Industry News

Trelleborg opens new manufacturing facility in North Carolina

May 21, 2026

Trelleborg Engineered Coated Fabrics celebrated the opening of a new extrusion coating manufacturing facility in Forest City, N.C., on May 6, 2026. The event brought together community leaders, customers, partners and Trelleborg leadership to mark a significant milestone in the company’s continued investment in innovation, capacity and sustainable operations. The new facility reinforces Trelleborg’s commitment …

Industry News

Milliken & Company announces partnership with Gerresheimer

May 20, 2026

Milliken & Company announced that the company has partnered with Gerresheimer, a system and solution provider and a global partner for the pharma, biotech and cosmetic industries, to support the use of LeneX™ UltraGuard®, Milliken’s advanced additive technology designed to enhance polymer performance, protection and processing efficiency for demanding pharmaceutical applications. \The partnership builds on the …

Industry News

Standard Textile recognized as a 2026 US Best Managed Company

May 18, 2026

Standard Textile announced that the company has been selected as a 2026 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private* and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies. The 2026 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people, as well …

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, …

Industry News

Safety Components launches redesigned website

May 13, 2026

Safety Components Fabric Technologies Inc., Greenville, S.C., a technology-driven fabric solutions provider, has announced the launch of its refreshed brand identity and redesigned website. The new look celebrates the company’s more than 100 years of fabric innovation, global leadership, and ongoing commitment to serving first responders, military, outdoor and other specialty markets. “We are proud …

EcoNote

Plant-based fibers used to form a lightweight chair 

May 12, 2026

Hemp Chair, developed in Thailand by Veronica Olariu, is a seating prototype that explores structural balance through plant-based materials and lightweight construction. The project combines hemp fabric with a pineapple-leaf fiber composite to create a system where stability is achieved through counterbalance and tension rather than mass.  As reported on designboom.com, renewable fibers and agricultural by-products are used in the …

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 …

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 …

My Take

Smarter and bigger – much bigger

May 12, 2026

When smart textiles (originally, just “e-textiles”) first emerged, the focus was, understandably, on small applications, especially what we came to call “wearables.” All that meant was that a conductive element had been incorporated into the textile in some fashion, which allowed for sensing and responding to the person wearing it or to some environmental stimulus. …

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 …

Expo News

Textile industry leaders call for policy changes to support U.S. production of PPE

November 13, 2020

The U.S. textile industry has stepped up to meet the demand for face masks, medical gowns, wipes and other products necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but it needs policy changes from Washington so that the U.S. is not caught off-guard again in a future crisis, according to association leaders speaking at Industrial Fabrics Association …

Expo News

The larger issues in respiratory protection

November 12, 2020

Dr. Bryran Ormond, assistant professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State explained respiratory protection in an “Ask an Expert” session with Jing Liang, Medical PPE Consulting LLC. Dr. Ormand has typically worked in the area of chemical and biological protective equipment, but with the onslaught of the pandemic, began to focus on respiratory protection generally, …

Expo News

Surgical gowns require extra manufacturing considerations

November 11, 2020

All surgical gowns are not created equal, and a Nov. 11 presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020 helped sort out the differences. The finer points of surgical gowns were discussed by Dr. Martin King, a professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, and Jing Liang, president of Medical PPE Consulting LLC. …

Expo News

Rodgers: Textiles are the “T” in STEM

November 11, 2020

How do you create a channel from research to application? How do you create a pathway toward understanding complex human problems across supply chains and market sectors? STEM—a curriculum based on teaching science, technology, engineering and math—has branched out from basic chemistry and biology and physics classes, into collaborative efforts, including textiles, according to Stephanie …

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 …

Features

Biomedical textiles’ success stories

April 13, 2026

There are a number of reasons why the success of biomedical textiles in recent years is worth noting. First, it’s a demanding market niche fraught with standards and regulations that take time—and time is money. The investment needed to even start in this market is considerable. It’s also highly specialized, which means that the cushion …

Features

The system-level imperative

March 23, 2026

Rapid advances in high‑performance fibers and the growing need for multi‑hazard protection are reshaping the protective textiles market, yet the real test of these innovations lies in the field. A compelling case in point is new research on how ballistic protection interacts with firefighter turnout ensembles—the highly engineered PPE firefighters rely on every day. Looking …

Features

Are protective textiles the future?

