The traditional tradeshow circuit, a dependable industry cycle of events scheduled years in advance, is getting a do-over. As spring gives way to summer the business conference format continues to evolve, leaving textile execs to wonder what’s to come in the remainder of 2020. Yet there is...

Creativity in the time of isolation has designers turning to what they have on hand. “We learn to adapt and use creativity to forward that,” says Kim Brannock, who turned header card swatches as well as old camping gear into good-looking functional products during COVID restrictions.

Many in the textile sphere liken the COVID-19 crisis to a wake up call. It’s a time to re-think supply chains, analyze the ability to operate closer to the marketplace, and consider new sourcing models. Creating a culture of collaboration goes hand in hand with assessing supply chain structure.

How we gather for trade events continues to evolve as spring gives way to summer. Shows slated for NYC in June and July are changing formats and dates, and for the first time in forever, the outdoor industry will not commune for an Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.

With orders cancelled, existing inventory is sitting idle. Brands and retailers are looking for agreeable options to dispose of unsold apparel and textiles, while the second-hand industry is looking for opportunities to play a larger role in reuse and recycling.

When you change direction in sailing you tack or jibe. Dimension-Polyant (DP), a leading technical sailcloth producer, in addition to providing performance fabrics for outdoor gear including backpacks, duffle bags, tents, and other advanced laminate fabrics, has recently “tacked” to meet...

With everyone and their mother making masks these days, questions abound regarding degree of protection and performance quality of materials and design. A recent panel discussion with NC State Wilson of College of Textiles staff offered a helpful primer on PPE that provides...

Textiles that feature high-tech functionality are increasingly in the spotlight in response to Covid-19. Performance engineered antimicrobial fabrications and high-quality Durable Water Repellent materials in particular are now finding traction in this new wave of PPE manufacturing.

DuPont Launches #TyvekTogether‍A new program from DuPont, #TyvekTogether, aims to increase the overall availability of Tyvek personal protective garments in the company’s continued efforts to help combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect health care workers.

“There’s no case study for this,” said Jason Duncan, head of tactical, innovation and CSR at Outdoor Research, during a recent webinar on “Pivoting to Produce, Source & Donate PPE.” As a maker of technical outdoor and tactical apparel based in Seattle, an epicenter of...

Navigating today’s uncharted path of domestic production of PPE is not for the faint of heart, but textile execs say that collaboration– even with competitors – along with willingness to learn and evolve during an ever-changing crisis situation is bringing impressive results.

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) recently gathered comments from textile suppliers committed to helping stop the spread of coronavirus by manufacturing PPE products. Here’s what some execs had to say:“For our part, MMI has been focusing on raw materials for all...

“Coordinating with local hospitals, healthcare organizations, the entire U.S production chain and federal agencies, the textile industry has been at the forefront of the incredible manufacturing effort, contributing to the companies’ rapid response to the rising needs of frontline workers,” said...

Attending trade events from the comfort of your home or office is on the horizon. Organizations are debuting online industry gatherings starting soon for viewing at a computer or phone near you in coming weeks in an effort to connect in an age of social distancing.

While it’s too early to tell what the lasting impact of Coronavirus will be, a new reality is already starting to take shape in terms of the future of work and the relevance of textiles in our everyday lives. To better understand the current situation, and ponder repercussions going forward...

HeiQ’s new Viroblock NPJ03 is an antiviral and antimicrobial textile treatment proven effective against human coronavirus (229E) in facemask testing. According to a company statement, Viroblock NPJ03 significantly enhances “the antiviral log reduction from 2.90 of...

Domestic suppliers of specific items are being sought by the Department of Commerce and urged to respond immediately if their business meets certain criteria. The National Council of Textile Organization (NCTO) reached out to the SEAMS association to help identify...

Outdoor Research has been successfully making high-performance apparel and gear domestically for decades at its headquarters in Seattle. But when the time came for the company to increase capacity and accelerate product development, Seattle wasn’t the solution; the local labor market was tapped out.

Fashion Makes Change looks to round up support for the planet.Unifi partners have helped recycle more than 19 billion plastic bottles.Fashion Makes ChangeA new industry-wide sustainability initiative that engages customers and brands around issues of...

The Intimates market is experiencing change at a rapid rate. Small start-ups, often direct to consumer models, are giving established brands a run for their money by daring to be different, injecting new looks, fresh thinking and modern messaging into the...

What does it say about active outdoor when the top selling items are sweatshirts and fanny packs? According to recent market research, the sweatshirt business is strong. For instance, in the outdoor space, sweatshirt sales were up 6.9 percent in the 12 months ending...

For all its divisions under the big top of the Colorado Convention Center — gear, apparel, fabric sourcing, footwear, camping, ski, wellness, snowboard, Venture Out, pet food (!) — the outdoor industry is united in its commitment to sustainability.

A crop of new plant-based material developments drew considerable attendee interest at Texworld USA held in NYC earlier this week. Show goers crowded around displays of textile products made from citrus, pineapple, mushroom, coconut, hemp and ground cork that along with...

A preview of introductions to watch for on the show floor at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show in Denver, CO, scheduled for Jan 29-31. Schoeller heats up active outdoor in an exclusive partnership with AlphaTauri and Telekom to launch the...

Along with New Year resolutions January brings a flurry of articles on predictions about consumer trends in the year ahead. In recent Wall Street Journal reports textiles play a role in determining what consumers will wear and their shopping behavior in 2020.