Product Developments and Innovations in Textiles and Apparel, September 2013 edition
This report analyses some of the latest developments and innovations in the global textile and clothing industry, including: anti-counterfeiting tools; antimicrobial sewing thread; apparel sizing and fit; compression garments; dyes and inks for apparel fabrics; environmentally friendly finishing treatments; environmentally friendly textiles and apparel; fibres, yarns and fabrics for functional textiles and apparel; finishing treatments; functional apparel; health-promoting apparel; odour-eliminating apparel; restricted substances management software; smart clothing; thread inventory management; and water repellent down filling. The report includes news from the following innovative companies and other organisations: Alvanon, AeonClad Coatings, Beal Manufacturing, Bodymetrics, Chalmers University of Technology, Clearbridge VitalSigns, Coats, Dick's Sporting Goods, Ecoyaa, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Fraunhofer-Einrichtung fur Modulare Festkorper- Technologien (EMFT-Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies), Freudenberg New Technologies, Guided, Harvard University, Huntsman Textile Effects, Hohenstein Institute, Hologenix, Invista, ITV Denim, Kelheim Fibres, Levi Strauss & Co, London College of Fashion, New York College of Health Professions, Marks and Spencer (M&S), Maxim Integrated Products, MC10, MMT Textiles, Nike, Novozymes, Orbital Research, Odegon Technologies, Patagonia, Pelham and Strutt, Performance 3D, Pharr Yarns, PolyOne, PurThread Technologies, Puma, Reebok, Riedel Textil, Schoeller Textil, Select Research, TEXbase, UBAK, University of Exeter, University of Southampton, University of Surrey, Vodafone and WL Gore.
SUMMARY
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TOOLS
A new yarn can help to prevent branded apparel from being counterfeited
Kelheim Fibres has developed a new viscose fibre incorporating luminescent pigments which provide it with a unique “fingerprint”
ANTIMICROBIAL SEWING THREAD
Coats has developed a new range of antimicrobial sewing threads called Coats Protect
APPAREL SIZING AND FIT
Alvanon and Select Research have developed a new sizing standard for children’s clothing in the UK
Alvanon and the Hohenstein Institute have launched the AlvaForm Hohenstein Series
Researchers are developing a new online software program which can take detailed body measurements and provide size recommendations
COMPRESSION GARMENTS
Pelham and Strutt has developed a new compression T-shirt which can help to improve posture and reduce back pain
DYES AND INKS FOR APPAREL FABRICS
ITV Denim has developed a denim fabric which is dyed using a dye made from red wine
Polyone has developed a new range of inks for printing on to fabrics for sportswear
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FINISHING TREATMENTS
Freudenberg New Technologies has developed a new range of environmentally friendly fabric finishing treatments
Huntsman Textile Effects has developed a new range of fluorine-free finishing treatments
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TEXTILES AND APPAREL
Levi Strauss & Co has developed a new denim collection called Waste Less which incorporates recycled polyester
Nike has developed a new version of its Hyper Elite basketball uniform which is made using recycled polyester
Puma has developed its first collection of products which are entirely biodegradable or recyclable
FIBRES, YARNS AND FABRICS FOR FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND APPAREL
A team of scientists has developed a new polymer fibre which changes colour when it is stretched
Kelheim Fibres has developed a new viscose speciality fibre called Umberto
Kelheim Fibres has developed a viscose fibre which has inherent water repellent properties
MMT Textiles has developed a new bicomponent moisture management fibre called Inotek
Purthread Technologies has developed a new range of high performance fibres and yarns called Sabiya
Researchers have developed new gloves which can change colour to indicate the presence of a toxic substance
WL Gore has developed a new laminate fabric for outerwear which increases breathability by up to 28%
FINISHING TREATMENTS
Marks and Spencer (M&S) is using a new finishing technology called Stay New which helps to keep its garments looking new for longer
Schoeller Textil has developed a new finishing treatment for fabrics called solar+
FUNCTIONAL APPAREL
UBAK has developed an airbag which inflates to protect the wearer’s head and neck in the event of an avalanche
HEALTH-PROMOTING APPAREL
Clearbridge VitalSigns, Maxim Integrated Products and Orbital Research have jointly developed a new T-shirt which monitors the vital signs of the wearer
Dick’s Sporting Goods has launched a new range of sportswear which incorporates hologenix’s Celliant technology to increase oxygenation in body tissue
New York College of Health Professions has developed a range of functional acupressure garments called MyChi
Puma has developed a new range of sportswear which incorporates hologenix’s Celliant technology
Reebok and MC10 have developed a new skull cap which can detect when an athlete has received a serious blow to the head
Riedel Textil has developed a new range of seamless knitted shorts for use during sporting activities
ODOUR-ELIMINATING APPAREL
Odegon Technologies has developed a fabric tag which eliminates odours caused by perspiration
RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
TEXbase has launched a new software program which can help companies to manage and comply with restricted substances lists
SMART CLOTHING
Performance 3D has developed three ranges of garments which help athletes to improve the way their bodies move during sporting activities
Vodafone has developed prototypes of a pair of shorts and a sleeping bag which can charge a mobile phone
THREAD INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Coats has developed a new tool which helps apparel manufacturers to manage their excess thread inventories
WATER REPELLENT DOWN FILLING
Patagonia has developed a water repellent down filling using its new Encapsil technology
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TOOLS
A new yarn can help to prevent branded apparel from being counterfeited
