Textiles in protection from bioagents, chemical warfare

February 1, 2024  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

The medical and military industries are both in need of fabrics that offer protection against biological threats in health care environments and, for warfighters, the threat posed by chemical warfare. The challenges faced are complex; protection against multiple agents could be needed, and the agent…
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How to mitigate the online security risks of outsourcing

February 1, 2024  |  Business, Markets

What we now call “hacking” has been around almost as long as humans have existed. Today’s version focuses on technology, but the behavior takes many forms that even go back to the story of the Trojan horse. Hacking is simply the act of exploiting a weakness to gain access to something, whether…
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Women entrepreneurs use bras in women’s health initiatives

February 1, 2024  |  Markets, Product Trends

Women’s health issues have historically been underfunded and ignored, a reality that is hard to believe today considering that women make up half the world’s population. Fortunately, women entrepreneurs are working to tackle some of the most daunting medical conditions women face, and the world …
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ATA’s Emerging Technologies Conference focuses on the future

January 1, 2024  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

The Emerging Technologies Conference, part of Advanced Textiles Expo 2023 in Orlando, Fla., revealed the diversity in advanced textiles markets and applications and tackled big questions that need answers to move markets into the future that many envision. As much as it appears that exciting new fun…
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Sustainability in denim

January 1, 2024  |  Markets

Denim has long been an icon in fashion design. In the mid-1800s, Levi Strauss began using this textile to produce clothing for those doing hard physical labor like gold mining. Today, denim clothing styles are as varied as the fabric itself. Unfortunately, toxic chemicals have historically been used…
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Transparency tech: solutions for materials tracking

January 1, 2024  |  Markets, Product Trends

Supply chain traceability is increasingly important to hold various entities, such as brands and product manufacturers, accountable for the claims they make.
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How collaborative projects may change the future of textiles

December 1, 2023  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

The North Carolina Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (NC DMCSP) serves and supports textile manufacturers on the edge of discoveries that produce innovation in advanced textiles, wearables and technologies that maximize soldier survivability, sustainability, mobility, combat effectiven…
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New cars or restored classics: Automotive textiles cover it

December 1, 2023  |  Markets, Product Trends

The textiles on floors, walls and windows in homes and commercial buildings often catch people’s attention. Now, automotive textile manufacturers and automakers are beginning to ask, Why not give people the same experience in their vehicles? Emerging trends in automotive textiles include environme…
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Renewed strength in domestic manufacturing

November 1, 2023  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Since the pandemic, the world economy has been full of anomalies. With a strong labor market, one normally expects higher demand in daily nonessentials such as clothing, home textiles and home accessories; the financial reports of major retailers, such as Walmart Inc. and Canadian retailer Loblaw Co…
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Marine fabricators’ shade innovations

November 1, 2023  |  Industry in Focus, Markets

Changing consumer trends, evolving boat designs, and fabric and materials advancements are giving marine fabricators ample opportunity to exercise their creative muscles. Interestingly, the pandemic’s supply shortages also forced some fabricators to juice up their innovation with excellent results…
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