous physical activity, particularly in managing the transport of sweat and controlling excess body heat. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) conducted research on flow-optimized, air-conducting textile structures that enable targeted climate control directly on the body. These structures can be integrated straight into …

What's New?

Wearable for infants with jaundice is under development

May 26, 2026

Inspired by her experience with her own infant, Lucy Dunne decided to find a better way to treat jaundice in a newborn, An MPR News story reports. Dunne is the founder and co-director of the University of Minnesota’s College of Design Wearable Technology Lab. So, one project she is currently focused on is a specialized …

What's New?

Shape-shifting wings could change future aircraft design

May 12, 2026

Imagine looking out the window of an airborne airplane and seeing the wing rippling and twisting. This is what German engineers have created: prototype morphing wings that change their shape mid-flight. The innovation from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), aptly named morphAIR, aims to make aircraft more efficient and …

What's New?

Nerve surgery performed with sutureless polymer-based product

April 27, 2026

TISSIUM, a medical technology company pioneering biomorphic programmable polymers for tissue reconstruction, recently announced the first commercial use of its product COAPTIUM® CONNECT. The procedure was performed by Dr. Michael Franco, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in peripheral nerve surgery at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J. This marks a significant step forward in the …