SLO Architecture’s ‘Turntable’ contemplates Camden’s history and future

July 1, 2021  |  Swatches

One of the many enduring reminders of the coronavirus pandemic is the sight of used, discarded masks littering public spaces. Amanda Schachter and Alexander Levi of New York City’s SLO Architecture have taken on the idea of unearthing the discarded in “Turntable,” a public installation at Coop…
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Team USA uniforms champion sustainability

July 1, 2021  |  Swatches

When Team USA joins the closing ceremony parade at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, in August, the athletes will be wearing uniforms that are more sustainable than ever. The team’s longtime official outfitter Ralph Lauren developed and invested in groundbreaking innovations in sustainable mate…
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From ocean debris to backyard furniture

July 1, 2021  |  Swatches

We’ve all seen the heartbreaking photos of seals, sea turtles and other marine life entangled in discarded fishing nets. Even when nets break down, they just become smaller pieces of toxic plastic that get mistaken for food and eaten. Discarded fishing nets make up an estimated 10 percent of plast…
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Smart clothing with Nextiles technology tracks data

July 1, 2021  |  Swatches

Nextiles, a materials science and manufacturing company, is entering the sports and performance market to provide smart thread technology that captures biometric and biomechanics data. With backing from the National Science Foundation and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Brooklyn, N.Y.-bas…
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Smaller and safer avalanche protection

July 1, 2021  |  Swatches

Polish company AEROSIZE Sp. z o.o. has collaborated with designer Dorota Kabala to create the AEROSIZE vest ONE and Avalanche Airbag System to protect skiers and snowboarders in environments prone to dangerous avalanches. The hybrid airbag system inside of the vest is based on the company’s propri…
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Composting plastic quickly

July 1, 2021  |  Swatches

Most compostable plastics, made primarily of the polyester known as polylactic acid (PLA), end up in landfills and last about as long as any other plastic. But University of California, Berkeley, scientists have invented a way to make them break down more easily within a few weeks, using just heat a…
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ThermoPlume insulates with synthetic, recycled material

July 1, 2021  |  Swatches

New York-based advanced materials technology company PrimaLoft® Inc. has launched a new version of its down-alternative insulation first introduced in 2017. The new ThermoPlume® synthetic fill is made entirely of post-consumer recycled materials but delivers thermal performance that’s comparable…
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Temporary tote is made from fruit peelings

July 1, 2021  |  Swatches

Berlin, Germany-based design students Lobke Beckfeld and Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten have developed a handbag or tote that dissolves in water, will biodegrade or can be recycled. The Sonnet155 is made from two post-industrial waste materials: fruit skins left over from juice production and short cellu…
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