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Wrong direction

Wrong direction

Global fibre production reached a record figure in 2023, but recycled fibres contributed only 7.7% to the total. Preferred materials and standardisation non-profit Textile Exchange published its 2024 Materials Market Report at the end of September. The report shines a stark light on the unrelenting pace of growth in global fibre production and on...
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04 September 2024
Brazil report asks tough questions of Better Cotton Brazil report asks tough questions of Better Cotton
Major clothing companies have questioned sustainability initiative Better Cotton following a critical report from non-profit group Earthsight.
21 August 2024
A solution for a sticky problem A solution for a sticky problem
Advances in adhesive technology are opening up new possibilities for recycling athletic shoes.
14 August 2024
Hidden protection for easy riding Hidden protection for easy riding
Taking a material from the aerospace industry, a “crazy” idea became a viable product in the hands of the textiles masterminds at Tejidos Royo.
31 July 2024
Smart tracks Smart tracks
The emergence of new business models and the likely implementation of digital product passports may require new features and functions that warrant extending the range of traceability technologies.
24 July 2024
No wood to waste No wood to waste
In addition to going into manmade cellulosic fibres, the renewable resource that is pulped wood is also being tapped for other textile industry supplies, including polymers and chemicals, offering a new array of materials that are not derived from fossil fuels.
15 May 2024
Get Down with the Facts Get Down with the Facts
British outdoor brand Rab moves forward with its down recycling programme.
08 May 2024
Performance provides the buzz Performance provides the buzz
Changes to materials and construction are crucial in creating shoes that will provide athletes with performance gains. What this means for sustainability strategies is a separate question.
01 May 2024
Polartec moves up a gear Polartec moves up a gear
Cycling brands are among early adopters of bio-based nylon-containing Power Shield, which also incorporates a new construction to make it Polartec’s most waterproof and breathable technology yet.
24 April 2024
Striving for circular stretch Striving for circular stretch
Under Armour and Celanese have unveiled a fresh type of stretch fibre that they say could provide a more easily recyclable alternative to elastane – and they are keen for wider industry adoption.
17 April 2024
The rise of alternative natural fibres The rise of alternative natural fibres
In the wide world of agricultural waste lie many long and strong fibres that can be spun into textile yarns for apparel and accessories.
10 April 2024
Creative chemistry Creative chemistry
Cooking oils and fruit stones are among the new raw materials being harnessed to make textile auxiliaries.
03 April 2024
Plastic-eating enzymes Plastic-eating enzymes
Enzymes, microbes and such can develop the ability to break down any substance they find in their close environment, including plastics. They are now being screened and tailored to depolymerise PET plastics, polyester textiles and fabrics made from polyamide.
21 March 2024
Family values shine at MarediModa Family values shine at MarediModa
The Cannes-based show prides itself on offering premium fabrics for the swimwear sector. The longstanding heritage of the exhibitors was reflected in the high-quality and skilful fabric offerings for summer 2025.
05 March 2024
New tech for old values New tech for old values
Vivobarefoot aims to tackle the vast amounts of footwear waste by creating ‘scan-to-print’, locally made custom shoes that wearers could treasure for longer.
21 February 2024
Time for regeneration Time for regeneration
Ambercycle looks to have received a game-changing boost in its bid to begin commercial-scale production of regenerated polyester fibres.
14 February 2024
Biotech breakthrough Biotech breakthrough
Spiber’s Brewed Protein is the first purely biotech fibre to be developed on a commercial scale. Fellow Japanese company and long-time partner Goldwin has played a crucial role in bringing the innovative fibre to market.
07 February 2024
Chemical recycling scales up Chemical recycling scales up
New factories for depolymerising polyester textiles are in the works. Using a variety of ‘advanced’ or molecular recycling processes, they promise to treat textile waste that cannot be mechanically recycled.
31 January 2024
Ocean-bound versus Ocean-found Ocean-bound versus Ocean-found
A new category of recycled synthetics uses material at risk of ending up in the open sea or recycled from debris fished out of the ocean. These two sources constitute, regrettably, a near unlimited supply.
18 December 2023
A return to apparel for Advansa A return to apparel for Advansa
Ten years on from major changes at the company, polyester yarn developer Advansa is making a return to the apparel market.
13 December 2023
Not a small feat Not a small feat
Outdoor performance soling supplier Vibram has secured new status as the first-ever shoe brand and the first outsole manufacturer to become a Bluesign system partner.
06 December 2023
Powered by a super-polymer Powered by a super-polymer
Already in use in adidas exercise apparel, a composite thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) called Rheon has now gone into the brand’s clothing for runners, providing, in an unusual way, dynamic support to key muscle groups.
