Back TechMatSci Innovation Team Report will be presented on June 17th | 1:00 - 2:30pm EDT
Fiber, yarn, fabric and materials drive the apparel industry and at the same time impacts the environment. Today we know that biodegradable polyester is here and available. However, there has been much debate about the levels of biodegradation. Recycled cotton blends are here and at the forefront of the circularity surge. In addition to a shift in biodegradable, there is equal movement in raw materials from no technologies, to new technologies, to organic, to sustainable, to 3D printing to recyclable and more. This will accelerate in the years ahead, enabling on-demand production and complete circularity. Is the future a platform like the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) who has assembled a Fabric Innovation Network (FIN) made up of 120+ member organizations including startups, universities, manufacturers, commercial industry and defense partners, to bring advanced fiber technologies to market? Or will individual companies have the financial structure to innovate? How will smart textiles be used to help industries, i.e. healthcare, sports? In addition to the questions of what are new technologies for fiber or fabric application, i.e. anti-microbial, cooling/warming tech, nanotechnology, and digital fibers, we are researching these objectives:
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