Natural pigments and useful raw materials from autumn leaves for industry
January 6th, 2017
Autumn leaves contain a range of interesting substances such as pigments, carbohydrates, proteins and compounds that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is developing leaf-processing technologies. Pigments from autumn leaves can be used to color cosmetics and textiles. Compounds obtained from the leaves may be suitable for use as […]
Huntsman partners with Jihua Group
January 5th, 2017
The Textile Effects division of Huntsman Corporation and Jihua Group, Zhejiang Province, China, signed an agreement to cooperate in a wide range of areas to jointly capitalize on the growing need for dye and chemical solutions for China’s textile sector. The partnership will help the two companies speed up their supply chains to react more […]
From old to new: a glimpse into recycling technology
January 4th, 2017
Recycling discarded materials into usable other things requires considerable effort and investment, but more companies are doing just that. Take Serge Ferrari North America, a Pompano Beach, Fla.-based manufacturer of flexible composite membranes used globally by numerous markets. In 1996, the company began exploring the idea of recycling its materials for the print and tent […]
NCTO to host 14th annual meeting
January 4th, 2017
NCTO will host their 14th annual meeting at the Capital Hilton, Washington D.C., March 21-23. Themed "New Directions, New Opportunities," the meeting's interactive program will focus on the policy priorities of the new Trump administration and how they may affect the U.S. textile industry. Tuesday, March 21, will consist of official NCTO business followed by […]
Airbag yarns on the rise
January 3rd, 2017
The demand for airbags is expected to grow five percent annually over the next five years, according to estimates from Business Wire. While airbags have been predominantly manufactured using polyamide 6.6 yarns, there is a trend towards polyester, due to the challenging nature of industrial filament yarns. With the interest in this potential growth market, […]
Cotton prices rose in 2016
January 2nd, 2017
Cotton prices increased over the summer and have remained at levels higher than in 2015. The rise can be attributed to several unique factors. One is seasonality; nearly 85 percent of the world’s cotton is produced in areas where only one harvest per year is possible. The market tightened as this warehoused supply dwindled over […]
Fast women, light bikes
January 1st, 2017
At this year’s women’s Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf again dominated the women’s field for the win. She set a new course record with an 8:46:46 finish defending her 2015 title. The 112-mile bike route takes competitors along the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway where they must be prepared to withstand trade winds […]
Spinning meaningful yarns
January 1st, 2017
Upon a first glance, a visitor to artist Chiharu Shiota’s art installation at Berlin’s Blain|Southern gallery might have thought the artist painted her dramatic concept in mid-air. Named “Uncertain Journey,” the piece is actually a dense web of red yarn. Known for installations that immerse gallery goers in a world of color and texture, Berlin-based […]
Air Apparent
January 1st, 2017
Companies and event organizers use inflatables to grab public attention and promote their brands. Although he now sells spaces in luxury subterranean survival shelters, Robert Vicino once focused his entrepreneurial spirit on loftier altitudes. He put a 90-foot King Kong on the Empire State Building and designed Otto the Autopilot for the farcical movie Airplane. […]
Adjust to fit
January 1st, 2017
During the MMPA’s annual gala in November, Specialty Fabrics Review magazine won six awards from the Minnesota Magazine & Publishing Association: Bronze Awards in Feature Design (“Textiles in space,” Feb. 2016), Regular Column (“Perspective”) and Overall Design; a Silver Award for Overall Excellence; and Gold for Best Feature Article (“Making the rounds,” Oct. 2015)—and for […]