Fiber composite can repair itself 1,000+ times

June 1, 2026  |  Swatches

Researchers at North Carolina State University (NC State) have developed a self-healing composite that is tougher than materials currently used in aircraft wings, turbine blades and other applications and can repair itself more than 1,000 times.
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VoxeLite can ‘feel the digital world’

June 1, 2026  |  Swatches

Engineers at Northwestern University in Illinois have created VoxeLite, a bandage-like device that stretches around the fingertip and lets users “feel the digital world,” as described in a Northwestern article about the device. Featuring a series of nodes, the wrap creates a digital touch that r…
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Smart wearable for post-stroke speech impairments

June 1, 2026  |  Swatches

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a soft, washable choker that could help patients with post-stroke speech impairments regain the ability to communicate, providing an alternative to invasive devices such as brain implants.
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Smart vest could prevent hypothermia

June 1, 2026  |  Swatches

Scientists at Nottingham Trent University have developed a smart vest that monitors the wearer’s body temperature and detects risks of hypothermia.
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AI graphics enable embroidered-look mock-up for customers

June 1, 2026  |  Swatches

Florida-based custom patch manufacturer World Emblem is using artificial intelligence (AI) graphics rendering to show customers what their design will look like when embroidered, eliminating lag time for physical samples and production waste.
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Trivantage hosts second annual Makers Meet event

May 28, 2026  |  Swatches

Trivantage hosted the company’s second annual Makers Meet event on May 8, in collaboration with the Window Coverings Association of America.
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Handbag features lab-grown collagen from T. rex bones

May 14, 2026  |  Swatches

Enfin Levé, a techwear brand, debuted a handbag made from leather and collagen lab-grown from fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) bone fragments. The bag was on display at the Art Zoo Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, next to a cast of a T. rex specimen from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
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From vineyard waste to sustainable leather

May 12, 2026  |  Swatches

Planet of the Grapes, based in France, makes sustainable leather alternatives from vineyard waste for clothing, accessories and car seats, among other products.
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