T-shirt monitors respiratory rate

September 1, 2017  |  Projects

Researchers at Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada, have developed a technology that could help people who suffer from respiratory conditions including asthma, sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They created a smart T-shirt that monitors a person’s respiratory rate in real…
Elissa Decker’s fabric expertise helps Moss Inc. build global growth

September 1, 2017  |  Features, Perspective

The properties of any fabric will be determined by the combined characteristics of its fiber, yarn, construction method, and dyeing and finishing processes,” says Elissa Decker, senior manager of materials, Moss Inc., Chicago, Ill. “It’s such an exciting time to work in the industry, because t…
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From machines to humans: Boost the productivity of your business

September 1, 2017  |  Features

Improving productivity depends on a combination of efficient employees, equipment and processes. Driving improvement in all these areas involves examining the current practices in place and making adjustments to systems, employee training, technology, equipment and tools. From small tweaks in commun…
Flame-retardant reflective tapes

September 1, 2017  |  Products

The Coats Signal line of premium fire-resistant and flame-retardant retro reflective tapes are designed for maximum heat and flame protection, for great visibility and resistance to extreme conditions. When illuminated by a light source, the reflective tapes provide enhanced visibility at nighttime,…
Shadow strength

September 1, 2017  |  Products

Enduratex has introduced Overshadow, its first combination TPO fabric with a PU topskin and a new offering in its earth-friendly Puretex collection. The high-performance fabric with applications in the contract and hospitality markets has UV-stabilized pigments that last a minimum of 300 hours, an a…
Project explores form and movement in architecture

September 1, 2017  |  Projects

Can one visualize the wind? That was one of the ideas explored by Estudio Invasivo or Invasive Study, a Chilean design studio that studies the cardinal logic of architecture and its pedagogical dialogues. The project, Archetypical Sessions, placed architectural elements in different settings to expl…
The efficiencies and versatility of advanced and automated equipment are helping bring back the U.S. sewing industry

September 1, 2017  |  Features

When U.S. textile jobs started to leave en masse for China and other cheap-labor countries in the 1990s, an entire industry scrambled to pick up the pieces. Companies that survived the upheaval frequently shared one common trait: adaptability. Some contract sewers courted niche non-apparel product m…
Eco-friendly sponge soaks up oil spills

September 1, 2017  |  Projects

There are many challenges to cleaning up oil spills. Consider the devastating Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. A portion of the millions of gallons of oil that escaped drifted through the ocean rather than rising to the surface. Because it did not rise to the top, the oil could…
Awning upgrades

September 1, 2017  |  Products

Herculite’s NATURA® awning fabric has new features including surface improvements that reduce crazing and make the appearance of the face and reverse of the fabric virtually identical. The new proprietary core-stabilized system reduces edge curl, inhibits seam leakage and offers excellent dimensi…
Silk fiber implant helps restore hearing

September 1, 2017  |  Projects

As many as 330 million people worldwide suffer from Chronic Middle Ear Disease, a debilitating condition that is the most common cause of perforated eardrums. It can cause hearing loss and great pain when there is damage to the eardrum and mastoid bone. A team of scientists at the Ear Science Instit…