How to foster a cleaner, greener future for the industry was a hot topic at Techtextil North America 2021 last week at the Raleigh Convention Center where panel discussions during symposiums and conversations in the exhibitor aisles left little doubt that sustainability is defining the way forward.

We’ve been hearing about digitalization for years, and while COVID did kickstart a slew of new adoptions, full acceptance of digital models throughout the textile industry has yet to materialize.

After 18 months of life being anything but business as usual, attendees at Techtextil NA in Raleigh last week expressed being happy to be back on the trade show circuit, reconnecting with industry friends and making new business contacts.

I traveled to Denver for the Outdoor Retailer Show not really sure what to expect. When I got there, it was quite an eye-opener. The entire show was held on the upper level. Even that hall was not filled.

In a shift in leadership, Joachim Kath takes over as Schoeller Textil CEO. Following a 10-year career at the Swiss-based, global textile specialist, CEO Siegfried Winkelbeiner is retiring and Kath will take the helm, having worked closely with Winkelbeiner as COO at Schoeller since February 2020.

Cordura, in collaboration with FR specialist Daletec, has launched Extreme X fabric, which features inherent flame protection with excellent comfort and long-lasting performance.

The debut of HDry ‘b5’ bio-based membrane represents another step forward in sustainable footwear development. Announced by Altexa sri and GHS Holdings, the new eco-friendly waterproof/ breathable laminate offers the opportunity to reduce dependence from fossil fuels on...

“When we set out to create the norda 001, our mission was to design an ultra-strong and durable high performance trail running shoe, and do it as sustainably as possible,” state Willamina and Nick Martire, co-founders of the Canadian footwear brand norda.

The denim world continues to transform how jeans are made, and re-made, in an effort to create a circular economy for clothing, from fiber to finished goods and around again.

Trade show participation has long been a given, with convention center hotels booked a year — or two — in advance, dinner reservations coordinated, calendars cleared, and travel go-bags at the ready.

Establishing new exercise routines during Covid accomplished double duty by helping individuals stay fit while also heightening awareness of how material choices enhance not only workout wear but also what we wear to work. Results from our May Trend Insight consumer survey confirm this trend.

Unifi achieved better than expected operating results for the third quarter of fiscal 2021, according to the company’s report. Net sales were $178.9 million, an increase of 4.6 percent year-over-year, and an increase of 9.9 percent sequentially from the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

The focus topic “Still Physical” presented at the recent virtual Performance Days fair summed up what many in the textile community are feeling these days while at the same time showcasing the latest digital advances.

Outdoor brands are dusting off the conventional image of archives as old documents and faded photographs filed away in a drawer for safe keeping and applying a fresh coat of contemporary vision by presenting corporate and cultural history in an inclusive and informative way with mainstream appeal.

PrimaLoft’s popular ThermoPlume is 100 percent synthetic — and now 100 percent recycled, too. This latest version of the company’s down alternative insulation is made entirely out of post-consumer recycled materials. Four years after the introduction of the first blowable synthetic insulation...

In keeping with Boston running tradition, Tracksmith chose April 19th to launch its Bill Rodgers Collection. As distance runners and New Englanders alike know, the third Monday in April is Patriot’s Day, the traditional start date of the Boston Marathon. (This year the Marathon will be held in...

Over the last three years, KEEN researched the best organic materials to use in its midsoles and footbeds and outsoles deciding to go with harvested coffee ground waste. Now two upcoming sneakers styles from KEEN, the Elsa and Eddy Harvest footwear, will debut in August.

Greater durability, smarter chemistry, natural performance and total circularity is the aim of Polartec’s full system approach to achieving 2025 sustainability goals, according to Polartec president Steve Layton, who stated that PFC-free DWR, new thinking around reducing...

In an effort to establish an environmental baseline to pursue continuous improvement, the LYCRA Company has completed the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) self-assessment at all six of its Lycra fiber manufacturing sites. The impact assessment reviews environmental management systems...

In a sign of strength, eco efforts not only advanced during Covid, but flourished. We see responsible product development and planet-positive investment on all fronts these days which bodes well for the staying power of sustainability.

