Big Span Structures completes parking garage façade with eye-catching details

January 1, 2021  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Capital Crescent Trail users in Bethesda, Md., are enjoying an aesthetically pleasing facade of digitally printed blue sky and bird silhouettes, designed and installed by Big Span Structures as part of a parking garage expansion project. In addition to the eye-catching view in place of an otherwise …
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Commercial viability boosts the visibility of wearable technology

January 1, 2021  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

In the midst of the reworking of so many segments of the textile industry due to the pandemic, one market segment that has been able to stay focused on the basics of what it does is e-textiles, including conductive fibers and yarns. This technology is no longer just an interesting experiment but has…
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Textiles and 3D technology

December 1, 2020  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

The advent of 3D printing (3DP) has drawn considerable interest from academia, industry and amateur hobbyists as a novel method of producing objects layer-by-layer (LbL) via a bottom-up manufacturing approach. This method of “additive” manufacturing (used interchangeably with the term 3DP) build…
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Breakthroughs in advanced textiles: 3D printed mesh, antiviral jacket and more

November 1, 2020  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

3D-printed flexible mesh Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have designed pliable 3D-printed mesh materials with the flexibility and toughness to be tuned to emulate and support softer tissues such as muscles and tendons. With the ability to tailor the intricate structures in eac…
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The pandemic is driving more sustainable PPE

November 1, 2020  |  Advanced Textiles

by Debra Cobb From community masks and health workers’ kits, to hospital gowns, drapes and wraps, disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) is playing a critical role in the battle against COVID-19 infections. But now there is a mountain of disposable PPE that’s creating a whole new set of …
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Breaking barriers in the textile industry for people who are blind

November 1, 2020  |  Markets

National Industries for the Blind creates growth opportunities in the textiles industry for people who are blind or visually impaired. by Holly Eaman For many, 2020 has been a year of recognizing and working to overcome limitations—a technique that partners and employees of National Industries for…
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Breakthroughs in advanced textiles: Smart objects that benefit play, on-skin smart interface, and more

October 1, 2020  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Smart objects support the benefits of play London, U.K.-based smart textile designer Michelle Rinow has unveiled her Transforming Touch series, which was developed based on research about the benefits of sensory play for adults. Her design methodology places emphasis on human interaction, connection…
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Designing for lightness in fabric structures

October 1, 2020  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

A new book examines sustainability in materials design. By Marie O’Mahony Editor’s note: Marie O’Mahony will moderate a panel session led by author Ed van Hinte on Nov. 5 at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020. The session will provide an updated view on lightness in design and how the world might bene…
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Inflatable forest comes to life with human interaction

October 1, 2020  |  Inflatables, Markets, Swatches

The Canopy, an inflatable installation that debuted in 2019 at the Light City festival in Baltimore, Md., is designed to bring people together for a greater good. At first glance, it is a forest of tree-like sculptures that are white in the daylight and aglow with neon colors at night. That’s wher…
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Disinfecting fabrics for COVID-19

October 1, 2020  |  Inflatables, Markets, Tents

Expert advice for eliminating a deadly virus while keeping employees and end users safe.  by Pamela Mills-Senn Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturers of textile-based products like gym mats and pads, soft seating and bounce houses faced the usual questions from their customers about how to c…
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