Sustainable recycling: from textile waste to chindi rugs

October 1, 2018  |  Industry News

In India, the most common meaning for chindi is ‘torn cloth’; encountered either as a waste byproduct in the textile industry (post-industrial) or, more commonly, as the end-of-life residue of fabrics in use in households (post-consumer). For generations, this form of textile waste, torn strips …
Safety Components puts its business acumen to work for charity

October 1, 2018  |  Industry News

Following the events of 9/11, Joey Underwood, senior vice president of Safety Components in Greenville, S.C., witnessed several neighborhood efforts to raise money for families of the fallen firefighters in New York City. “I remember driving past a bake sale and thinking, ‘We’re in that busine…
GlideWear solutions for children

October 1, 2018  |  Projects

Imagine that your child’s skin was so delicate that a minor fall, a scratch or even a light touch could cause painful blisters, open sores or even a serious infection from a wound. This is the reality for children who suffer from epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare genetic disorder that causes the …
Triple Chill cooling denim

October 1, 2018  |  Projects

Denim is always in style—but it’s not always the first choice in the heat of the summer. A new line that keeps its cool could change all that. Developed by Atlanta, Ga.-based performance fabric innovator brrr°, the textile is designed to move heat and moisture away from the body, alleviating th…
Basic training principles for new and long-time tent installers

October 1, 2018  |  Markets

Labor is a problem everywhere, with tent rental companies experiencing constant turnover and the need to train new installers. Desperate to fill out their crews, tent renters will often send new employees on the road for installations right off the bat, with training coming on the job from long-time…
Strategies for how and when to grow your company

October 1, 2018  |  Features

They’re called “growing pains” for a reason. You’ve put in the blood, sweat and tears (and a few bucks) necessary to make your business a success. You’ve made your customers happy, and they’ve told their friends. There’s never been enough time in the day, but now … it’s getting tou…
Incorporating new materials into composites

October 1, 2018  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

In material science, strength alone is often found to have its limitations; a combination of hard and soft, rigid and flexible is an area of increasing interest for a wide range of applications from construction, to sports equipment, to protective apparel. Composites bring together two or more mater…
From fashion waste to aerogel

October 1, 2018  |  Projects

Fashion waste continues to be a problem. It’s estimated that in the U.S. alone, nearly 13 million tons of unwanted garments end up in landfills each year. Researchers at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Engineering have one solution: They developed a method to convert cotton-based f…