March 9, 2026

It appears that the time has come for protective textiles—a market that can also expect a strong future in the functional textiles industry. As the protective textiles sector is an important segment of the technical textiles industry overall, there is ample evidence supporting this assertion available.  Spending on textiles is based on discretionary income which …

Features

Photovoltaics for the future

February 23, 2026

Military, commercial and industrial customers choose solar for varied applications.  Editor’s note: The word “uncertainty” has been used more often in the last year than I can ever remember. There’s uncertainty regarding international trade, funding for new research, the current administration’s support—or lack thereof—for alternative energy, and many other areas that impact business decisions. This …

Features

Powering a more climate friendly future

February 9, 2026

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 over the past many years has been addressing these issues, and it now has opportunities to be more climate friendly, while diversifying and increasing …

Features

Navigating change

January 26, 2026

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: I posed questions about trade policies and tariffs: What is the best path forward for a business—large or small—that …

Features

Textiles and Tariffs

January 26, 2026

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, while providing opportunities for other textile manufacturing powerhouses …

Features

Maintaining critical funding for advanced textiles

January 8, 2026

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). As of this writing, these bills are expected to pass through both houses …

Industry News

Trelleborg opens new manufacturing facility in North Carolina

May 21, 2026

Trelleborg Engineered Coated Fabrics celebrated the opening of a new extrusion coating manufacturing facility in Forest City, N.C., on May 6, 2026. The event brought together community leaders, customers, partners and Trelleborg leadership to mark a significant milestone in the company’s continued investment in innovation, capacity and sustainable operations. The new facility reinforces Trelleborg’s commitment …

Industry News

Milliken & Company announces partnership with Gerresheimer

May 20, 2026

Milliken & Company announced that the company has partnered with Gerresheimer, a system and solution provider and a global partner for the pharma, biotech and cosmetic industries, to support the use of LeneX™ UltraGuard®, Milliken’s advanced additive technology designed to enhance polymer performance, protection and processing efficiency for demanding pharmaceutical applications. \The partnership builds on the …

Industry News

Standard Textile recognized as a 2026 US Best Managed Company

May 18, 2026

Standard Textile announced that the company has been selected as a 2026 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private* and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies. The 2026 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people, as well …

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 …

Industry News

Safety Components launches redesigned website

May 13, 2026

Safety Components Fabric Technologies Inc., Greenville, S.C., a technology-driven fabric solutions provider, has announced the launch of its refreshed brand identity and redesigned website. The new look celebrates the company’s more than 100 years of fabric innovation, global leadership, and ongoing commitment to serving first responders, military, outdoor and other specialty markets. “We are proud …

Industry News

Healthcare Linen Services Group acquires Texas Textile Services

May 12, 2026

Healthcare Linen Services Group (HLSG), a portfolio company of The Sterling Group, has announced the acquisition of Texas Textile Services. HLSG is a provider of mission-critical outsourced linen laundry and management services to healthcare institutions. Texas Textile Services, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a regional provider of health care linen and laundry services serving hospitals …

Industry News

Universal Fibers appoints Jay Brown president

May 11, 2026

Universal Fibers has announced the appointment of Jay Brown as president. Bringing more than 35 years of leadership experience across the flooring, fiber and building materials industries, Brown joins the business at a pivotal time as it continues to advance innovation and strengthen its global commercial presence. Brown has held several senior roles throughout his career, …

Industry News

U.S. Court of International Trade rules 10% global tariffs illegal

May 8, 2026

Three judges of the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled May 7 that the 10% global tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in February were illegal. The 2–1 decision ruled that the tariffs imposed by the president under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 were “invalid” and “unauthorized by the law,” according …

Industry News

Conflict in the Middle East leads to increase in resin prices

May 8, 2026

Polypropylene and other plastic resins have increased in price in recent months as a result of conflict in the Middle East, affecting the cost of geosynthetic products. A similar price increase occurred in early 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased demand for personal protective equipment worldwide. “Higher feedstock costs and supply disruptions tied …

