#Associations

2022-05-25

AATCC announces the 2022 Concept 2 Consumer® Student Design Competition winners

Every year, students from all over the world participate in AATCC’s Concept 2 Consumer® Student Design competition. This competition is a poster competition that allows students the opportunity to showcase their creative design and problem-solving skills in textile/apparel design. Each year there is a different theme, this year’s theme asked students to design a sustainable travel wear line that incorporated recycled materials, sustainable manufacturing, and antibacterial and/or odor-control properties.

First Place

This year’s first-place winner is Seasons of Citrus which is a sustainable reversible multi-season travel line made by fruit made by Mali Jean Borisch who attends Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University. Borisch is a Fashion Studies major set to gradate in Fall 2023. She says, “Designing for this competition has helped me understand how in-depth design should be and taught me that I really like science. I plan to continue studying fashion with a strong emphasis on designing with sustainably and further learning about the textile sciences.” Borisch was awarded:

• US$1,000 from AATCC

• Pantone Cotton Passport and Color of the Year (COY) mug

• US$300 Spoonflower Gift Certificate and Spoonflower DIY Book Bundle

• US$200 Jacquard Inkjet Fabric Systems gift certificate to obtain prepared for dyeing (PFD) fabric

• Datacolor ColorReaderPRO

• One-year free AATCC Student Membership

Second place

This year’s second-place winner is Flow Adaptive which is designed for any person of any gender who is looking for wheelchair adaptive clothing that is comfortable enough for travel, has a modern style, and unique designs by Sofia Morin who is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Morin says, “Through this competition, I learned about the importance of representation in fashion. Designing wheelchair adaptive clothing has given me a better perspective of the fashion industry as a whole and what changes need to be made to make it more inclusive.

I plan on graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with my BS in Apparel Design & Development and minor in Metals & Contemporary Art Jewelry. After graduation, I want to travel and continue my education in a fashion master’s program.” Morin was awarded:

• US$750 from AATCC

• Pantone Cotton Passport and COY mug

• US$150 Spoonflower Gift Certificate and Spoonflower DIY Book Bundle

• US$250 Jacquard Inkjet Fabric Systems gift certificate to obtain PFD fabric

• Datacolor ColorReaderPRO

• One-year free AATCC Student Membership

Third place

This year’s third-place winner is The Stories of Ooru which is a travel wear line designed with the intention that a person traveling to India is ready for every occasion by Nina Sajankila from Drexel University where she is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Fashion Design.

She says, “Participating in this competition made me think more about cultural differences while traveling and how I can mindfully invite the sharing and blending of cultures through design.

I plan to pursue sustainable and ethical design, while working internationally and learning from artisans who focus on the slow and thoughtful ways of exploring fashion for high-end design.” Sajankila was awarded:

• US$200 from AATCC

• US$75 Spoonflower Gift Certificate and Spoonflower DIY Book Bundle

• US$100 Jacquard Inkjet Fabric Systems gift certificate to obtain PFD fabric

• Datacolor

• One-year free AATCC Student Membership

Runway of Dreams Scholarship

This year Runway of Dreams Foundation provided students with the option to focus their design entry on adaptive fashion. One outstanding entry that incorporated designs for people with a disability was selected for US$2,500 scholarship award.

Lacertilia by Tiffany Liao, Thomas Jefferson University will be awarded this scholarship.

She says, “This competition has reinforced the phrase coined by Louis H. Sullivan, ‘form follows function.’ It was a fun challenge learning about adaptive fashion and determining the functionality of each item.

I hope to use my experience in design and engineering in the antidisciplinary world of “fashioneering” where human behavior, cultural advances, and societal needs influence wearable and functional design. (I basically want to be Edna Mode from “The Incredibles.”).”

Developers, Judges, and Sponsors

AATCC would like to extend thanks and appreciation to the following developers, judges, and sponsors. Without their expertise and assistance, the competition would not have been possible.

Developers

• Sandra Johnson, Senior Account Manager at Color Solutions International

• Nora Khanna, Product Development Manager at Pantone

• Kerry King, Vice President, R&D at Spoonflower Inc.

