Articles tagged with "textile-innovation"
Ti Hua Ji: World’s earliest computer is a silk loom built in China 2000 years ago
The article reveals that the world’s earliest computer is not a 19th-century invention by Charles Babbage but a sophisticated silk weaving loom called the ti hua ji, built in China around 150 BC during the Western Han dynasty. According to the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), this figured loom could be programmed using physical pattern cards to control up to 100 devices simultaneously with perfect precision. The loom mechanized the weaving process by lifting specific warp threads to create intricate silk patterns, effectively functioning like a binary computer where raised and lowered threads represented binary 1s and 0s. The ti hua ji was discovered accidentally in 2012 during the excavation of a Western Han dynasty tomb in Chengdu, where archaeologists found four well-preserved loom models with silk remnants. This discovery clarified the timeline of mechanized weaving in China, highlighting the country’s early technological innovation in textile production. The loom’s programmable design templates allowed artisans to produce high-quality silk fabric efficiently, contributing to China
materialsancient-technologyprogrammable-machinessilk-weavingmechanizationtextile-innovationhistorical-computingEverbloom built an AI to turn chicken feathers into cashmere
Everbloom, a startup that has raised over $8 million in funding, has developed an AI-driven material science process to create fibers nearly indistinguishable from cashmere by repurposing waste products. Recognizing the limited supply and environmental stress associated with traditional cashmere production—where a single goat yields only four to six ounces annually—Everbloom collects keratin-rich waste from sources such as cashmere and wool farms, mills, and down bedding suppliers. The company plans to expand this to include poultry feathers. Their proprietary process involves chopping the waste, combining it with specialized compounds, and using standard textile machinery (plastic extrusion and spinning machines) to produce biodegradable fibers that can mimic various textiles, including cashmere and polyester. Everbloom’s approach aims to reduce environmental impact and production costs by utilizing waste materials and ensuring all components are biodegradable, with ongoing accelerated testing to validate this claim. CEO Sim Gulati emphasizes the importance of making sustainable materials economically viable for both brands and consumers, rejecting the
materialsAIsustainable-materialstextile-innovationbiodegradable-fiberskeratin-based-fiberswaste-recyclingPhotos: This is the world’s darkest fabric with potential solar, camouflage uses
Researchers at Cornell University have developed the world’s darkest fabric by mimicking the ultrablack feathers of the magnificent riflebird, which absorb nearly all incoming light due to their unique physical structure and melanin content. The team used white merino wool as a base, dyeing it with polydopamine (a synthetic melanin) to deeply coat the fibers, followed by plasma etching to create nanofibrils on the fiber surface. These nanofibrils trap light through repeated internal reflections, resulting in an ultrablack textile that reflects only 0.13 percent of light on average—the lowest reflectance reported for any fabric—and maintains this effect across a wide 120-degree viewing angle. The fabrication process is simple, scalable, and applicable to other natural fibers like cotton and silk, using common materials and standard textile lab equipment. The resulting fabric is wearable and flexible without losing its light-absorbing properties. Potential applications include enhancing solar thermal systems by maximizing light absorption for heat generation
materialsultrablack-fabricsolar-thermal-systemsnanofibrilsplasma-etchingmelanin-dyetextile-innovationKorean team uses bacteria to spin rainbow-hued, eco-friendly textiles
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed an innovative, eco-friendly method to produce and dye textiles using living bacteria. Their approach leverages bacterial cellulose—a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based fibers—grown by Komagataeibacter xylinus, combined with color-producing microbes that generate a full spectrum of natural pigments. Cool tones (green to purple) are derived from violaceins, while warm hues (red to yellow) come from carotenoids. The team overcame initial challenges of microbial interference by employing two specialized culturing strategies, enabling simultaneous fabric growth and coloration. The resulting rainbow-hued bacterial cellulose textiles demonstrated strong durability, retaining color after washing, bleaching, heating, and exposure to harsh chemicals. Notably, violacein-based dyes outperformed some synthetic dyes in wash tests. While this method offers a promising sustainable alternative to the environmentally damaging, chemical-heavy processes currently dominating the textile industry, significant obstacles remain. Scaling production to industrial levels and achieving economic competitiveness
