Outerwear that grows with children

December 1, 2017  |  Projects

It’s a common dilemma when buying clothes for young children—do you get the size they are now, knowing they’ll grow out of them soon? Or get a size or two bigger, figuring they’ll grow into them and last longer? That was the inspiration for London-based Petit Pli, a line of children’s clot…
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Powering fabrics to keep soldiers warm

December 1, 2017  |  Projects

Soldiers stationed in the arctic know that it’s a challenge to stay warm while executing their duties in the frigid weather. Protective clothing is often bulky and makes it difficult to maneuver, and wearers often become overheated and sweaty. A group of scientists at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier …
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High-powered yarn

December 1, 2017  |  Products

Supreme Corporation has introduced VOLT Smart Yarns, a highly conductive yarn capable of sending power, ground and signals to make functional, wearable smart clothing. Capable of high levels of conductivity on the order of 1.9 Ohms per meter, each VOLT Smart Yarn contains up to four wires the diame…
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Recycled materials for inflatable travel bags

December 1, 2017  |  Projects

The Swiss company Freitag has made a name for itself creating multifunctional bags out of old truck tarpaulins, discarded bicycle inner tubes and car seat belts. Recently, the company expanded its offerings to include an inflatable travel bag that stands out from anything else at baggage claim. Zipp…
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Narrow fabrics’ widening reach

December 1, 2017  |  Features

Corporate administrators tend to base management decisions on the Pareto Principle (80 percent of business comes from 20 percent of the clientele). Textile engineer Connie Huffa argues that can be a shortsighted way of thinking. “Opportunities lie in the 20 percent—the business we all would have…
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Tapestry depicts “Game of Thrones”

December 1, 2017  |  Projects

It looks like a textile dating back centuries. But upon a closer look, a detailed tapestry tells the tale of “Game of Thrones®,” one of the most popular television shows of all time. The tapestry was designed as part of a Tourism Ireland campaign, created in partnership with HBO, and launched d…
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Training and education for the high-tech textile industry

December 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

According to Deloitte’s 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitive Index (GMCI) report, the United States looks set to overtake China as the world’s most competitive manufacturing nation within five years. The textile industry is a significant part of that repositioning in its moves to bring manufact…
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Fabric installation at Renwick Gallery plays with perceptions

December 1, 2017  |  Markets

Since the 17th century (with the debut of the French École des Beaux-Arts), drawing has been the first basic skill taught to architects. This still holds true, despite the advent of computer aided drafting (CAD) and sophisticated rendering software. And today there is a segment of the architecture …
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Finding solutions: teamwork and initiative

December 1, 2017  |  Features

Research shows that cross-functional collaboration can improve the ability to solve complex problems, deliver higher quality products and services faster, and boost customer satisfaction. To see these kinds of results means building a team that listens to customers and works across departments to fi…
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A new NAFTA?

December 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump promised to improve U.S. trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Since taking office and subsequently threatening to withdraw the United States from NAFTA unless the terms were renegotiated, Mexico and Canada have been cajoled…
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