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Free registration open for Textiles Recycling Expo USA
November 1st, 2025
Registration is open for the Textiles Recycling Expo USA, the first exhibition and conference for textile recycling in North America. The event will take place April 29–30, 2026, at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina, and attendance is free. The event will showcase the latest technologies and innovations in textile recycling, alongside discussions and […]
Cephalopods influence soft robot research
November 1st, 2025
Inspired by the color-changing ability of cephalopods such as octopi and squid, University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers are developing a material that could one day be used in sensors and soft robotics applications. Because the stretchy “synthetic skin” is self-actuating, it wouldn’t need an external power source to make it change color or move. The color-changing […]
Vanessa Barragão creates marine-life-inspired textile art
November 1st, 2025
Artworks from Vanessa Barragão’s solo exhibition, “Submerso Imerso,” which toured in 2024 and 2025, depict a variety of sea life, including aquatic plants and coral reefs. In 2025, the exhibition was on display in Ilhavo, Portugal. In 2024, the exhibit was on display in San Sebastian, Spain, and Lagos, Portugal. Image: Studio VB Portuguese textile […]
‘Living’ ink decomposes polymer substrates
November 1st, 2025
When a product printed with GROWinK hits the landfill, dormant decomposers encapsulated in the ink are activated to break down the substrate. The fungal inks being developed by Peerasin Punxh Hutaphaet are based on a standard CMYK-based printing process. Image: Peerasin Punxh Hutaphaet/Pascal Schonlau One avenue of materials research involves biodegradable substrates. These materials have […]
Specialty Fabrics Review celebrates 110-year anniversary
November 1st, 2025
1915 As our industry has evolved over the past century-plus, so has the magazine you’re reading now. And if you’re reading this online, the web and digital-only publications are definitely part of it. What began in November 1915 with the first publication of The National Tent & Awning Manufacturers Review steadily became more inclusive of […]
Registration open for Fiber Week 2026
November 1st, 2025
North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minn., hosts Fiber Week each February, allowing attendees to explore various fiber arts. Classes include knitting and dyeing, needlecraft and tablet weaving, among others, and are taught by textile artists who specialize in the crafts. Image: North House Folk School Fiber Week, an annual weeklong event at North […]
Made in the Shade Tent Rentals: From a side gig to festivals
November 1st, 2025
Nancy and Donald Vasquez first got into the tent rental business in 1990. Two of their sons have since taken on leadership roles in Made in the Shade Tent Rentals. Pictured are (from left) Kevin (COO), Nancy (CFO), and Donny (CEO) Vasquez. Image: Rudy Meyers Photography Whether it’s a huge concert, street festival, corporate gala […]
Even military textile companies need diversification
November 1st, 2025
SkyShield multilayer padding products are proprietary to Ehmke. They prevent foreign object debris damage in extreme environmental conditions, especially hailstorms. This photo shows SkyShield deployed on a C-130 aircraft at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. Image: Ehmke Manufacturing Company Inc./Glenn Aust Having a customer with an almost $850 billion budget sounds like […]
Soft robots aim to accomplish tough jobs
November 1st, 2025
Samples of 3D-printed soft structures created by researchers at the University of Freiburg’s Laboratory for Soft Machines (SoftLab), made using thermoplastic polyurethane filament. Image: SoftLab While the topic of soft robotics is primarily exclusive to the academic and research world, it is still targeted at specific markets and applications. From the medical field and agriculture […]
Composites provide durability and longevity
November 1st, 2025
EcoTechnilin and Babolat partnered to develop NF2 TECH (Natural Flax Filtration Technology) with flax fiber inserts in the handle. The inserts are at 3 and 9 o’clock on the racket head to dampen vibrations to enhance the feeling of the ball’s impact. Image: Marie O’Mahony, Ph.D. While composites and rigid structures may not seem to […]