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.

The origins of clothing sizes dates back to the 1800s with military uniforms for men, and slowly evolved into the domestic market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ushered in the next wave of sizing reform with a yearlong study titled Women’s Measurements for Garment and...

When the demand for masks and gowns was off the charts, in response to the COVID pandemic surge for personal protective equipment, the domestic textile industry mobilized. Companies invested in materials, created capacity, converted production lines and pumped out PPE like nobody’s business.

While some pinpoint the Rana Plaza factory collapse tragedy as the tipping point, and others cite the impact of the pandemic as the real change-maker, all agree that the era of textile traceability has arrived.

Hemp is riding high this season, and for good reason. The natural fiber is durable, earth-friendly and hits the mark with multi-purpose functionality that includes inherent antimicrobial properties — all attributes top of mind with today’s active outdoorists.

Every year outsole abrasion contributes 8.5 billion metric tons of micro-plastics directly from our shoes and tires, into the ecosystem, with toxic residue ending up in the soil and the waterways from storm runoff, impacting plants and animals.

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.