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Visible protection
September 1st, 2016
Teijin’s high-visibility aramid fiber fabric is suited for use in high-visibility protective apparel. Along with its extra-vivid coloring and resistance to fading, it is fully compliant with ISO 20471:2013, the international standard for high-visibility clothing that enables others to see the wearer in a variety of lighting conditions. Teijin developed the fabric in collaboration with […]
A steel-framed fabric building shelters, protects and stores
September 1st, 2016
With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, agriculture must overcome myriad demands required to feed so many people. A mineral known as potash provides a critical piece in solving this puzzle. Created during the evaporation of ancient seabeds, potash is most widely used as potassium fertilizer. “Potassium is one of the […]
Innovators find a variety of markets for color-changing materials
September 1st, 2016
New research and applications are proving that color-changing smart textiles continue to offer viable technology and products in the smart fabrics marketplace. Most recently, researchers from the School of Information, University of California, Berkeley, have developed a new color-changing “smart thread,” Ebb, that turns fabric into a computerized display. According to information provided by the […]
Flexible testing
September 1st, 2016
The air permeability tester is compact, easy to transport and can be operated without external power supply. It allows for non-destructive testing on the finished product and caters for various air permeability tests across a wide measuring range. Operators can choose between more than 100 units of measure and, in addition to textiles, the TX15 […]
Sustainable fabrics
September 1st, 2016
INSQIN® waterborne polyurethane (PU) technology enables material sustainability for PU-coated fabrics. PU brings functionality to a range of coated, finished or printed textile materials used in fashion, sports and outdoorwear. Examples of PU fabrics are the synthetic materials used by the fashion industry (shoes, garments), the sportswear industry (footwear) and the outdoor industry (waterproof and […]
Coating tests that evaluate five types of durability
September 1st, 2016
The right coating chemistry can make the difference between a fabric that has long-lasting durability and one that fades, degrades and fails before its expected lifecycle. This is especially true of fabrics used in awnings, tents, flexible decking, outdoor furniture, marine upholstery and automotive seating, where exposure to harsh environments can hasten the product lifecycle. […]
Vehicles for change
September 1st, 2016
The signature form of transportation in Mumbai, India, is the iconic black and yellow taxi. Many drivers like to make their taxi stand out by decorating it with personalized touches. But designer Sanket Avlani noticed that the seat covers were fairly standardized and dull. He also recognized that in India, design has limited scope and […]
Follow the yellow fabric road
September 1st, 2016
Renowned fabric artist Christo has worked his magic again—this time on picturesque Lake Iseo in Northern Italy. The Floating Piers transformed the landscape of the lake and the surrounding area for 16 days between June and July 2016. First conceived in 1970 by Christo and his wife and artistic partner Jeanne-Claude, who passed away in 2009, The […]
Blair Belluomo brings a strong and appreciative management style to the family business
September 1st, 2016
I went to school with many kids whose parents had businesses, and they thought that just because their parents ran a successful business, they could just step in and be successful as well,” says Blair Belluomo, owner and president of Belle Isle Awning in Roseville, Mich. “So many of them failed because they hadn’t had other […]
Furniture meshes with footwear
September 1st, 2016
Could athletic footwear inspire furniture design? It did for Benjamin Hubert of the London, England-based experience design agency, Layer. Hubert likes to look at existing materials and technology and consider how they can be re-imagined and used in unique, new ways. For his three-piece Cradle collection, which includes high-back and low-back chairs and a room […]