WSA Features

WSA Archive

Select Language
In the forest of fibres: Old versus new growth

In the forest of fibres: Old versus new growth

Producers of wood-based fibres, a group of materials spanning viscose, lyocell and acetate, are quick to promote their plant- or bio-based raw materials. But these manmade cellulosic fibres face two key challenges. They need to prove they play no role in deforestation and they need to provide guarantees with regards to the chemicals used in the process of turning a hard yet fibrous material, namely wood, into a...
loading..
Search: submit search
11 March 2021
Moves to minimise microfibre shedding Moves to minimise microfibre shedding
Much is still unknown concerning the source and impact of microfibre pollution from textiles and apparel and levels of concern remain high.
09 March 2021
Sustainability – Plans on ice Sustainability – Plans on ice
Swiss outdoor brand Mammut is concentrating all of its work on sustainability under a new umbrella term, Together For Glaciers.
04 March 2021
Change of gear for membranes Change of gear for membranes
After years of incremental improvements in the performance properties of waterproof-breathable membranes, radical new technologies are coming to market.
25 February 2021
Regenerative wool Regenerative wool
Well known for its unique performance properties, wool may be a source of broader positive impacts as growers around the world begin to implement regenerative agricultural practices.
08 December 2020
Opportunities arising from the plastic crisis Opportunities arising from the plastic crisis
A new report says that, if we don't change how we do things, 2040 will see another 29 million tonnes of plastic...
01 December 2020
Enhanced awareness Enhanced awareness
By weaving better support and body awareness into a unique compression baselayer, a new London-based...
26 November 2020
Quest for the magic circle Quest for the magic circle
Houdini and Polartec's partnership has resulted in a jacket with 80% less microfibre shedding, and by publishing the details...
24 November 2020
TITAS 2020 goes ahead TITAS 2020 goes ahead
Interesting innovations on display, and creative ways of presenting them to a mixed on-site and online audience...
17 November 2020
Greener chemistry Greener chemistry
Reducing the amount of chemicals, water and energy used to dye and finish textiles is a key challenge for the apparel industry.
10 November 2020
The patchy sustainability of recycled polyester The patchy sustainability of recycled polyester
Many of the sustainability claims made by sportswear brands revolve around an...
06 October 2020
Natural reaction to Higg rejig Natural reaction to Higg rejig
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition has released a new version of the Higg Materials Sustainability Index as part...
01 October 2020
The great indoors The great indoors
Emerging from months of lockdown into a world in which competitive sports and outdoor activities are still very much limited...
29 September 2020
Crash Protection Crash Protection
Riders from Team Sunweb wore Dyneema-enabled wound-resistant cycling shirts at the 2020 Tour de France...
22 September 2020
Antibacterials up the ante Antibacterials up the ante
The covid-19 pandemic has makers of antimicrobial additives racing to find solutions that will keep face coverings and clothes virus-free.
15 September 2020
High time for hemp High time for hemp
A hemp and organic cotton fabric made by Swiss weaver Stotz won the Performance Days Eco Performance Award last April.
23 July 2020
Wisdom of the crowd Wisdom of the crowd
Fruits of crowdfunding are everywhere, though it is easy to overlook...
21 July 2020
Cotton farmers fight back against GM Cotton farmers fight back against GM
As part of its work to empower disadvant­aged producers...
16 July 2020
More time for Olympic innovation More time for Olympic innovation
As late as mid-March, with countries around the world in lockdown...
14 July 2020
Race for protection gathers speed Race for protection gathers speed
If any single positive has come out of the Covid-19 pandemic...
07 July 2020
Break down the blends Break down the blends
The problem is well-known, and the numbers staggering...
30 June 2020
Infinite regeneration of polyester Infinite regeneration of polyester
Take a batch of monomer molecules, string them together...
28 May 2020
The war on waste will continue The war on waste will continue
Programmes to reduce and even eliminate waste are well advanced...
26 May 2020
Extreme measures Extreme measures
Vollebak is accustomed to hype around product launches...
21 May 2020
When partners push each other When partners push each other
As 2020 began, cyclists around the world were pedalling through cold rainy...
12 May 2020
A biosourced polyamide renaissance A biosourced polyamide renaissance
Among the many sustainability claims brands put forward...
07 May 2020
BASF’s footwear investments bear fruit BASF’s footwear investments bear fruit
Standing on your feet all day in a workplace...
05 May 2020
Textiles for travel and wellness Textiles for travel and wellness
The wellness and travel wear trend has been quietly building...
20 March 2020
How to unlock the blockchain How to unlock the blockchain
Sourcing materials for garment manufacturing is a messy business...
17 March 2020
Plastics under the microscope Plastics under the microscope
Germany-based testing institute Hohenstein has developed...
12 March 2020
Into the dark places Into the dark places
The Woolmark Company is to be one of a number of official technical partners...
05 March 2020
New mountains to conquer New mountains to conquer
Early this year, M.T. Imports announced...
03 March 2020
Raising the bar on reducing waste Raising the bar on reducing waste
In January, global sports brand adidas announced a major initiative...
The power of algae The power of algae
The food, pharmaceuticals and biofuels industries...
16 January 2020
Smart thinking from Greek cotton collective Smart thinking from Greek cotton collective
“If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is nature’s way,”...
Could thermosetting become obsolete? Could thermosetting become obsolete?
For CEO Mike Joyce, offering recycled products no longer...
Why so few business leaders rock the boat on sustainability Why so few business leaders rock the boat on sustainability
HKRITA, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel...
Sciencing the bulk out of outerwear Sciencing the bulk out of outerwear
It is all about the science...
Finnish textiles building a true circular economy Finnish textiles building a true circular economy
Words like “sustainability” and “circular economy”...
Take back to end throw-away culture Take back to end throw-away culture
Keeping clothing in circulation is widely regarded as one of the best solutions...
Smart textiles power up Smart textiles power up
The market for smart clothing is heating up, literally...
31 October 2019
Taiwan’s experts stay one step ahead Taiwan’s experts stay one step ahead
The 23rd Taiwan Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (Titas)...
Why nearly 3,000 businesses are now B Corps Why nearly 3,000 businesses are now B Corps
Gaining B Corporation Certification is proving popular with outdoor brands...
A new source of funding to help innovators scale up their textile ideas A new source of funding to help innovators scale up their textile ideas
There are an increasing number of technologies on the market...
Truly traceable down Truly traceable down
A provider of molecular technologies, Applied DNA Sciences Inc...

Browse all features...