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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

“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 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...

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

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.

More than 1 million hula hoops sold last year and a new category of jump rope influencers took Instagram by storm. Walks around the neighborhood replaced crowded boutique fitness classes and bike racks were back ordered for six months.

We often think of ergonomics in terms of creating a more compatible computer keyboard or office chair so that these items fit the people who use them in the workplace.

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.

Hyosung has hired industry veterans for new roles within the company. Unifi has added two new additions to its leadership team to help further the company’s sustainability goals. And Black Diamond has named a new business unit director for its apparel category.

A handful of budding partnerships bloomed this spring in the textile world, confirming how suppliers are finding value in creative collaborations and unique sponsorships to build their businesses.

The Pertex Fabric Lab is a brand-new online platform that offers partners instant access to the latest fabric innovations and developments and aims to foster closer customer relationships and collaboration.

Speedo looks to make waves at the Olympic Games this summer with the debut of the company’s next generation Fastskin swimsuit. In an innovation journey that spanned four continents over the course of three years, including 330 swimmers, 200 prototypes, 30 swim clubs and 15 coaches...

The topics of reuse, re-manufactured, repurposed, recycling, renewable and regenerative are dominating textile conversations in webinars and digital trade show presentations as the industry grapples with how to advance toward circularity.

We often think of ergonomics in terms of creating a more compatible computer keyboard or office chair so that these items fit the people who use them in the workplace. But these days ergonomics is being employed to advance development of active sportswear.

As a result of obstacles faced in 2020, highlighted by the pandemic, brands are now looking to invest more deeply in a smaller number of suppliers, but at the same time asking these partners to bring more to the table. This emerging trend is evident in the recent State of Fashion Report 2021 that...

In the early days of smart textiles the expectation was that by now we’d all be wearing connected garments as part of our lifestyle wardrobe. One could pick up the latest smart shirt at the local Walmart and it would be no big deal.

More than 1 million hula hoops sold last year and a new category of jump rope influencers took Instagram by storm. Walks around the neighborhood replaced crowded boutique fitness classes and bike racks were back ordered for six months.

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.

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.

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.

The denim community has come out of the gate this Spring season laser focused on scaling sustainable practices with modern updates on legendary products along for the ride, all the while maintaining a true blue jean spirit of innovation. Here are a few examples of companies on track with...