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Designing functional PPE
July 1st, 2020
For PPE that is both effective and comfortable—and more likely to be worn regularly and properly—consider a systems engineering approach to design. by Sigrid Tornquist Perhaps never before has the acronym “PPE” been so much a part of the common vernacular. In the days of COVID-19, few are unfamiliar with the term. However, PPE—personal protective […]
The work of protecting humans just got more important
May 1st, 2020
Suddenly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become a hot commodity and an often- heard phrase on the lips of government officials, members of the media and the general public. But IFAI member companies and the textile industry at large have always known that the purpose of fabrics has been to […]
Market watch: The specialty fabrics industry responds to COVID-19
May 1st, 2020
By Elisa Bernick, Sammi Jones, Jill C. Lafferty, Galynn Nordstrom, Rebecca J. Post and Janet Preus The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, with the textile industry playing a key role. Suppliers and end product manufacturers have pivoted at lightning speed to produce much-needed PPE for front-line medical workers. IFAI members are reaching […]
Fashionable space wear
April 1st, 2020
The new space wear collection, designed for the private spaceline Virgin Galactic, combines form and function to enhance the customer experience. Sir Richard Branson will wear one of the spacesuits aboard the inaugural commercial spaceflight, expected in 2020. Photos: Virgin Galactic. When Virgin Galactic launches an anticipated test spaceflight this year, the mission specialists on […]
Working the airline runway
April 1st, 2020
United Airline personnel look good and feel good in uniforms that work for them—because they were designed with their input. Photos: United Airlines. Remember Tim Gunn’s advice to Project Runway designers to “Make it work”? That phrase takes on a whole new meaning when designing uniforms for United Airlines personnel who literally work the runway. […]
New standard makes protective apparel safer
March 1st, 2020
by Glenna B. Musante Improving safety apparel for workers operating in hazardous situations is a constant focus of the textile industry, but it is a task not always easily accomplished. Hazardous materials professionals can be exposed to any number of chemical, biological and flammable materials in the same environment, according to The Institute of Hazardous […]
Protecting professionals with slash-resistant clothing
September 1st, 2019
Slash-resistant clothing can reduce the risk of knife injuries and lacerations, keeping frontline professionals safer. By Robert Kaiser Throughout history, people have protected themselves with specially designed and constructed garments. From furs and chain mail to leather, metals and high-tech fabric, human beings have creatively employed a range of materials to protect against injury and […]
New smart fabrics and protective gear innovations keep first responders safer
December 1st, 2018
First responders—from firefighters to law enforcement to emergency medical services technicians—need to be ready to handle any situation they encounter, and they need the appropriate gear to respond quickly to emergencies. Responders draw on their experience to make sound decisions in the chaos of a crime or accident scene, or in the heat of a […]
Fabric performance tested and approved
February 1st, 2018
That we live in a litigious society is evident to anyone who has spent even a little time in front of the television, where commercials touting the services of personal injury or product failure attorneys are pervasive reminders about how precarious life can be. Consumers have become ever more demanding in their expectations of what […]
Institut de Soudure Group strengthens position on the composite market
March 14th, 2016
A signed agreement between Villepinte, France-based Institut de Soudure Group and Saint-Avold, France-based PPE (Pôle de Plasturgie de l’Est) has strengthened the position of Institut de Soudure Group on the composite market. The agreement will allow the Institut de Soudure Group to extend its activities, mainly focused on metal materials, to composite materials. By integrating […]