Canada

Research at Canada’s Laurentian University establishes a foundation for fully automated robotic knitting systems, enabling customisable, flexible production processes that integrate perception, planning, and actuation, thereby advancing textile manufacturing through intelligent robotic automation.

1994. Pioneers yet outliers in an industry focused on conventional resources, a materials science company, developing and commercialising circular economy technologies using industrial and consumer waste streams from the fashion, food, and forestry sectors, is today hoping that consumer awareness and regulatory pressure will trigger collaborations between scientists and designers, leading to responsible material solutions. The face of the Tex2Tex RPET division and COO of Vancouver-based Earth Protex, Samuel Goldstein shares a journey that began decades before sustainability or material science would become buzzwords.

New innovative cloth developed by a research group at the University of Waterloo requires no bulky batteries or manual controls, the warmth generated by the fabric comes entirely from solar energy, making it an environmentally friendly, self-sustaining solution for winter wear.

The 2024 Retailer Report Card analyses 50 major US and Canadian retailers representing 160 businesses that generate over $4 trillion in annual revenue and hold significant influence over the use of toxic chemicals in their supply chains.

Scientists have developed a fabric material that can convert body heat and solar energy into electricity and has the potential for energy harvesting, health monitoring and movement tracking applications. It can detect temperature changes and a range of other sensors to monitor pressure, chemical composition and more.

Leading US fashion companies are sourcing more from emerging destinations in Asia and the Western Hemisphere as they seek to reduce the China risk, shifting focus to India, Bangladesh and many more non-Asian countries, says the latest edition of the USFIA's 2024 Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study.

New research coming from Canada’s Alberta University could help manufacturers of high-performance fibres and protective fabrics to improve their processes and take informed decisions in the selection and design of materials for more durable gear for firefighters.

Researchers from the University of Alberta (U of A) are experimenting with cellulose from Canadian-grown hemp to determine the best parameters for producing lyocell, a man-made fibre that can then be turned into textiles for a wide range of products.

It’s been a newsy April for greenwashing. What does an activist think-tank have to say about it all? texfash.com talks to Todd Paglia, Executive Director of the unrelenting and unapologetic nonprofit Stand.earth.

Advocacy nonprofit Stand.earth has filed an anti-competition complaint against leading Canadian fashion brand Lululemon claiming that the latter’s ‘Be Planet’ campaign misleads customers about its environmental impact.