materialssustainable-textilesbacterial-celluloseeco-friendly-dyeingbiotechnologybiofabricationtextile-innovationApple unveils $229 iPhone Pocket described as 'a piece of cloth'
Apple has partnered with fashion designer Issey Miyake to launch the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition fabric sleeve that combines technology and fashion. Made in Japan using a 3D-knitted process inspired by Miyake’s signature pleated designs, the iPhone Pocket is designed to fit any iPhone along with small essentials. It features a ribbed, stretchable textile that subtly reveals its contents and can be worn in multiple ways—by hand, attached to a bag, or crossbody. Available in a playful yet understated color palette, the accessory emphasizes personal expression and interaction over traditional phone protection. The iPhone Pocket is priced at $149.95 for the short-strap version and $229.95 for the long-strap variant, sparking debate about luxury pricing for what Apple describes as “a piece of cloth.” The product reflects a collaboration between Apple’s design team and Miyake’s researchers, aiming to merge industrial design with fashion craftsmanship. Launching globally on November 14 in
materialswearable-technologyApple3D-knittingfashion-techproduct-designtextile-innovationNew textile adjusts its aerodynamic properties, can transform wearables
Researchers at Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed an innovative textile capable of dynamically adjusting its aerodynamic properties through on-demand surface dimpling. Inspired by the dimples on a golf ball that reduce drag by inducing turbulence, this textile forms dimples when stretched, even when tightly fitted to the body. By varying the size and pattern of these dimples, the fabric can reduce aerodynamic drag by up to 20% at specific wind speeds, as demonstrated in wind tunnel experiments. This adaptability is enabled by a unique lattice pattern within the textile composite, which allows expansion rather than tightening when worn. The textile is created using a two-step manufacturing process that combines a stiffer woven material with a softer knit layer, resulting in a flexible yet structured composite. Extensive simulations and experiments with different lattice tessellations (such as squares and hexagons) helped optimize the dimpling patterns for targeted aerodynamic performance. Published in Advanced Materials, the study highlights the potential applications of this smart textile
materialssmart-textilesaerodynamic-propertieswearable-technologytextile-innovationcomposite-materialsadaptive-fabricsHow Siemens and Spinnova are reinventing the future of textiles
The article highlights the innovative collaboration between Finnish startup Spinnova and Siemens in revolutionizing the textile industry through sustainable fiber production. Spinnova has developed a groundbreaking technology that mechanically transforms cellulose-rich raw materials, primarily FSC-certified wood pulp, into textile fibers without the use of harmful chemicals and with minimal water consumption. Inspired by the structure of spider silk, this process produces soft, durable fibers resembling cotton and linen, significantly reducing CO2 emissions and environmental impact compared to traditional textile manufacturing. Major fashion brands like H&M, Bestseller, and Adidas have already incorporated SPINNOVA® fibers into their collections, marking a shift toward circular and eco-conscious fashion. Siemens plays a crucial role in accelerating Spinnova’s innovation by providing digital solutions through its Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, which integrates hardware, software, and digital services. This partnership enables real-time data capture and analysis—covering fiber consistency, energy use, moisture levels, and machine efficiency—helping Spinnova optimize production quality and sustainability
materialssustainable-textilesSpinnovacellulose-fibereco-friendly-fashionnanocellulosetextile-innovationSweden turns oat and wheat waste into clothes for green fashion
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a sustainable method to produce textile pulp from agricultural waste such as oat husks and wheat straw, offering an eco-friendly alternative to cotton and wood-based cellulose. Their process uses soda pulping, which involves boiling raw materials in lye—a non-toxic substance—to extract cellulose. This technique is simpler and requires fewer chemicals than traditional wood-based methods, as it avoids steps like chipping and debarking. The approach not only reduces environmental impact but also adds economic value to agricultural byproducts that would otherwise be discarded. The study highlights that oat husks and wheat straw are particularly effective for creating dissolving pulp used in textile manufacturing. Ongoing research has also shown promise with other agricultural residues, such as grass press-cake, moving closer to real-world fiber production. The researchers suggest that existing pulp-and-paper industry infrastructure could be adapted to process these materials, potentially accelerating the adoption of sustainable textiles without the need for entirely new facilities. This innovation represents a
materialssustainable-fashioncelluloseagricultural-wastetextile-innovationeco-friendly-textilessoda-pulping