It ain't fashion, if it ain't sustainable

Patricia Dolez

Protective Clothing / Firefighters

29 May 2024

3 minutes

The overall exploration of the various yarns and their fibres provides a fuller understanding of their durability. Suggestions can now be made to manufacturers on optimum fibre blends and fabric configurations that strike a better balance between long-term protection and comfort.

New Studies Show How to Make Firefighters’ Clothing Safer to Wear, Maintain and Manufacture

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.

Staff Writer

Fibre Innovation / Hemp Straw

25 April 2024

3 minutes

Currently, there are no North American sources of filament or staple lyocell fibres despite growing demand for the fibre.

Hemp Straw Project Could Boost Textile Manufacturing in Canada

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.

Staff Writer

Innovation / ProtectiveWear

19 January 2023

Clothing that can kill viruses and bacteria on contact helps protect the people who protect us, but getting that type of protective finish onto the uniforms first responders wear is a big challenge.

Canadian Researchers Aim to Make Virus-Killing Clothing a Good Fit for Production Line

A $1 million funding is supporting researchers in the University of Alberta to make the science behind self-decontaminating fabrics a good fit for the production line.