Fibres, Yarns & Fabrics

Switzerland’s Schoeller Technologies AG reports that its coldblack technology is now being used in the latest Porsche Design Sport Collection for men. Coldblack is a finish which can be applied to fabrics to actively reduce the absorption of the sun’s rays and offers reliable protection from damaging UV rays. According to Schoeller Technologies, the Porsche Design Sport Collection began with a cooperation between Adidas and Porsche Design seven years ago and w

Sabine Anton-Katzenbach reports from Frankfurt If someone wants to catch up on technical textiles the Frankfurt trade show Heimtextil is a perfect place to identify their diverse application areas because carpets, interior sun protection, mattresses and bedding strongly depend on them. But it is no place to discuss technical features of specialty textiles, except at the booths of fibre mills, which exhibit at Heimtextil to present their latest developments for the

Teijin Techno Products Limited, the core company of the Teijin Group's aramid fibres business, together with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and Hosokawa Micron Corporation, have announced the development of a new fabric incorporating nanostructure fibre for use in advanced fire fighting suits. Teijin Techno says the new fabrics are 40% more effective in preventing burns than fabrics without nanostructure fibre and 15% lighter tha

Royal DSM N.V. and the Royal Dutch Skating Association (KNSB) are introducing an innovative skinsuit for the Dutch Olympic short-track skating team, which will be launched at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.  In collaboration with the KNSB, DSM has developed a lighter and, most importantly, more comfortable suit that offers maximum protection. The innovation forms part of DSM's ‘Innovation is our Sport’ program, which focuses on working with and for ath

The millennia old tradition of silk production is about to be woven into the fabric of the 21st century. Under the ‘Tango Biofabrics’ project, Japan's Teijin is attempting to develop new, eco-friendly applications for Biofront, a type of bioplastic, in collaboration with Kyotango, a city long known as the home of Tango silk crepe, or chirimen. Teijin hopes to combine its advanced heat-resistant bio plastic fibres with Kyotango’s traditional silk craftsmanship fo

Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. (NAT), a company committed to producing renewable and environmentally sustainable textile fibres, has teamed up with Patrick Yarns, a manufacturer of high-performance industrial yarns, to give industry insiders a sneak preview at a group of new sustainable yarns made from Crailar Organic Fibers, a wholly owned subsidiary of NAT, at this weekend’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2010 trade show Salt Lake City. Compa

Technical Absorbents Ltd (TAL) has announced the appointment of a new Product Development Executive at its UK based manufacturing facility. The latest recruitment by the Super Absorbent Fibre (SAF) manufacturer has been made possible as a result of the company’s programme of ongoing investment, which has been put in place to help it retain its market-leading position. 30-year old James Docherty joins TAL as it continues to push the boundaries of innovation and develo

Invista is to continue its Lycra Sport fabric global tour by showcasing its innovative and performance driven fabric program at the ISPO trade show in Munich, Germany from 7 – 10 February 2010. Following its successful and high profile launches at Salt Lake City’s Outdoor Retailer Show in July and Shanghai’s Intertextile Show in October 2009, Invista is introducing Lycra Sport fabric to a European audience.  With its presence at Europe’s largest sporting go

Swiss headquartered Sigvaris, a leader in graduated compression hosiery is pushing further into endurance sports markets with its Athletic Recovery sports compression socks for exercise-induced muscle soreness and post-practice recovery. The company will become the exclusive provider of graduated compression socks to Atlanta’s Southern Crescent Cycling Club. Sigvaris, through its Athletic Recovery line of socks, already has strategic partnerships in place w

Polartec and Unifi have announced a new partnership to introduce performance fabrics made with Unifi’s Repreve 100, which is made from 100% post-consumer waste from clear plastic water bottles. Polartec and Unifi’s collaborative efforts have grown Polartec's recycled product line from less than 1% of total production to over 30% in the past four years, dramatically reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption. The introduction