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Consumer confidence slips in August
September 12th, 2025
U.S. consumer confidence slipped in August, according to the latest report released Aug. 27 by The Conference Board. The August Consumer Confidence Index® headline index fell 1.3 points to 97.4, down from 98.7 in July. The Present Situation Index declined to 131.2, while the Expectations Index dropped to 74.8, well below the 80-point threshold that historically signals […]
Minnesota judge disapproves PFAS reporting and fees proposed rule
September 11th, 2025
Jim Mortenson, a Minnesota Administrative Law Judge, issued a report Aug. 28 on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s proposed rule on reporting PFAS in products and associated fees. The judge stated his disapproval of the proposed rule due to the agency’s “failure to assess the cumulative effect of the rule with other federal and state […]
Designtex adds new image search feature to website
September 10th, 2025
Image: Designtex Designtex, a designer and manufacturer of applied materials for the built environment, has added a new artificial intelligence (AI) image search feature to its website, designtex.com. The AI feature was developed in collaboration with Stylib, a tech startup. After a user uploads an image or selects a swatch, the system analyzes the content […]
Test tube textiles
September 8th, 2025
Biosynthetic fibers are created in the lab from bio-based inputs. Photo by Naufan Rusyda Faikar on Unsplash. The creation of sustainable textiles has been top-of-mind for the textile industry since the 1990s. Along with recycled polyester and circular textile-to-textile manufacturing, fibers created in the lab from bio-based inputs are also finding a place in an […]
Suture-free tissue reconstruction is now possible
September 8th, 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 […]
The magical realism of biomaterials
September 8th, 2025
In writing, “magical realism” is a genre of fiction that combines realism with magical elements, but (if you’re good at this sort of writing) the magical elements seem plausible—fitting in but blurring the lines between what we know and what we can imagine. This, to me, is where some of today’s fiber science lands, although […]
Expo, Emerging Technologies Conference Nov. 4-7
September 8th, 2025
The Emerging Technologies Conference, as part of the Advanced Textiles Association’s Expo 2025, will run Nov. 4-7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. This yearly event brings together government and industry leaders, academics and researchers to exchange ideas, learn about new developments and make all-important connections. The conference includes a full slate of presentations […]
Better Cotton, Planboo partner to reduce GHG emissions
September 8th, 2025
Better Cotton, global cotton sustainability initiative, has teamed up with climate technology startup Planboo to help cotton farmers reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and earn carbon credits for it. The partnership will involve biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from agricultural waste and other waste products that, when applied to soils, can improve their health, while […]
16 European organizations launch the WhiteCycle project
September 7th, 2025
Sixteen public and private European organizations are combining their scientific and industrial expertise to launch the WhiteCycle project. The four-year project aims to develop a circular method for recycling waste containing textiles made of PET. It is co-funded by Horizon Europe, the European Union's (EU's) research and innovation program. This project could prevent landfilling or […]
President Trump issues tariff rate modifications
September 6th, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued further modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), effective Sept. 8. The changes were issued in the Sept. 5 Executive Order “Modifying the Scope of Reciprocal Tariffs and Establishing Procedures for Implementing Trade and Security Agreements.” The order further modifies import duties imposed by Executive […]