• Muditha Senanayake, Professor at Cal Poly Pomona

• Alyssa McNamara, Project Manager at Spoonflower Inc.

Judges

• Lisa Beck, Product Manager at Datacolor

• Emily Coleman, Designer and Merchandise Manager at Jefferies Socks

• Josh Goldman, Technical Designer at Nike

• Yvonne Johnson, Senior Director: Product Development at Cotton Incorporated

• Riho Katagiri, Lead Technical Designer at Nike

• Lauren Koury, E-commerce Specialist at Carolina Hosiery Mills

• Aimee LaValley, Product Development Manager at Polartec

• Mindy Scheier, Runway of Dreams Foundation

• Carrie Yates, Associate Director, Knit Product Development at Cotton Incorporated

AATCC announces 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition winners

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) recognized the winners of the 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition. Founded in 1982 to give student members the chance to conduct and present original research, the competition was renamed in 1994 in honor of Herman and Myrtle Goldstein, following their US$60,000 endowment. Their gift is a lasting remembrance of their dedication to young people in the textile industry.

New funding available for textile research

The AATCC Foundation Student Research Support Grant Program provides financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing textile-related projects. Students may submit proposals now for funding to be awarded January 2026. Applications must be submitted by October 1, 2025, to be considered.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

Trützschler and Wisdom-Greentech held a signing ceremony for the ultra-high-speed 4.2m Air-Through Bonding (ATB) line

On May 20, 2026, Trützschler and Wisdom-Greentech, a Chinese customer specializing in high-end maternal, infant & child care industry and related disposable nonwoven products, held a signing ceremony for the purchase of a ultra-high-speed 4.2m ATB line in Geneva, Switzerland. This cooperation not only represents a deepened partnership between the two parties in the ATB sector, but also marks a new milestone in production efficiency for the high-end maternal, infant and child care product industry chain. This jointly developed 4.2m ATB line is more than just an investment. It stands as a milestone achievement of Sino-German technological cooperation, empowering the high-end hygiene industry including feminine care, adult care and related disposable nonwoven products, and realizing a dual breakthrough in production capacity and product quality.

Wangjin holdings signs 10th production line agreement with Trützschler – Driving innovation in the eco-friendly nonwovens industry

Wangjin Holdings and Trützschler held a grand signing ceremony for the Pulp X Spunlace Nonwoven Production Line, alongside the successful commissioning ceremony of Line 3 of Zhejiang Jinnuo Medical New Material Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Wangjin Holdings, in Geneva, Switzerland on May 20, 2026. The newly signed Pulp X production line marks the 10th production line that Wangjin Holdings has introduced from Trützschler. It is not only the strategic implementation outcome of Wangjin Holdings' decade-long deep cultivation and continuous layout in the nonwovens sector, but also demonstrates its unwavering commitment to leading the innovative development of the global eco-friendly nonwovens industry, injecting powerful new momentum into the industry's green transformation.

Trützschler establishes in-depth strategic cooperation with Fujian Leo Group

The strategic cooperation signing ceremony between Trützschler and Fujian Leo Group, a Chinese customer specializing in the R&D, production and sales of personal hygiene products for ten 4.2m Air-Through-Bonding (ATB) lines was grandly held in Geneva, Switzerland. The signing marks a new milestone in the partnership. Leveraging Trützschler’s advanced nonwoven technology, Fujian Leo Group will complete a large-scale production line upgrade, further consolidate its production capacity advantages and strengthen its core competitiveness in the industry.

INDEX 2026: Reicofil introduces RF 5.10 upgrade boosting output by 10 percent

At INDEX 2026, Reifenhäuser Reicofil will present its latest developments for the nonwovens industry under the guiding themes “Grow Together”, “Expand Together” and “Transform Together”. On this occasion, the leading manufacturer of nonwoven machinery will be unveiling two brand-new technology advancements – RF 5.10 upgrade and RF Core – at the show.