Announcing the 2024 International Achievement Awards Winners
September 30th, 2024
Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 International Achievement Awards (IAA). These winners represent the best in specialty fabrics and technical textiles from around the world and showcase the innovation and excellence driving this dynamic industry. IAA shines a spotlight on the extraordinary versatility of specialty fabrics, which are […]
ATA introduces PFAS Resource Center
September 17th, 2024
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the regulation of them continue to be one of the top issues facing the textiles industry. Although federal reporting rules have been delayed until next year, there are still a number of state and federal regulations to manage. To help companies in the industry navigate those challenges, Advanced Textiles […]
Made in the shade
September 1st, 2024
A historical mansion in Healdsburg, Calif., near Santa Rosa, built in 1883 with some of that era’s famous gold rush money, served as a private residence through two world wars and long after until the estate was turned into a bed and breakfast in the 1980s. A more recent change in owners triggered another remodeling and […]
Mesh seats keep soccer fans cooler in Houston heat
September 1st, 2024
Images: Serge Ferrari Keeping cool in Houston, Texas, is practically a year-round endeavor, as temps can hit the 90s F even in the spring. One way the new owners of the Houston Dynamo Football Club addressed fan comfort in their stadium redo was by converting its seats from plastic chairs to mesh fabric from Serge […]
Textile recycling confronts hurdles of cost, scalability
September 1st, 2024
At the Sweden-based Siptex textile recycling facility, the sorting machines use near-infrared and visual spectroscopy to take mixed textile waste and sort the items by fiber type. These bales are ready for their next processing step, whether that’s chemical or mechanical recycling. Image: Siptex Textile waste is a massive problem throughout the world. The European […]
Getting to know the next generation
September 1st, 2024
Employers face many challenges stemming from the diverse needs and expectations of their workforce’s four distinct generations. Rising health care costs, living expenses, and evolving needs mandate reevaluating traditional employee benefits offerings. By catering to each generation’s specific needs and preferences, employers can foster a culture of support and engagement that transcends age barriers and […]
Recyclable carpet with lower amounts of flame retardants
September 1st, 2024
Pictured is a reactor in the polymer pilot plant of the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) in Denkendorf, Germany. Image: DITF The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) and the Institut für Bodensysteme (Institute for Soil Systems, or TFI) have developed a concept that reduces the number of flame retardants […]
Lacemaking tradition inspires 3D-knit sculpture
September 1st, 2024
To create the Common Thread sculpture, design studio SO – IL used black and white rPET yarn knit at different ratios to create the varying shades of gray. The yarn was made from recycled bottles and knit with a Steiger industrial knitting machine. It took three months to create, and installation at the secluded site […]