TEXTILES.ORG
Vegan wool challenge
January 1st, 2023
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is determined to reduce the number of sheep raised for their wool and incentivize clothing designers with the launch of the $1 million Vegan Wool Challenge, which offers a windfall to the first entrant who develops a vegan wool material that’s visually, texturally and functionally similar or […]
3D printing on textiles
January 1st, 2023
Stratasys, an innovator in 3D-printing technology, presented and exhibited at IFAI Expo for the first time. The technology itself is about 35 years old, but the recent move to 3D printing onto a textile substrate with the FabriX Innovation Kit takes it to the next level of access and usability. The direct-to-textile 3D printing uses […]
Composites manufactured efficiently
January 1st, 2023
At the Advanced Textiles Conference in October in Charlotte, N.C., Anil Kircalianli, head of automation for Orbital Composites (OC), discussed the important role of textiles as a driver for sustainability, particularly in footwear design. Kircalianli argued that the company’s use of 3D printing and robotic manufacturing has created a more sustainable and efficient means of […]
Biodesigns from grass root
January 1st, 2023
Zena Holloway has launched “Rootfull,” a collection of biodesigns grown entirely from grass root. The London-based designer and multi-disciplinary artist is exploring the possibilities for textiles for fashions that are sustainable and compostable. A designboom.com post says that the root itself forms a botanical skeleton that traps carbon. Using the roots like a 3D printer, […]
Textile solutions for space missions
January 1st, 2023
Drew Hoyle, an aerospace textile engineer at NASA says renewed interest in space exploration has resulted in the search for textiles that can resolve problems encountered on earlier lunar missions decades ago. Among the needs to be addressed for a new lunar mission are textiles for spacesuits that provide better dust mitigation. The environment makes […]
Weathering all seasons
January 1st, 2023
© Mark Skalny Photography Sails have propelled Brydon Roe’s personal and professional paths for as long as he can remember. He and his brother grew up boating and windsurfing on the lakes of Ontario, Canada, before getting their first jobs at a windsurfing shop and eventually opening their own. Enticed by its sunny beaches, they […]
Surviving disasters
January 1st, 2023
Extensive damage after Hurricane Ian in 2022. Hurricanes and severe weather often hit hardest in coastal areas, where marine fabricators and boat yards are in the highest risk category for sustaining damages from high winds and flooding. Photo: ©FelixMizioznikov, Dreamstime.com When Jeff Kleger got the call in February 2008 that the building housing his awning […]
An ounce of prevention
January 1st, 2023
Want to know the secret of keeping sewing machines working? Keeping them clean, says Crystal Burgdorf of SewLong Custom Covers. Photo: SewLong Custom Covers Everyone knows that doing simple maintenance can make all the difference to the life of any tool or piece of equipment. But in the midst of the ongoing labor shortage, avoiding […]
The challenge of innovating
January 1st, 2023
Hexoskin and Astroskin developments from Hexoskin. Photo: Marie O’Mahony Manufacturing to scale is arguably the most significant challenge facing the smart materials and wearable technology industries—and it’s not just desirable, but essential for growth and survival. Without full commercialization, the drive for new developments and research is in jeopardy. There is no shortage of interest […]
Keys to preventive maintenance
January 1st, 2023
Don’t you hate it when things don’t work in the warehouse? You jump on the forklift, ready to unload a 40-foot trailer, and the battery is dead. As you are cursing your misfortune, you grab the pallet jack and the hydraulic pump is shot. The thoughts of creeks and paddles are now dancing through your […]