A dozen companies participated in our Altered States coverage, with execs taking time out of their busy days (“hectic” was often used to describe workday schedules) to respond to our questions. Here’s what they had to say about new ways of conducting business, while missing face-to-face experiences.

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.

2020 was a year for family. As the world was turned upside down, we went outside to right ourselves and let loose. According to the 2021 Outdoor Participation Trends Report (commissioned by the Outdoor Foundation), 53 percent of Americans ages six and over participated in outdoor recreation...