Bringing textiles to life virtually has accelerated during Covid with companies such as Concept III launching innovative online presentations to highlight brand partners’ latest responsibly produced fabric developments. Concept III’s digital series kicks off with a video featuring partner...

Eco-conscious product development hits a new high in Fall ‘21 in styles that feature responsible materials and manufacturing. Biodegradability, ocean plastics recycling and regenerative practices are now boxes to check in today’s advancement of circularity and a climate-positive approach...

Last week I caught up with Chad Kelly, president of eVent Technology, to get a quick update on the company and chat about business challenges as well as industry bright spots. A self-described “gearhead,” Kelly started his career in outdoor specialty retail and worked as a rep before pivoting to...

What a difference a year makes. Online is the new in-person, trade shows last for weeks not days, and textiles are presented to customers without the ability to touch or feel fabric. These COVID-influenced 2020 business trends have not served the textile industry particularly well.

From innovative materials and business models to an upcoming Nordic recycling hub, Finland is bringing to market a slew of answers to challenges facing the textile industry. “By replacing primary raw materials with recycled components or using, for example, wood-based...

Despite all the adversity of the past year, the textile industry has come forth with a full scope of eco advances for Fall/Winter 22/23. These developments, showcased by ISPO Textrends 2021, present six key drivers defining what’s new and what’s next.

The new Cordura Fabric Finder allows brands to navigate a user-friendly digital interface to view an assortment of over 500 fabrics. The digital fabric library includes images of all fabric angles, and close-up details as well as fabric content information so that partners can...

Whether actually worn or not, face coverings are now recognized as a mainstream lifestyle item. Results from our recent Trend Insight Consumer survey not only confirm this trend but also reveal that masks have become a must-have fitness accessory...

Whether the relationship is rooted in chemistry, circularity or consumer awareness, experts believe the best course of action in the era of sustainability is to know your supply chain. Understanding that it takes an interrelated system to improve the sustainability of product...

With Winter OR Online just around the corner, the textile community continues to ponder the benefits of participation in virtual trade events. Whereas in the past, exhibiting at Outdoor Retailer was pretty much a no-brainer, after a year like 2020 suppliers are re-evaluating selling options.

Reflecting on the impact of the pandemic and analyzing post-Covid trends will provide a plethora of talking points in 2021, so here’s my 2 cents on 3 top takeaways from 2020.

HeiQ has become a publicly listed company (LSE:HEIQ) on the London Stock Exchange Main Market. The Company’s shares were admitted to the Standard Segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority earlier this month by way of a reverse take over into Auctus Growth Plc.

With the intent of creating a face covering that can be worn comfortably during workouts, NexTex Innovations, an Atlanta-based textile technology and inventor of TurboDry, recently launched its new ParticleScreen face covering fabric.

MMI Textiles, with headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, will open a 30,000-square-foot production facility in Lenoir, NC to begin producing select narrow fabrics during the first quarter of 2021 in an effort to improve quality and lead times.

At a time when companies, independent designers, industry organizations, emerging professionals and textile services are looking to transition to a new virtual reality, Cotton Incorporated’s state-of-the-art online resource Cottonworks covers all the bases.

If not now, when? That is the question of the day regarding antimicrobial solutions. Noble Biomaterials has answered that call to action by seizing several opportunities to showcase its stable of antimicrobial and conductive products, as concerns over safety and cleanliness have escalated...

In response to the rapidly changing marketplace, a trio of industry experts have joined forces to launch Akcel Partners, a new style consulting firm tailored to fit today’s business needs that goes beyond traditional selling.

New looks from Moncler elevate both form and function with garments that merge performance skiwear with space suit aesthetics to feature Dyneema composite fabric in styles that work on and off the slopes. The new partnership between Moncler and DSM, a global science-based company and...

What does proper bra fit have to do with preserving the planet? Actually, more than one would think. Because, in today’s COVID marketplace, with surging e-commerce sales and spiraling return rates, that little bralette, the one purchased in a few swift clicks online then sent back for being...

October is designated National Fair Trade month and Patagonia’s partnership with its Colombian factory Supertex serves as a prime example of how investing in Fair Trade offers a wide range of social and eco benefits.Supertex makes Patagonia fleeces and Capilene baselayer products.