Kelheim Fibres has developed a new viscose fibre incorporating luminescent pigments which provide it with a unique “fingerprint”
ANTIMICROBIAL SEWING THREAD
Coats has developed a new range of antimicrobial sewing threads called Coats Protect
APPAREL SIZING AND FIT
Alvanon and Select Research have developed a new sizing standard for children’s clothing in the UK
Alvanon and the Hohenstein Institute have launched the AlvaForm Hohenstein Series
Researchers are developing a new online software program which can take detailed body measurements and provide size recommendations
COMPRESSION GARMENTS
Pelham and Strutt has developed a new compression T-shirt which can help to improve posture and reduce back pain
DYES AND INKS FOR APPAREL FABRICS
ITV Denim has developed a denim fabric which is dyed using a dye made from red wine
Polyone has developed a new range of inks for printing on to fabrics for sportswear
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FINISHING TREATMENTS
Freudenberg New Technologies has developed a new range of environmentally friendly fabric finishing treatments
Huntsman Textile Effects has developed a new range of fluorine-free finishing treatments
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TEXTILES AND APPAREL
Levi Strauss & Co has developed a new denim collection called Waste Less which incorporates recycled polyester
Nike has developed a new version of its Hyper Elite basketball uniform which is made using recycled polyester
Puma has developed its first collection of products which are entirely biodegradable or recyclable
FIBRES, YARNS AND FABRICS FOR FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND APPAREL
A team of scientists has developed a new polymer fibre which changes colour when it is stretched
Kelheim Fibres has developed a new viscose speciality fibre called Umberto
Kelheim Fibres has developed a viscose fibre which has inherent water repellent properties
MMT Textiles has developed a new bicomponent moisture management fibre called Inotek
Purthread Technologies has developed a new range of high performance fibres and yarns called Sabiya
Researchers have developed new gloves which can change colour to indicate the presence of a toxic substance
WL Gore has developed a new laminate fabric for outerwear which increases breathability by up to 28%
FINISHING TREATMENTS
Marks and Spencer (M&S) is using a new finishing technology called Stay New which helps to keep its garments looking new for longer
Schoeller Textil has developed a new finishing treatment for fabrics called solar+
FUNCTIONAL APPAREL
UBAK has developed an airbag which inflates to protect the wearer’s head and neck in the event of an avalanche
HEALTH-PROMOTING APPAREL
Clearbridge VitalSigns, Maxim Integrated Products and Orbital Research have jointly developed a new T-shirt which monitors the vital signs of the wearer
Dick’s Sporting Goods has launched a new range of sportswear which incorporates hologenix’s Celliant technology to increase oxygenation in body tissue
New York College of Health Professions has developed a range of functional acupressure garments called MyChi
Puma has developed a new range of sportswear which incorporates hologenix’s Celliant technology
Reebok and MC10 have developed a new skull cap which can detect when an athlete has received a serious blow to the head
Riedel Textil has developed a new range of seamless knitted shorts for use during sporting activities
ODOUR-ELIMINATING APPAREL
Odegon Technologies has developed a fabric tag which eliminates odours caused by perspiration
RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
TEXbase has launched a new software program which can help companies to manage and comply with restricted substances lists
SMART CLOTHING
Performance 3D has developed three ranges of garments which help athletes to improve the way their bodies move during sporting activities
Vodafone has developed prototypes of a pair of shorts and a sleeping bag which can charge a mobile phone
THREAD INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Coats has developed a new tool which helps apparel manufacturers to manage their excess thread inventories
WATER REPELLENT DOWN FILLING
Patagonia has developed a water repellent down filling using its new Encapsil technology
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Image showing the yarn as it appears to the human eye (left) and under polarised light (right)
Figure 2: Pelham and Strutt compression T-shirt for men
Figure 3: Puma InCycle recyclable backpack
Figure 4: Images showing the structure of the cells in the bastard hogberry
Figure 5: Image showing the new fibre changing colour when it is stretched
Figure 6: Image showing cross-sections of Umberto fibres
Figure 7: Image showing a glove which has changed colour in the presence of a toxic substance
Figure 8: Comparison of a previous Gore-Tex Pro laminate and the new Gore-Tex Pro laminate
Figure 9: Jacket finished with solar+
Figure 10: Image showing the Mountain Airbag Harness deflated (left) and inflated (right)
Figure 11: Image showing the Fit T-shirt and a list of integrated components
Figure 12: CheckLight skull cap
Figure 13: A pair of KinesioTight shorts
Figure 14: Shorts incorporating the Power Pocket
Figure 15: Sleeping bag incorporating the Power Pocket
Figure 16: Coats Colour StockMatch tool and shade cards
Figure 1: Image showing the yarn as it appears to the human eye (left) and under polarised light (right)
Figure 2: Pelham and Strutt compression T-shirt for men
Figure 3: Puma InCycle recyclable backpack
Figure 4: Images showing the structure of the cells in the bastard hogberry
Figure 5: Image showing the new fibre changing colour when it is stretched
Figure 6: Image showing cross-sections of Umberto fibres
Figure 7: Image showing a glove which has changed colour in the presence of a toxic substance
Figure 8: Comparison of a previous Gore-Tex Pro laminate and the new Gore-Tex Pro laminate
Figure 9: Jacket finished with solar+
Figure 10: Image showing the Mountain Airbag Harness deflated (left) and inflated (right)
Figure 11: Image showing the Fit T-shirt and a list of integrated components
Figure 12: CheckLight skull cap
Figure 13: A pair of KinesioTight shorts
Figure 14: Shorts incorporating the Power Pocket
Figure 15: Sleeping bag incorporating the Power Pocket
Figure 16: Coats Colour StockMatch tool and shade cards
