From train seat to handbag

September 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Amtrak’s Acela Express trains, which offer comfort and upscale amenities for passengers along the northeast corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., were in need of a makeover. The redesign of the interiors, which began in 2018, included replacing 6,080 leather seats from 100 train cars.  Th…
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An experiential exhibit of fabric color, texture and performance

August 1, 2019  |  Swatches

When Belgian textile designer Casalis returned to Milan Design Week in April after a three-year absence, the company made a statement with its signature style. Casalis worked with designer Anita Kars to create an experiential display inspired by a labyrinth. Visitors walked through a series of space…
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Gas-detecting threads

August 1, 2019  |  Swatches

The detection of volatile gases can be critical in public health, workplace safety, military and rescue situations. The process requires the use of electronic devices operated by specially trained technicians. Engineers at Tufts University’s School of Engineering have recently developed threads th…
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Fibers of the future

August 1, 2019  |  Swatches

This summer, visitors to the Bundesgartenschau grounds, a park in Heilbronn, Germany, will see an architectural marvel seemingly rising from the landscape. The BUGA Fibre Pavilion showcases the potential future of construction—created by combining construction principles found in nature with cutti…
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Nanofiber veil for composites

August 1, 2019  |  Swatches

The world’s first commercially available interleaving nanofiber veil for use in fiber-reinforced thermoset polymer composite materials has been developed by New Zealand-based Revolution Fibres in partnership with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company.   Xantu.Layr® XLB is made from Lexter, a XD10 …
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A pocket-sized washing machine

August 1, 2019  |  Swatches

When you’re hiking and camping, sometimes all you want is to freshen your clothing. But, short of beating your socks against the rocks, there usually aren’t many good options on the trail. Calibre8, the Australian creator of the original five-ounce Scrubba wash bag, has introduced an even lighte…
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Robots on the wing

August 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Hummingbirds are amazing creatures: They flap their wings as fast as 80 times per second, they’re able to hover by flapping their wings in a figure-eight pattern, and they can even fly backwards and upside down. If drones had this capability, possibilities could include daring rescue missions such…
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Partying in sustainable style: Cannes Film Festival

August 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Since 1998, Swiss jeweler Chopard has been an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival. The luxury house crafts the festival’s Palme d’or and trophies and adorns the stars in attendance with pieces from its dazzling Red Carpet Collection. Chopard also organizes unforgettable parties each yea…
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Cutting-edge scrubs

July 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Medical scrubs need to be practical and comfortable, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish. That’s the proposition behind Barco® Uniform’s Grey’s Anatomy™ collection of medical apparel for women and men. Recently, the company upped its game with the introduction of Grey’s Anatom…
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Laminated fabric for distinctive building design

July 1, 2019  |  Swatches

The Horw Secondary School located in Lucerne, Switzerland, was ready for a facelift. Built in the 1970s, the dated building needed to join the modern world, including meeting the requirements of Minergie, the Swiss sustainable building standard, as well as improving its overall appeal. One key to me…
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