London opens co-working space for textile workers

May 1, 2022  |  Swatches

After years of working in the fashion textile industry, Luis Lopez-Smith realized London needed a space where creatives could make technical garments with the necessary machinery and know-how. That space is called Tottex, a coworking facility for textile workers. At Tottex, freelancers have access t…
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Natural leather and plastic alternative

May 1, 2022  |  Swatches

Ecovative, the mycelium technology company, has teamed with Vivobarefoot, makers of sustainable footwear, and PANGAIA, a materials science innovator. The trio will join the Fashion for Good Cooperative to co-develop custom mycelium materials for use in their respective footwear and fashion products.…
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Second chance for offenders

May 1, 2022  |  Swatches

When Kings Mountain, N.C.-based textile maker STI introduced its own brand of fabrics to the market, the business saw a boom in demand. Since 2019, this growth has led to more than doubling its workforce from 150 to 400 employees. As the need for workers grew, STI turned to the nearby Gaston Correct…
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Villanova gets new apparel

May 1, 2022  |  Swatches

“We are thrilled to partner with Hanesbrands,” says Mark Jackson, Villanova’s vice president and director of Athletics. “As we continually focus on ways to enhance our fan experience and grow fan engagement, Hanesbrands gives us a trusted partner to deliver quality apparel to all the retail …
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Bipartisan effort to support defense textile manufacturers

May 1, 2022  |  Swatches

The Department of Defense (DOD) procures nearly $2 billion worth of military textiles, helmets, armor, footwear and clothing annually, through the purchase of more than 8,000 items. But many companies are now operating on Firm Fixed Price contracts that were awarded before the current COVID economic…
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Gentle robotic device

May 1, 2022  |  Swatches

A new robotic gripper has found a completely new solution for gripping previously impossible objects. It uses the ancient Japanese art form of kirigami. Related to the paper-folding art of origami, kirigami involves making a series of parallel slits in a flat sheet of material. When the two-dimensi…
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Used balloons become shoe soles

May 1, 2022  |  Swatches

Undo for Tomorrow, a Lisbon, Portugal-based shoe brand, has released the “Nuven” shoe that the company says is completely vegan and made with all recycled and natural materials. Of particular interest are the colorful soles, made from discarded party balloons and tire leftovers. The shoe lining …
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Researcher develop seaweed “polyester”

May 1, 2022  |  Swatches

Sydney-headquartered surf wear company Piping Hot has commissioned a research team led by Professor Peter Ralph from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to develop a biomaterial prototype derived from seaweed. The company says that it hopes the research will have a transformative impact on the…
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Modular helmet for biking, snow sports

May 1, 2022  |  Swatches

Boston, Mass.-based company Bridger is out to make helmets more adaptable and customizable. The company has designed the “Highline,” which it says is the first modular helmet supporting both biking and snow sports. A removable shell lets the wearer swap between profiles, ventilation and insulati…
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Dressing for the Olympics

April 1, 2022  |  Swatches

Viewers of February’s 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing saw the result of a new division of New York-based Ferrara Manufacturing during the event’s closing ceremonies. Team USA members at the Winter Games wore jackets and bottoms in the Closing Ceremony manufactured by the newly created Ferra…
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