Wearable enhanced learning (WELL) is an emerging area of interest for researchers, practitioners in educational institutions and companies. But also many grassroot movements are providing new sensors, devices, prototypical ideas and innovative learning solutions. Deeply rooted in the traditions of…
The Challenge Through a succession of waves starting in the 1960s, production capacity and employment in the European Textile and Clothing (T&C) industry were continuously reduced and moved overseas. Former colonies and the South and East Mediterranean countries were the…
The Challenge The Re-Framing of Consumer Markets was identified by TCBL as one of three strategic axes of intervention to trigger eco-systemic change in the textile and clothing sector. As a value-based network of Labs and Businesses working together to…
The Challenge Actions to mitigate the unsustainable environmental and social impacts of the textile and clothing industry tend to focus on fibres and process chemicals on the textile side[1] and wages and working conditions on the garment production side.[2] While…
When I first started studying Fashion Design back in 2008, I thought it was all about self-expression, aesthetics and being desirable. While all this still applies, I learnt that it means nothing if you do it at any cost. Especially…
Awakening Eight years ago, Rhian Kempadoo of Kempadoo Millar had completed her Millinery training and was working in costume. A works trip to New York with her boss proved to be pivotal in the direction her career would take her….
TwinForce’s HoloFashion app shows what an augmented show room of the future could look like: conveniently select the fabric and see what your jacket will look like. In life size in your own environment.
The textile finishing industry gives fabrics and garments their final appearance and properties. It employs traditional processes that are not environmentally friendly. These industrial activities have some environmental consequences, mainly related to the massive consumption of chemicals and intensive use of water and energy resources, waste-water treatments required, etc. Processes like desizing, bleaching, washing (roll-to-roll systems on fabrics) and dip-coating functionalization or dyeing (batch systems on garments) are currently developed by wet application systems and chemicals that require huge amounts of water and treatment of the waste-water released. The use of alternative chemistry like ozone for fabric treatment in a continuous way, and use of nanobubble technology for garment finishing is able to reduce the chemical consumption – also water consumption – in comparison with traditional systems.
Cotton and other cellulosic substrates comprise over 40% of world textile production. Of all the dyes used for the colouration of cellulosic fibres, reactive dyes find the greatest use with over 50% of world consumption. Reactive dyes are desirable because…
Introduction Industry 4.0 is the latest stage in the evolution of global manufacturing where digital technologies are being used to respond to changes in consumer demand driven by our ‘on-line’ society. Customers are increasingly demanding new and more customised products…