Leatherlike Celium grown with agricultural fruit waste
September 1st, 2024
Celium is created from a process where bacteria feed on agricultural fruit waste. It is produced in a solar-powered plant in Central Mexico. Images: Polybion In May, Polybion™, a Madrid, Spain, biomaterials company, released its Celium™ Swatch Sampler collection in a variety of tones, marbled patterns and embossed styles to show the leatherlike material’s versatility. […]
Designer grows a biodegradable wedding gown
May 1st, 2024
Dasha Tsapenko designed her wedding dress from traditional Ukranian linen lace she found at flea markets and craft fairs. On her wedding day, she tested the mycelium-infused dress’s durability in seawater and sand. Images: Atelier Dasha Tsapenko/Maria Kytaieva Dutch designer and researcher Dasha Tsapenko celebrated her wedding wearing a not-so-traditional gown—one made of vintage linen […]
2024 Specialty Fabrics Showcase
April 1st, 2024
Awnings, tents, marine upholstery, furniture, banners and signs: Regardless of the end product, the fabric may need to perform in harsh conditions while still looking good, keeping the planet green and fitting into a client’s budget. For our annual showcase, we asked companies to send us information about their newest specialty textiles. We’ve organized the […]
Textiles that support energy conservation fill a growing need.
November 1st, 2021
It is estimated that about 6–10 percent of the cost of manufacturing is from energy consumption during manufacture. While the price of raw materials is primarily a fixed cost, to reduce the overall cost of manufacturing, textile businesses can reduce expenses by focussing on manageable and variable costs such as energy use. Photo: © Robert […]
Sustainable practices in today’s textile industry
February 1st, 2020
by Marie O’Mahony The story of sustainability in the textile industry has grown and changed, particularly in the last decade. The concept of “circularity” is now driving sustainability across the materials sector. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, “A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and […]
Sustainable infrastructure and construction textiles
June 1st, 2019
Infrastructure and construction textiles succeed with a focus on sustainable alternatives. By Seshadri Ramkumar and Marie O’Mahony The Shed in New York City is an arts center for performing arts, visual arts and popular culture. The building is designed to physically transform to support artists’ most ambitious ideas. Photo: Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Today’s advanced […]
Tracking supplier compliance for sustainable textile companies
May 1st, 2018
The issue of compliance can be complicated for textile companies, which have to comply with various regulatory and voluntary company standards for product safety and restriction of substances. In the United States, for example, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) contains provisions that aim to improve the safety of children’s products. The European Union […]