Onshoring profits and productivity

August 31, 2023  |  Features

From pandemic-caused supply chain disruptions and limited freight capacity to increased shipping costs from Asia and trade enforcement actions, there are challenges aplenty for companies that have their manufacturing located overseas. Because of these and other factors, more and more companies are t…
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Algorithms aid researchers with heat-responsive fabric

August 31, 2023  |  Swatches

Engineers from Japanese clothing company A-POC Able Issey Miyake and University of Tokyo startup Nature Architects Inc. Ltd. presented their innovative approach to the design process at this year’s Milan Design Week held April 17–23, showcasing how algorithms can be used to automate and streamli…
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H&M award winners tackle industry challenges

August 31, 2023  |  Swatches

The 2023 winners of the H&M Foundation’s annual Global Change Award (GCA) offer a glimpse into the near future of textiles, from the creation of bio-based polyester alternatives to the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce fabric waste.
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Pop-up medical tent provides instant privacy for injured athletes

August 31, 2023  |  Swatches

In an age when every play—and every injury—in a game can be replayed ad infinitum online, the need to protect an athlete’s privacy on the sidelines during a medical exam becomes more important than ever. Thanks to Kinematic Co.’s SidelinER® pop-up medical tent, athletes don’t have to keep…
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RobotSweater may increase worker safety

August 31, 2023  |  Swatches

A team of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Robotics Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa., is working to increase employee safety with the RobotSweater, a covering for machines that detects when it encounters a human, such as a factory worker.
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New soap increases hand-washing accessibility

August 31, 2023  |  Swatches

Proper hand-washing is essential to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases, but water and soap can be difficult to find in low-income areas outside of Western countries.
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3D printing may be the future of footwear manufacturing

August 31, 2023  |  Swatches

Elastium, a startup based in the United Arab Emirates, and the Munich, Germany-based startup Sneakprint, have harnessed 3D printing technology to manufacture shoes.
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Skin care product made from organic industrial waste

August 31, 2023  |  Swatches

It’s not every day that someone looks at industrial waste and says, “I want to put this on my face.” Believe it or not, a couple of years ago, owners at AIZOME started developing just that, a skin care product called WASTECARE™, made from their textile dyeing wastewater. The company’s day …
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Advanced Textiles Expo: New name, improved event

August 31, 2023  |  Features

Join thousands of textile professionals for the first Advanced Textiles Expo (formerly known as IFAI Expo). Orlando is always a great location for the industry’s flagship event, and this year we are partnering once again with Sun Shading Expo North America. Connect with the industry for four days …
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Safe travels: Airports zone in on geosynthetics

August 31, 2023  |  Features

Airport runways are not the same as roads. They need to be built smoother and stronger to support the loads of jet planes without buckling under the weight, which is no small task in areas that may be swampy; dry; or subject to heavy rains, earthquakes or myriad other challenging soil conditions.
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