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VF Corp. begins isolation gown production
April 30th, 2020
Workwear brand Dickies and its parent company VF Corp. have begun production of FDA-compliant medical gowns for U.S. healthcare workers. They plan to deliver 50,000 gowns in May. By June, they hope to create the capacity to produce up to 675,000 gowns and up to 3.4 million by September. The isolation gowns for hospitals and […]
Multi-functional luminescent film can make near-infrared light visual
April 27th, 2020
Infrared radiation, which is invisible, is used for various purposes, including for coronavirus detection (through thermal imaging cameras and biosensors). A Korean research team has developed a technology that visualizes infrared radiation and expands its application range, a report on www.phys.org says. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has announced that Dr. Kwon Seok-joon's research […]
New textile can adapt to environmental conditions
April 27th, 2020
For some time, it has been predicted by some in the smart textile industry that a single garment will be able to adapt to changing conditions and needs, keeping its wearer cool what it’s hot outside, and warm when the weather turns chilly. In addition to wearing it outdoors, such clothing could also be worn […]
U.S. Air Force awards contract to Pvilion for solar-powered structures
April 27th, 2020
Image rendering: Pvilion. Solar-powered fabric provider Pvilion announces that it has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to continue its development of rapidly deployable, solar-powered structures. Through a competitive awards-based program, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program enables small businesses to explore their […]
A collaborative effort
April 27th, 2020
Textile product manufacturers step up to produce personal protective equipment. by Dara Syrkin In 1910, a doctor named Lien-teh Wu was called on to help combat a plague sweeping through northern China. He determined that the disease was not caused by fleas but was contracted through the air. A recent Fast Company article recounts this scientist’s work that […]
Protecting innovations in smart fabrics
April 27th, 2020
IFAI’s Summit discusses new innovations, cybersecurity, industry engagement. by Janet Preus The Smart Fabrics Summit was held virtually this year. Presented by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce in collaboration with the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), its speakers covered a range of topics particularly pertinent in the smart fabrics market area today. The first session, […]
Textile innovations move to the mainstream
April 27th, 2020
Once confined to elite sports and fitness, high-tech apparel textiles are becoming the norm. by Debra Cobb The popularity of sport and fitness brands has grown with innovation on the part of high-tech textile and technology companies. Now these functional textiles, once enjoyed only by elite athletes and uniformed personnel, are becoming the norm for […]
Startup will make shape-shifting thermal control
April 24th, 2020
Skyscrape, a West Coast-based startup, is making clothing that naturally adapts to the temperature of both the wearer and the environment, the company says. The company has created yarns to create clothing that changes shape as temperatures change, becoming thicker as temperatures drop, providing more insulation and comfort to the wearer. Active yarns in the […]
Smart textile can alert emergency services if wearer is injured
April 23rd, 2020
U.S.-based smart fiber maker Supreme Corp. has created a wearable that can monitor vital signs and impact detection and raise the alarm if the wearer is injured, for instance in a car accident or an assault. The system uses smart yarns combined with a skin patch that can assess changes in vital signs, which allows […]
Ultrathin organic solar cell developed
April 22nd, 2020
Photo: RIKEN. Scientists have created “an ultrathin organic solar cell that is both durable and highly efficient,” according to a recent Off Grid Energy Independence article. Organic photovoltaics also hold promise as more environmentally friendly and less costly alternatives to conventional silicon-based films. The team of scientists from the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research and RIKEN Center for Emergent […]