All Articles

Innovations in smart textiles

March 1, 2025 | Advanced Textiles, Markets

Though 2024, like any year, was imperfect, it saw progress in smart textiles research, sustainability efforts and product development, especially in areas focused on solving problems in the health care space and with accessibility. For Specialty Fabrics Review’s Women in Textiles issue, we shine a…

Where fit meets function in women’s protective gear

March 1, 2025 | Features

A May 2024 survey by the Women’s Engineering Society revealed that more than 25% of women found personal protective equipment (PPE) and apparel uncomfortable or ill-fitting.

With myriad shapes and materials, tents continue to evolve

March 1, 2025 | Features

While traditional tent styles are always popular with consumers, there also are numerous requests for new and different event venues. As a result, tent and event rental companies are constantly on the lookout for the “next big thing” to offer clients.

Textile professional Donielle Lorelli shares career tips

March 1, 2025 | Features, Perspective

If serendipity is the spot where preparation meets opportunity, then Donielle Lorelli knows how to leverage these opportunities for success.

Fabric enables sauna sessions on the go

March 1, 2025 | Swatches

St. Paul, Minn.-based Firefly Sauna has released two outdoor portable fabric saunas, eliminating the need to build a permanent wooden structure. The Firefly Spark and Firefly Dome’s pop-up design allows people to use a sauna while traveling or camping and is easily stored when not in use.

Hainsworth tests firefighter gear that includes wool fibers

March 1, 2025 | Swatches

The staff of Hainsworth Protective Fabrics, West Yorkshire, England, already knew about the technical properties of wool, which has been part of the company’s ECO-DRY firefighter gear fabric since its development in 2012. But they wanted hard data.

Alpaca DNA analysis aims to increase fiber quality

March 1, 2025 | Swatches

MGI Tech Co. Ltd., Universidad Agraria La Molina (National Agrarian University) and Inca Tops are collaborating on agenetic research project to analyze the DNA of 1,500 alpacas from Melgar, Peru.

Biodegradable winter jacket collaboration

March 1, 2025 | Swatches

A collaboration between three companies has resulted in a biodegradable puffy down jacket. ALLIED Feather + Down, Active Apparel Group and Templa collaborated on the coat, which is made from biodegradable synthetic materials, including trims, and 800-fill-power down insulation. More than 99% of the…

Shapewear company uses infused fibers for heating, cooling

March 1, 2025 | Swatches

Aiming to keep its customers comfortable whether they’re wearing a minidress in the winter or a long gown in the summer, Popilush, Williamsburg, Va., uses specialty thermal fibers in its designs, which include built-in shapewear.

Discarded headscarves make a statement on oppression

March 1, 2025 | Swatches

To illustrate the oppression of Iranian women, Iranian-Australian designer Nila Rezaei of RK Collective, Sydney, Australia, has created stadium seats out of headscarves anonymously donated by women from Iran. In that country, appearing without a head covering in public or on social media can be puni…