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...

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...

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.