Cinnamon is the secret in a new odor-controlling fabric

May 1, 2021  |  Swatches

Novoleap Co. Ltd. (Koup) has developed a shirt using fabric made from recycled plastic bottles infused with cinnamon extract, which the company says is an antimicrobial that can prevent odor-causing bacteria. Cinnamon has a natural compound, cinnamaldehyde, that provides the antimicrobial properties…
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2021 Specialty Fabrics Showcase, Part 2

May 1, 2021  |  Features, Specialty Fabrics Showcase

Awnings, tents, shade sails, marine upholstery, protective gear, furniture: regardless of the end product, the fabric needs to perform in harsh conditions while looking good, keeping the planet green and fitting into a client’s budget.
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Portico shade structure opens up new possibilities

May 1, 2021  |  Awnings & Canopies, Markets

When a client requested a cover for the entry of a workshop/studio, Schafbock Design Workshop of Gujarat, India, took on several challenges, according to Schafbock’s Shehzad Irani. These included the timeline, which was just 45 days from concept design to installation, and the site, a fully functi…
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Responsive textiles: The future of athleisurewear

May 1, 2021  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Most of us still can’t (realistically) answer the siren song of working in pajamas. However, we’re certainly becoming au fait with the comfortable, functional clothing that can help us power through long, testing days at an essential workplace or hours of Zoom meetings for those working from hom…
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Electric and solar vehicles drive the future of automotive textiles

May 1, 2021  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Recent reports illuminate key factors that will influence the automotive textiles segment in the future. Most notably, the automotive lightweight material market is expected to reach $247 billion by 2026, according to Global Market Insights Inc.
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Bringing digital printing in-house

May 1, 2021  |  Features

Standing out from the crowd has become more important than ever for businesses of all stripes, and many turn to vibrant, riveting digital graphics to get their messages across.
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Putting the art in fabric architecture

May 1, 2021  |  Features

James Wines is known as a provocative artist who creates building-sized installations that some would say are more architecture than art. Indeed, he wrote a book about the fusion of these two artistic expressions called De-architecture, where he insisted that “buildings don’t need a defensive ra…
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Karl Deardorff’s smart moves with SLO Sail and Canvas

May 1, 2021  |  Features, Perspective

At age 19, Karl Deardorff bought a sewing machine from Leo Robbins, his first sailing instructor. “I wanted to be able to fix and alter my own sails,” he says. The machine went with Deardorff to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, where he was also on the sailing team.
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Device powered by body heat

May 1, 2021  |  Swatches

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a wearable device that transforms the human body into a biological battery.
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Biomedical engineers develop ‘smart’ senor bandages

May 1, 2021  |  Swatches

During the pandemic, many people have turned to virtual doctor appointments as a safer alternative to in-person visits. Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) are working to make this new wave of telemedicine more successful by creating an oxygen-sensing patc…
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