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When synthetics bet on renewable over fossil

Occupying a middle ground between natural and petrochemical, synthetic fibres made from renewable resources may hit the right chord with brands looking to lighten their environmental footprint. But...

Milano Unica: United in innovation
Could it be the show’s early dates? The winter season session, when fabrics command higher prices allowing...
Colouring with only a hint of water
High-tech solutions that can ‘dye’ fabrics virtually without water promise to cut precious resources by 90%...
Novel natural windbreaker shows power of collaboration
Armedangels has eschewed fossil-based fabrics for what it describes as the first natural jacket of its kind....
Stick with it
Science that won the Nobel Prize for chemistry as long ago as 1950 could have a role to play in the textile...
Automation’s shortcomings
Clothing designers expect to see further advances in automation in the near future, but we are some way short ...

22 April 2026

Recycling ‘blocker’ fibre enters new age

As Lycra’s partially bio-based elastane hits commercial volumes, Fashion for Good launches a pilot to validate lower-impact stretch fibres and galvanise support around nascent recycling systems.

13 April 2026

One step ahead

A collective research programme to boost innovation in sustainable processes and develop industrial synergies in Portugal has brought together a consortium of textile and apparel manufacturers, research...

18 March 2026

Fresh thinking

Odour-capturing technologies are replacing traditional antimicrobial solutions to keep clothing smelling fresh. They are now being paired with complementary cooling and fibre-shedding mitigation to better...

11 March 2026

Milano Unica: ‘Luxury means raw materials’

The sentiment at the Italian fair was that manufacturing needs to be put back in the spotlight to differentiate high-end textiles.

04 March 2026

Changing of the guard in membranes

Makers of waterproof-breathable membranes have been pressured to phase out PFAS chemistry, arguably its foundational chemical compound, leading to the overhaul of the offerings of legacy suppliers.

03 December 2025

Circular connections

A partnership between Hyosung and Loop Industries could help the industry move beyond bottles to a circular polyester solution.

26 November 2025

Hugo Boss puts faith in nature

Sourcing fibres through regenerative farming is growing in importance the German brand. Its director of sustainability, Heinz Zeller, insists a close personal connection with farmers is imperative.

19 November 2025

Hemp comes clean

It has natural performance attributes and is cast as a low-impact alternative to cotton: hemp is on track to grow its presence as new technologies make it easier to integrate into today’s efficiency-driven...

12 November 2025

Biotech dyes in the starting blocks

Decades of research have gone into the development of dyes made from fermentation. As biotech indigo, the signature colour of blue jeans, takes its first steps on the market, it could be paving the way for...

05 November 2025

Next-gen fibres in the spotlight

An increased uptake of lower-impact and ‘next-gen’ fibres will be necessary to counter the increase in virgin polyester, say exhibitors at the Future Fabrics Expo. They hope incoming regulation will create the ...

29 October 2025

Breathability is back

A new fabric, AirCore, represents a step forward in breathable weather protection, Polartec says.

01 October 2025

Weft-insertion deftness

A long-standing partnership between fabric manufacturer Chargeurs PCC and textile machinery developer Karl Mayer has delivered a weft-insertion innovation that, in turn, has brought about the lightest...

03 September 2025

Second nature

Emulating the properties of a squid’s suction cups or, more prosaically, those of wool, two new biotech protein fibres are in the works at Tandem Repeat. What began in a biomimetic materials lab at Penn State...

20 August 2025

Garment design in the age of circularity

At each stage of a future circular apparel ecosystem, the design of an item of clothing will impact how smoothly the process runs.

06 August 2025

A stretch for circularity

Textile-to-textile recycling is making progress for items made from pure cotton or polyester, and blends of both.

21 May 2025

Half a million new textile jobs for Africa

A textile initiative for Africa envisages huge boosts to the continent’s cotton production capacity and to textile-sector employment there.

07 May 2025

Lost in the shuffle

Mass balance models, common in fair trade goods, are used when physical traceability is deemed unfeasible.

23 April 2025

Melt and spin fibre-to-fibre recycling

Polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are two different names for the same polymer.

02 April 2025

Growing consensus

After years of outdated data on cotton, 13 industry bodies worked with Cascale to provide new figures for the Higg Index.

26 March 2025

Tapping into new roots

Yulex believes a desire for options other than petrochemical-based raw materials will create opportunities in the footwear sector and its repositioning in Asia will help it capitalise on demand.

12 March 2025

Close connections

A highly focused show, Mare di Moda attracts top buyers and suppliers in the swim, beach and athleisure-sports sectors.

06 March 2025

Seaweed solutions

A source of superfood, biofuels and more, algae is touted by some as no less than the most influential organism of the twenty-first century. A thriving natural resource, but also a bane when it blooms in...

27 February 2025

WSA turns 30 and becomes Sportstextiles

Consultant editor, David Buirski, has been covering the performance textile industry for more than three decades and textiles in general for much longer.

04 December 2024

Wrong direction

Global fibre production reached a record figure in 2023, but recycled fibres contributed only 7.7% to the total.

27 November 2024

Tipping the needle

An increasing number of start-ups are hoping to serve the fashion industry’s growing interest in ‘next-generation’ materials.

20 November 2024

Sweet deal for stretch

With an investment of $1 billion, Hyosung is showing a strong commitment to renewable resources for its elastane offerings.

13 November 2024

New ground

Alongside the release of a second planetary boundary assessment, which monitors its activities as a whole, Houdini is expanding the scope of how it measures the impact of its garments.

06 November 2024

Untangling the second-hand clothing trade

It is well known that shiploads of second-hand clothes are transported from Europe and North America to Africa, Pakistan, Chile and other places.

30 October 2024

Disassembly lines

A research centre is testing and developing automated systems for dismantling textiles and leathergoods.

04 September 2024

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

Advances in adhesive technology are opening up new possibilities for recycling athletic shoes.

14 August 2024

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

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

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...

15 May 2024

Get Down with the Facts

British outdoor brand Rab moves forward with its down recycling programme.

08 May 2024

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

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

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

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

Cooking oils and fruit stones are among the new raw materials being harnessed to make textile auxiliaries.

03 April 2024

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,...

21 March 2024

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...

05 March 2024

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

Ambercycle looks to have received a game-changing boost in its bid to begin commercial-scale production of regenerated polyester fibres.