Fog collector helps neighborhoods without city water access
August 1st, 2023
The fog collector/greenhouse is 6.5 meters tall (21.3 feet), and it takes up 25 square meters (269 square feet). Photos: Alsar-Atelier Condensing fog on fabric in arid and/or high-elevation locations is not a new concept, though a small-scale fog collector is not an everyday sight in people’s backyards. In Colombia, not everyone has in-home access […]
Leather company sponsors 2023 Florida Python Challenge
August 1st, 2023
INVERSA Leathers offers a variety of handbag and wallets, including the Piper & Skye blue purse made from python leather. INVERSA Leathers sponsored the $10,000 grand prize award for Florida’s 2023 Python Challenge, an annual 10-day event that tasks participants with humanely removing as many Burmese pythons from the Everglades as possible. Taking place August […]
Photonic fibers could help in recycling textiles
July 1st, 2023
Chemical Engineering Professor Max Stein and Brian Iezzi, post-doctoral researcher, analyze the fabric with photonic fibers woven into it at the Materials Science and Engineering Department, at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. Photo: Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan When it comes to recycling, one issue is the efficient and […]
Leather made from flowers
February 1st, 2023
“Flaux” is a new leather-like, textile material that uses waste from commercially produced flowers as its main ingredient and dye. When Irene Purasachit was a design student at Aalto University in Finland, she began to reflect on the aftermath of wedding ceremonies in her home country of Thailand, where flowers ended up in trash piles […]
SHL Healthcare sets up Textile Center of Excellence
July 13th, 2022
SHL Healthcare AB has recently established a Textile Center of Excellence (TCX) in Borås, the textile capital of Sweden, to extend and streamline support for early project phases in close collaboration with customers. The state-of-the-art facility is strategically situated inside the heritage Textile Fashion Center and adjacent to a cluster of industry experts such as […]
Cotton and textile sectors issue call for collaborative action
May 19th, 2020
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), The Committee For International Co-Operation Between Cotton Associations (CICCA), The International Cotton Association (ICA), The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and The International Textile Manufacturers Association (ITMF) are unified in promoting a common set of values and shared commitment to safe trading and contract sanctity across the global cotton community. […]
Technical textiles go bananas
March 1st, 2020
Sustainable, smart and fashionable bags are sourced from banana trees instead of synthetic textiles that can be environmentally harmful. Photos: QWSTION. When designing a more sustainable future, sometimes the solution lies in unexpected places. That’s the idea behind Bananatex®, a durable, waterproof fabric made from banana plants. The textile is derived from Abacá, also known […]
Curtains that combat indoor air pollution
June 1st, 2019
The technology that enables IKEA curtains to purify the air can be applied to any textile. GUNRID curtains will be available in stores next year. Photos: ©Inter IKEA Systems B.V. As air pollution continues to be a serious issue, particularly in urban areas, the quality of indoor air is also a concern. The World Health […]
Soft and flexible fabric generates electricity
November 1st, 2018
What if your favorite shirt could also power your digital watch? Researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology have created a woven fabric that generates electricity when stretched or exposed to pressure. Working in cooperation with the Swedish School of Textiles in Borås and the research institute Swerea IVF, researchers Anja Lund and Christian Müller […]
Siren Socks for foot health
July 1st, 2018
A side effect of diabetes can be numbness in the feet, causing people with the disease to be at risk for serious foot conditions including ulcers that can get infected and even result in amputation. It’s important for diabetics to monitor their feet daily. Typical tracking methods include therapeutic footwear, education and regular foot exams. Now the […]