Industry News

NCTO announces officer appointments for FY 2026

May 7, 2026

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum of U.S. textiles from fiber through finished sewn products, has announced officer appointments for fiscal year 2026 following officer elections at its annual meeting April 14–16. Amy Bircher Bruyn, CEO and founder of MMI Textiles, has been elected chair, and Jay Todd, CEO and …

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 …

Out There

Bioluminescent dress glows with living algae

July 14, 2025

A project titled “Sympoiesis” from designer Iris van Herpen and biodesigner Christopher Bellamy of Bio Crafted, lit up the runway at Paris Haute Couture Week, in early July of this year. The collaboration allowed them to utilize the capabilities of living microorganisms, including bioluminescent microalgae.   Of the 17 looks presented in the show, the opening …

Out There

Material made from fungi reacts to its surroundings

June 4, 2025

Researchers at EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) have created a living biodegradable material made from fungi that can allow trash bags to decompose organic waste. It is one of the many potential applications of the studied fungi.  In the field of electronics, the living biodegradable material made from fungi can be used to produce sensors, as well …

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 …

What's New?

Battery-free solar blanket repels mosquitoes

April 13, 2026

A conundrum for smart textile developers is how to combine conductive materials and power sources with soft, flexible textiles. In the new light-emitting fabrics developed by Florida think tank Global Research and Discovery Group (GRDG) and Ashford Textiles®, there are no power cords, batteries or chemicals powering their illumination.  The technology that makes the blankets …

What's New?

Researchers create novel heating element with CNTFs

March 23, 2026

A cross-disciplinary team at Rice University has developed a new type of electric heating element—one that looks less like a traditional metal coil and more like a high-performance thread. In a study published in Small, the researchers demonstrated that wires and fabrics made from carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) can deliver substantially more heating power per unit …

What's New?

Fiber battery development is underway

March 9, 2026

Fiber batteries are an emerging technology which could one day be used to create smart clothing with a wide array of functions, from charging electronic devices to acting as wearable controllers. However, a new study finds scientists have two major obstacles to overcome before the technology is ready for practical use. First and foremost is …

What's New?

Infrastructure-free renewable lighting

March 9, 2026

Global Research and Discovery Group (GRDG) is “a private research think tank focused on biodefense, emerging biological threats, and humanitarian technologies that translate science into real-world solutions for low-infrastructure settings,” as reported in Fibre2Fashion.   An initiative called “Project AURA” grew from this mission, creating a solar-powered textile that provides safe, maintenance-free illumination without electricity (patent pending). …

What's New?

Smart necklace could help stroke patients speak

February 23, 2026

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed Revoice, a wearable smart necklace that helps patients who have suffered from stroke speak naturally again. The device was created to help patients communicate in a more natural way, without surgery or brain implants. The wearable device is soft and flexible; the textile, is lightweight, comfortable and …

What's New?

Scientists put a powerful computer inside a single thread

February 9, 2026

Fudan University researchers in Shanghai have built complex electronic circuits within the tiniest of spaces: a flexible fiber thinner than a human hair. They call it a “fiber chip,” and it’s been more than a decade in the making.  Scientists have been working for some time to embed this technology into textiles for unobtrusive connectivity. One of …

What's New?

Smart exoskeleton for dogs helps them walk again 

February 9, 2026

An attachable powered exoskeleton for dogs named “Repawse” allows them to walk again after an injury or illness. A design project led by Zhou Leijing and her team in Hangzhou, China, the device is worn on the pet’s hind legs to support their movement.  Many dogs lose movement in their hind legs after accidents, surgery or disease. Existing solutions often use …

What's New?

Swiss startup announces smart socks for sensing and pain

January 8, 2026

ETH Zurich spin-off MYNERVA has created a smart sock that can help people with diabetes feel the ground again while walking. Named Leia, the device has electrodes sewn into it, which restores the user’s sensation to the foot sole as well as reduces their chronic pain. When the electrodes stimulate specific nerve strands, the body releases chemical messengers, and these block pain signals …