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 …
October 12, 2026
Almaty, Kazakhstan-based designer Daniyar Uderbekov revisits UDRB, a modular sneaker system that rethinks conventional footwear construction through a glue-free assembly method. The design combines a 3D printed TPU sole, a leather inner boot inspired by traditional Central Asian Makhsi and Ichigi footwear, and a rope-based fastening system. Each component can be separated, repaired, replaced and recycled, creating an alternative to the single-piece construction …
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 …
October 12, 2026
PIP Global Safety™ (“PIP®”), a global provider of personal protective equipment, and the Fabrics business within W. L. Gore & Associates, a global materials science company and owner of the GORE-TEX® Brand, have announced a strategic collaboration focused on advancing next-generation protective workwear for some of the world’s most demanding and hazardous environments. By combining …
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 (ZrO₂) nanocomposite textile material that combines passive cooling and biomechanical energy …
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 …
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 …
October 7, 2026
The Fabric Structures Association (FSA) and the Professional Awnings Manufacturers Association (PAMA) of Advanced Textiles Association have announced that the nominations committees have chosen the individuals recommended to fill the open board positions. There is, however, still an opportunity for additional candidates to be considered. Those interested can submit an independent nomination to ATA through …
October 5, 2026
Morito Scovill Americas (MSA), a supplier of high-performance fasteners for apparel and light industrial applications based in Clarkesville, Ga., has announced that Shane McEntyre has been promoted to CEO. McEntrye has been with Morito Scovill Americas for more than 37 years, joining the company in June 1989. He began his career in the shipping department and …
October 2, 2026
Registration is open for the ETLFs – Elevated Temperature Landfills webinar, Oct. 21, 1–2 p.m. EDT. Hosted by Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) and sponsored by Viaflex, it is free for ATA members and nonmembers. The presentation will cover the history and key distinctions between ETLFs and landfill fires, conditions that lead to ETLFs and the …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
October 5, 2026
Morito Scovill Americas (MSA), a supplier of high-performance fasteners for apparel and light industrial applications based in Clarkesville, Ga., has announced that Shane McEntyre has been promoted to CEO. McEntrye has been with Morito Scovill Americas for more than 37 years, joining the company in June 1989. He began his career in the shipping department and …
October 2, 2026
Parkdale Inc., a textile and consumer products manufacturer, announced that its subsidiary, Parkdale Advanced Materials, Inc., has acquired full ownership of CiCLO® technology. The acquisition expands Parkdale’s polymer and fiber portfolio and strengthens its ability to develop next-generation solutions across textile and related markets. Parkdale Advanced Materials develops and commercializes innovative textile technologies that deliver responsible …
October 1, 2026
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) released a document with additional information about the state’s PFAS in Consumer Products Law. The document — “Connecticut’s PFAS in Consumer Products Law” — provides information to manufacturers, distributors, retailers and others about certain provisions of the law. Enacted in 2024, the act addresses the use …
September 29, 2026
Denise Offray, owner and CEO of OTEX Specialty Narrow Fabrics®, passed away May 2, 2026. Denise dedicated her life to her family business and the textile industry. Starting as a teenager spending her summers working as a switchboard operator in the customer service department of C.M. Offray & Son, Denise would go on to play pivotal …
September 25, 2026
Media One, a full-service integrator and distributor of wide-format printing solutions, announced that it has acquired the U.S. business and assets of Premex Solutions, a supplier of print-ready fabrics for the digital textile printing industry. The acquisition builds on Media One’s growing portfolio, alongside Fisher Textiles and Hyperflex Vinyls, and expands the range of applications …
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 …
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 …
September 18, 2026
Andre West, Ph.D., professor at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles and former director of Zeis Textiles Extension, passed away Sept. 10 at the age of 66. Born June 30, 1960, West earned his bachelor’s degree in textile design from the University of Huddersfield in England. In 2009, he earned his Master of …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 (ZrO₂) nanocomposite textile material that combines passive cooling and biomechanical energy …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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