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Sustainability in textiles
May 1st, 2020
As sustainability becomes more important to consumers, suppliers and manufacturers are pressed to verify product claims and become more eco-friendly. by Pamela Mills-Senn There are plenty of fashion trends hitting the runways this season, such as this year’s hottest color (orange is very in), patterns (think floral) and capes—lots of capes. But sustainable fashions are […]
IFAI Expo: 1960-1969
May 1st, 2020
The present and future of synthetic fabrics By Sy Hyman, President, Herculite Protective Fabrics Corp., Newark, New Jersey From his presentation at the 1964 CPAI Annual Convention, Kansas City During those early years around 1955, not all synthetic fabrics failed. Many installations did work well. Almost the entire protective covering industry reacted to the sounds […]
The work of protecting humans just got more important
May 1st, 2020
Suddenly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become a hot commodity and an often- heard phrase on the lips of government officials, members of the media and the general public. But IFAI member companies and the textile industry at large have always known that the purpose of fabrics has been to […]
Polar-approved gear
May 1st, 2020
Merino wool provides protection against brutal winter conditions, enabling polar explorers to stay warm and dry with the mobility they need to keep going. Photos: Dan Pernard Photography. Imagine what it takes to survive skiing 1,426 miles across the Arctic in the winter while battling -58° F temperatures and hurricane force winds. Alex Hibbert, George […]
From Ohio to the Outback
May 1st, 2020
Employees of Celina Tent, a world leader in manufacturing engineered fabric products, used their expertise along with other community members to sew pouches for homeless kangaroos. Photo: Celina Tent. The world watched in horror as wildfires burned more than 42,000 square miles in Australia last year. More than 30 people died, and there are estimates […]
Sponge-like polymers for oil spills
May 1st, 2020
Researchers at Flinders University have developed a material from waste that in turn remediates waste—namely removing harmful oil slicks from waterways. Photo: Flinders University. Oil spills, whether large or small, are difficult to remediate and can lead to devastating environmental consequences for oceans and other waterways. The ability to clean up the slick quickly and […]
Nonwoven fabrics on the frontline of infection containment
May 1st, 2020
By Jeff Moravec Transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first U.S. case of COVID-19, formerly known as 2019-nCoV. The spherical viral particles, colorized blue, contain cross-section through the viral genome, seen as black dots. Image: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s easy to misunderstand viral respiratory diseases, whether the current pandemic […]
Market watch: The specialty fabrics industry responds to COVID-19
May 1st, 2020
By Elisa Bernick, Sammi Jones, Jill C. Lafferty, Galynn Nordstrom, Rebecca J. Post and Janet Preus The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, with the textile industry playing a key role. Suppliers and end product manufacturers have pivoted at lightning speed to produce much-needed PPE for front-line medical workers. IFAI members are reaching […]
How U.S. trade actions affect the textile industry
May 1st, 2020
by Lawrence A. Ward and Dave Townsend Trade changes relating to sales of textiles outside of the United States increase the demands for transparency in the textile supply chain. Compliance burdens continue to grow in scope and complexity, creating new challenges for businesses. The textile trade has long been complicated, requiring careful attention to the […]