Long before the pandemic put a damper on a well-oiled, but rampant, global apparel supply chain, enterprising companies were investing in and developing new solutions to address overproduction....
Features
2021Archive
15 December 2021
Smart, seamless, zero-waste production
30 November 2021
A new chapter for Carbios
The inauguration of a demonstration plant marks a new milestone for trailblazing, ten-year-old French biotech start-up Carbios. This will serve to further validate its enzymatic recycling process for all forms ...
18 November 2021
A yarn for climate change
Swiss textile technology developer HeiQ has launched AeoniQ, a recyclable, biodegradable cellulose-based yarn that it says offers the ease-of-use, the performance levels, the versatility, the affordability and ...
25 October 2021
Fruit and fibre
In this article, Enrica Arena, co-founder and chief executive of Orange Fiber (which has patented a method for making textile fibre from the pulp of citrus fruit) and Gert Kroner, vice president of global...
20 October 2021
No place like home
A project to grow flax, spin and weave linen and produce clothing has sprung to life in Blackburn, Lancashire. Organisers harbour hope that it could spark a wider revival of textiles and garment manufacturing...
11 October 2021
Born again fibres
Demand for regenerated fibres is so strong that the contracts Finnish group Infinited Fiber signs this year will tie up all of the production capacity of its new, flagship factory for years to come. It is...
04 October 2021
From carbon neutral to carbon negative
Carbon dioxide is a leading contributor to global warming, and central to emissions reduction targets, which are set more often than met. It is also, potentially, a feedstock for chemicals and materials.
21 September 2021
Smarter thermal insulation
The addition of gold, graphene and aerogels is boosting the performance properties of synthetic fillers and natural down. New circular solutions are also being introduced as demand for recycled down drives...
08 September 2021
PFAS on borrowed time
Both the European Union and the United States plan to institute stricter legislation, which may include outright bans, for PFAS. Whether these cover the entire class of chemicals has yet to be seen, but...
21 July 2021
Digging into South Korea’s Green New Deal
Famed for its technological innovation, South Korea is now also investing heavily in low-emission, climate-neutral development strategies at a typically fast pace. Moving towards circularity by nurturing a...
13 July 2021
The art of the sneaker on show
Some trendy styles may ‘run’ out of stock, some may never leave the box once purchased, but sneakers do have miles of cultural traction. A major exhibition at London’s Design Museum, Sneakers Unboxed: Studio...
07 July 2021
Passion empowered
Polartec is marking the thirtieth anniversary of the formal launch of the brand by celebrating fabrics and garments that, since 1991, have changed what we wear when we go into the outdoors.
30 June 2021
From tracing to closing the loop
New tools are making it easier to keep track of products throughout the supply chain. Used not only to certify the presence of sustainable content, such as organic cotton or ocean plastics, these tools can now ...
23 June 2021
No short-cuts
Compression and running garments that combine performance with sustainability and transparency are the first products to come to market from Pressio, a young company with an experienced head on its shoulders.
16 June 2021
Natural alternatives
A recent report called Fossil Fashion takes synthetic fibres to task for having a substantially higher carbon footprint than alternatives from natural sources. It seems to have made a profound impression at...
02 June 2021
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...
19 May 2021
Smart textiles step up
After some 20 years of gestation, the technical challenge of integrating electronic components into clothing has been largely overcome by a growing base of manufacturers, who have developed the necessary...
31 March 2021
Plans on Ice
Swiss outdoor brand Mammut is concentrating all of its work on sustainability under a new umbrella term, Together For Glaciers. It says that melting glaciers serve as a reminder that, if we are to stop climate ...
25 March 2021
Keeping pace with circular connectivity
A partnership involving an outdoor brand, its zipper supplier and a technology platform aims to establish closer, cloud-enabled connections between consumers and the companies that provide their clothing.
23 March 2021
Best tech forward
Hassle-free returns come at a cost but have never been more in vogue than in the current covid-19 era, for both retailers and shoppers.
18 March 2021
Solutions for a changing world
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textile and Apparel (HKRITA) has announced a new, five-year collaboration with the H&M Foundation.
11 March 2021
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
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
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
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.