Textile Insight - January, 2010
Trend Direction: Dow XLA
“We are happy to look ahead and fill our lungs with fresh energy,” commented Dow XLA design director Bengt Jacobsson, as he launched into his presentation of S/11 trends. He outlined four different categories touching on unique looks within each of t...
Georgia’s Research Questions Bamboo Fiber
Wn recent years, bamboo fabrics have gained in popularity in the outdoor and apparel markets as an eco-friendly substitute for synthetic fibers, as well as cotton. Dr. Ian Hardin, along with his team at the University of Georgia, has conducted extens...
A Library Without Books
Material ConneXion Creates a Card Catalog of Innovative Textiles.
George Beylerian may have created a recession-proof business. “People who assist companies tend to lose their jobs now,” said chief executive and founder of Material ConneXion. “But now architects and designers come here.” With a library of 5000 mate...
Consumer Connections
Whether with new product development, sustainability measures or event sponsorships, textile firms are direct dialing into the lives of today’s end users
The path to profitability these days is laden with challenges. Tight credit, lean inventories and rising costs are keeping many firms at a crossroads in terms of seeking means of growth. But one trail being cleared is leading textile companies to cl...
Insight on What’s Next
How Sustainability is Impacting Policy and the Future of Apparel and Textiles
While the topic of sustainability and textiles have been top of mind recently – from politics to academia to business – for some executives, environmental concerns date back decades. Denny Shaffer, a past Sierra Club president, was busy cleaning up ...
Runaway Hits
Fabric stories to watch in performance running for Fall 2010.
The “less is more” approach has been a key focus of performance running products in recent seasons. Lighter weight styles with a minimalist approach have driven sales in footwear and apparel. Materials have played a large role in making these trends ...
Active Americans: Staying That Way
Consumers plan to spend more on sports, but where they spend it is changing.
Data Compiled The Leisure Trends Group Looking out over the next 12 months, 31 percent of Active Americans plan to spend “more” or “much more” on sports, recreation or fitness products and services in the coming year than they did the past 12 mont...
One Outlast
A Cohesive Approach Provides Momentum in the Marketplace
The company slogan, “Not too hot, not too cold, just right” translates easily whether that’s crossing borders from Europe to Asia or crossing demographics from elite athletes to everyday end users. This universal appeal is proving a path to success ...
Investing in the Future to Secure a Future
Innovation Why, What and Where?
Business along the entire supply chain is down. Consumers have dramatically cut back their spending. Why not? There isn’t anything people really need, and from what I have seen companies are not delivering compelling merchandise or “must have” items....
Francoise Olivas: Creating a Women’s World of Fashion
Weaving sustainability, fair trade and empowerment
Foreign Relations: “My parents always thought I’d be a diplomat or a designer,” says Olivas, who was born in El Paso, TX and raised in Washington DC. “My mother would send baby formula and diapers across the Rio Grande. We always volunteered and were...
Ringing in the New Decade
When I faced the computer readying to write this column my initial thought was to look back on the past decade. In 1999, after a brief reprieve from trade journalism, I signed on as fabrics editor for a sporting goods trade magazine. It was the summ...
Fashion Unzipped: YCC Zippers Hosts FIT Student Design Contest
Three Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) students are a bit richer after being awarded prize money and prestige for their zipper-friendly designs. The task: sketching three outfits for all-weather activewear and sportswear using YCC waterproof zip...
Sell Tactics Lululemon, Coach and Gilt Groupe Share Secrets
Trend forecasting firm WGSN and Fashion Group International gathered four industry experts at Parsons The New School For Design last month to share key insights on communicating with a new generation of consumers. “Right now it’s not necessarily abou...
Looptworks Puts the Focus On Upcycling
Portland, Oregon-based start-up apparel brand Looptworks is still in its infancy stage as a company, but its innovative upcycling business model already has it playing with the big boys. After being in business for only nine weeks, Scott Hamlin, the ...
Out of Context
as we exit another decade the media fills with endless lists of what was. what was the best, what was the worst, ad nauseum. what they have in common is they encompass points that our society noticed, and that always proves to be an interesting conn...
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