#Associations

2022-09-15

AATCC announces new nylon sleeve

The AATCC Nylon Sleeve 129 & Standard of Fade is now available in a new, more sustainable format. The nylon sleeve fabric, or standard control fabric, is used in AATCC Test Method 129, Test Method for Colorfastness to Ozone in the Atmosphere under High Humidities. The test method is popularly used by labs in the quality control of carpet materials and other textile materials. The purpose of the test is to determine a fabric’s resistance to color change as a result of Ozone in the atmosphere at elevated temperatures with relative humidity above 85%.

The Nylon Sleeve 129 & Standard of Fade help lab operators determine the duration of one test cycle, or ‘cycle of fade’. The 2-part set act as a guide, showing the before and after color of the standard fabric. Before the test, the Nylon Sleeve 129 is a tubular knit fabric displaying a hunter green shade. After the test is conducted for one ‘cycle of fade’, the Nylon Sleeve 129 displays a color that matches the Standard of Fade, a green-gold shade.

In conducting the test, the Nylon Sleeve 129 is placed inside the test apparatus, an Ozone chamber, along with the specimens to undergo testing. After one ‘cycle of fading’, the Nylon Sleeve 129 matches the color of the green-gold ‘Standard of Fade’.

NEW STANDARD OF FADE: IMPROVED SUSTAINABILITY, INCREASED VALUE

The material for the Standard of Fade is a foamboard material that has been painted using 100% Acrylic paint. In this process, less water and dye were used to develop Lot 11, compared to the dyed Standard of Fade of previous lots. The next iteration of AATCC TM129 will reflect the change to a non-fabric Standard of Fade, once completed by Committee RA33.

NYLON SLEEVE 129 FABRIC

The Nylon Sleeve 129 has been developed by traditional dyeing processes, using disperse dyes. It can be used in sizes as small as 1 x 1” to conduct AATCC TM129. Lot 11 of the product features a label on the bag, rather than on the fabric, allowing for more yield of the fabric. When not in use, the Nylon Sleeve 129 & Standard of Fade should be kept in the original packaging.

QUICK START GUIDE: IMPROVED GUIDANCE

The accompanying Quick Start Guide allows for ease-of-use of the standard reference materials for both new and seasoned lab operators. The Quick Start guide comes complete with visuals, a simplified version of the test method, removing the guesswork from the testing process. A Certificate of Analysis and Conformity explaining storage, shelf life, and composition is included.

ORDER TODAY

Are you conducting AATCC TM129 for your customers? For consistent results, use the standard control fabric. Restock your Nylon Sleeve 129 & Standard of Fade today with the new and improved Lot 11. To get more information or to order the new nylon sleeve, visit https://members.aatcc.org/store/

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.

Business situation weakens slightly, but the industry stays cautiously optimistic

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has published the results of its 39th Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted from 14 to 22 July 2026 among companies along the entire global textile value chain. Worldwide, 10% of participants rated their business situation as good, 53% as satisfactory and 37% as bad — a balance of -26pp, down from -17pp in May but still well above the 2023 lows. All regions are now in negative territory, from South Asia at -3pp to North & Central America at -58pp.

Italian textile machinery orders show quarterly recovery in Q2 2026

In the period between April and June 2026, order intake for Italian textile machinery manufacturers showed mixed but encouraging signals for the second half of the year. The order index at constant prices stood at 46.6 points (taking 2021=100 as the base year), showing a slight decrease of 3% compared to the same quarter of 2025. This trend was largely due to the contraction recorded in the domestic market, which fell by 25% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Première Vision Paris expands innovation focus across fashion and beauty

From September 1–3, 2026, Première Vision Paris will bring together more than 900 exhibitors from across the global fashion value chain. This year's edition places a strong emphasis on Innovation-Tech, highlighting technologies and materials that are reshaping product development, manufacturing and sustainability.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at Première Vision Paris

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Première Vision Paris in Paris, France next month. The company will exhibit in the "Smart Creation" area, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate sustainability and innovation. The knitting expert will be demonstrating solutions that optimize product development workflows and enhance sustainability through proposals in Digital Product Creation (DPC).