29 November 2023
Biobased options Biobased options
Binita Bhuta, vice-president for marketing and sustainability at CovationBio.
22 November 2023
Moving along nicely Moving along nicely
China is pushing ahead with its five-year national fitness plan, announced two years ago, after a less-than-certain start in the midst of national and international covid-19 lockdowns.
15 November 2023
Herculean effort Herculean effort
The team at New Zealand-based TMC spent five years looking for a way to add durability to wool garments without relying on synthetics. The answer was closer than they thought.
08 November 2023
Trash into treasure Trash into treasure
Could proteins provide the building blocks for a new fibre to rival polyester and silk? Bloom Labs believes it has found a solution.
01 November 2023
Eye in the sky Eye in the sky
The European Space Agency is working with GOTS to map and monitor organic cotton cultivation using satellites, as a new program is developed that is sophisticated enough to classify field usage to a startling degree.
25 October 2023
On-demand gets directional On-demand gets directional
A multi-stakeholder team of designers, developers and engineers got together to reconsider 3D-printed sports shoe models, just in time for ITMA.
18 October 2023
As good as new As good as new
No longer the sole domain of artisanal practices, or of limited runs, upcycling and remanufacturing are progressively being applied on an industrial scale.
11 October 2023
Carbon from thin air Carbon from thin air
Using greenhouse gases as feedstock for fuels or materials is already a reality, and could become a source of clean, carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative synthetic fibres.
27 September 2023
Biodegradation-boosting synthetics Biodegradation-boosting synthetics
End-of-life scenarios are important when assessing a product’s impacts, but they are not an easy sell. This is one of many challenges the makers of synthetics yarns enhanced with biodegradation-accelerating additives face. As concerns regarding the permanence of plastic grow, so does demand for these materials that are engineered to leave no trace.
30 August 2023
A fine line A fine line
Advancements in recycled cotton ring yarns for knits unveiled at ITMA are likely to inspire a sizeable ripple effect.
23 August 2023
Future-proofing the industry Future-proofing the industry
Anticipation was high before ITMA opened its doors at Fiera Milano Rho on June 8.
16 August 2023
New fibres in the loop New fibres in the loop
The need to increase fibre-to-fibre recycling and lack of progress in achieving this is being called out by every sustainable fashion industry coalition and report.
02 August 2023
Relaxed explorers need multitasking shoe Relaxed explorers need multitasking shoe
Garmont taps into ‘unexplored market segment’ as the use of e-bikes and ‘slow tourism’ change consumer needs.
27 July 2023
Another angle Another angle
The pace to meet the under­served activewear needs of more women is picking up as industry leaders begin to zoom out and piece together the bigger picture.
20 July 2023
Plant­-based nylon garments Plant­-based nylon garments
An investment in equity in Genomatica in 2021 was Lululemon’s first in a sustainable materials company. The gymwear brand has now followed up by launching T­-shirts made from nylon, developed from Genomatica’s plant-­based building blocks.
12 July 2023
A look at what’s up in down A look at what’s up in down
It has unique performance properties and offers unrivalled warmth to weight. The natural material is also robust allowing it to be recycled, if properly cared for. But down is not without shortcomings and specific challenges.
28 June 2023
Can cellulosics compete with synthetics? Can cellulosics compete with synthetics?
Producers of manmade cellulosic fibres would like us to believe their wood-based yarns possess performance properties that make them suitable alternatives to polyester and polyamide.
03 May 2023
Prize fighters Prize fighters
A revamped format for the ISPO Award programme has given footwear its own category. In 2022, 12 different shoe, boot and footwear technology ideas were among the winners.
19 April 2023
Low-impact reused garments Low-impact reused garments
If Europe is to fulfil its vision of a sustainable and circular textiles industry, the system for collecting and sorting used garments and putting them to good use needs an overhaul.
12 April 2023
Reinvent to innovate Reinvent to innovate
There is no question that Nike Forward, which debuted last autumn with an inaugural hoodie and crew style, is an interesting textile development. But can the current iteration — with its raw details and grey-only colourway — be the ‘game changer’ the brand claims it to be?
05 April 2023
New legacy thinking New legacy thinking
The first technical outdoor gear to be produced with a non-fluorinated Gore-Tex membrane landed in stores towards the end of 2022.
29 March 2023
Healthier competition Healthier competition
Outdoor sports group Goldwin has been running its own race for over 70 years.
15 March 2023
3D printing takes a new turn 3D printing takes a new turn
A new generation of 3D printers can apply decoration or performance features directly onto fabric. Components made using additive manufacturing are also finding novel functional uses in shoes and backpacks. Together they may signal a new dawn for a technology that has yet to find a viable industrial use case, otherwise known as ‘killer app’, in consumer goods.

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