March 1, 2018
Combine fabrics and electronics, and these days, the possibilities seem endless. Now a research team at Binghamton University, State University of New York, has developed a smart fabric that doesn’t just contain electronics—the fabric is the source of the electronics. It’s called a bio-battery because it’s powered by bacteria. Team leader Seokheun Choi, an assistant …
Even with medical science advances, the treatment of wounds is often fairly low tech. The process of changing bandages and applying the right medication at the right interval is often labor intensive. Promoting faster healing and preventing infection remain concerns. Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Harvard Medical School and MIT have developed a bandage …
In the marine upholstery industry, covering three-dimensional shapes requires the right design and fabric. It’s all about getting a smooth, secure form fit that won’t loosen over time. That was the challenge Tammy Hampton, owner of Buford, Ga.-based Cover Girl Marine Canvas and Upholstery, faced when fabricating a cover for a recent project—a large marine …
It’s called deadstock—the fabric left over when clothing is manufactured. It’s a common practice for fashion houses to order more fabric than they need, as a precaution. The problem is that the leftover fabric adds up quickly into billions of square feet of textile waste each year. Much of that ends up in landfills instead …
Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador is one of only six riders to win the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana—the Grand Tours of cycling, something he has accomplished more than once. Contador also helps young cyclists develop championship skills through his Alberto Contador Foundation, which manages Continental, Under-23 and Junior cycling …
February 1, 2018
What do you get when you mix a highly functional outdoor blanket with a puffy jacket? How about a blanket that is fashionable enough to wear as a wrap, yet practical enough to keep you warm and cozy in all kinds of conditions? That’s the idea behind the Puffy Kachula, a new design from Coalatree, …
Nick and Steve Tidball, twin brothers and founders of Vollebak, have created a jacket made from material that can be charged to glow in the dark by exposing it to almost any light source. The Solar Charged Jacket stores light to glow in the dark, and protects from driving rain and winds. The company, Vollebak, …
Workers who must raise their arms over their heads for long periods of time know how strenuous it can be. Even though many companies have eliminated long-term overhead work, in some industries it can’t be avoided. To aid workers who deal with this type of manual labor long term, the Hohenstein Institute, Bonnigheim, Germany, has …
The London Design Festival is an annual event that promotes London as the design capital of the world. It showcases the exciting and often cutting-edge work of artists, architects and designers at exhibits and installations in locations around the city. The Victoria & Albert Museum, the world’s leading museum of art and design, was the …
One day soon, the most sought-after feature in a new jacket may not be the style, color or its ability to keep you warm—it may be the garment’s unique capability to store information. Researchers at the University of Washington are using off-the-shelf conductive thread to create fabrics and fashion accessories that can store data from security codes …