TEXTILES.ORG
Zero Bag packaging dissolves and washes new clothes
June 1st, 2023
The Zero Bag packaging dissolves in water. Photo: Kyeongho Park and Yejin Heo Kyeongho Park and Yejin Heo, designers majoring in industrial design at Hanyang University’s ERICA campus in the Republic of Korea, have created new clothing packaging that not only dissolves in water but disperses washing detergents. After purchasing new clothes wrapped in a […]
MIT suit designed to educate about aging
June 1st, 2023
Chris Hemsworth (left) is outfitted in the MIT AgeLab’s AGNES suit on a recent episode of the documentary series “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth.” Photo: MIT AgeLab Visitors to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) AgeLab in the Center for Transportation and Logistics are greeted by a striking image: a mannequin in a jumpsuit and red goggles. But […]
Brain Biotech, AMSilk to develop bio-based protein fibers
June 1st, 2023
German biotechnology companies BRAIN Biotech AG and AMSilk GmbH have announced that they will collaborate to develop high-performance, bio-based protein fibers for the textile industry. The biomaterials are useful in a variety of applications that include the apparel, medical and automotive markets. AMSilk produces biotechnological materials based on renewable carbon structural proteins that are not […]
New spacesuit from Axiom is built for moonwalking
June 1st, 2023
NASA selected Axiom Space to deliver a moonwalking system for the Artemis III mission, currently planned for 2025, which will land Americans on the surface of the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. Axiom participated in the reveal of the first prototype spacesuit March 15, 2023, during an event at Space […]
2023 Advanced Textiles State of the Industry Report
June 1st, 2023
At the start of each year, Specialty Fabrics Review surveys its readers to learn about current trends and business challenges and opportunities, to take a snapshot of our industry. As anticipated, inflation, the supply chain and hiring remain the top concerns, but revenues are up and growth plans are in the works for most respondents. […]
Automation can compensate for staffing shortages
June 1st, 2023
A worker at Ehmke Manufacturing using a continuous feed laser cutter. Photo: Ehmke Manufacturing Making textile products has transitioned from a manual job to one that is largely automated, in part because of a worker shortage. The offshoring of jobs reduced the U.S. textile industry workforce from 3.8 million in 1975 to only 500,000 workers […]
Riding the nonwovens roller coaster
June 1st, 2023
Given the amount of attention sustainability efforts in the nonwovens industry have gotten in the past few years, it’s easy to think these conversations and initiatives are relatively new. The truth is that they’ve been part of the industry for decades. At Delaware Valley Corp., which manufactures nonwoven fabrics in Tewksbury, Mass., material at the […]
Smart fabric helps the body heal itself
June 1st, 2023
Socks developed by Supreme Corp. are worn by Indian Special Forces soldiers to alleviate pain in their feet and leg muscles. The soldiers at times carry a 65-pound backpack at an elevation of 19,000 feet. Photo: Supreme Corp. The health and wellness market has been among the first to embrace advances in smart yarns and […]
Awnings encourage natural light and offer shade protection
June 1st, 2023
Natural light can help reduce energy usage in our buildings. This is a lesson known for centuries but seemingly forgotten after the 1940s with postwar technological advances in air conditioning (coupled with the Modernist design movement that declared “ornament is a crime”). These stripped-down building facades spoke volumes about a new era of high-tech materials […]
Floating kites soar in Abu Dhabi shade sail structure
June 1st, 2023
The client laid out the request: The concept included off-white, multilayered floating kites with minimal steel structure. The purpose was to provide shade over an existing courtyard in a large mixed-use, low carbon footprint development. Challenges to overcome included how to deal with the existing concrete structure, as the concrete beams and slabs wouldn’t be […]