#Associations

2024-07-04

Program announced for 2024 AATCC Textile Discovery Summit

AATCC is excited to announce the program for the 2024 Textile Discovery Summit, held October 6 to 8 in Savannah, Georgia, USA. With a focus on A Path Forward Through Innovation, this year’s conference will be a groundbreaking event for the textile industry.

Attendees of the Textile Discovery Summit will have the opportunity to engage in educational presentations, stimulating networking receptions, insightful breakout sessions, and witness the latest advancements in textile technology at the exhibitor showroom. Furthermore, participants will be able to enjoy a golf challenge on The Westin’s 18-hole PGA Championship course and an evening boat cruise along the Savannah River on Sunday, October 6.

Start the Summit off by joining the NC170 session, “Research Personal Protective Technologies for Current and Emerging Occupational and Environmental Hazards,” on Sunday, October 6, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. This session addresses the critical need for effective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across industries such as firefighting, healthcare, military, and more. Continue the following day with discussions about the Future of Textiles through circular economy, thoughtful production methods and more insightful presentations scattered throughout. Complete your Summit experience with either discussing the Advances in Sustainability or hear about the improvements in Comfort and Wellness followed by Coloration updates. Be sure to stay until the end to take a chance at winning the exciting raffle prize!

AATCC is also actively seeking companies to join as sponsors for the 2024 Textile Discovery Summit. With three comprehensive package levels – Platinum, Gold, and Silver – sponsors can select the tier that best aligns with their marketing objectives and budget. Each level offers unique benefits, including prominent brand visibility, VIP access, and complimentary registrations to provide exclusive networking opportunities with industry leaders. For those looking for more targeted exposure, AATCC also offers the option to sponsor individual items or events within the summit. By becoming a sponsor, companies not only gain invaluable exposure to key decision-makers in the textile industry but also demonstrate their commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the sector. Interested parties are encouraged to contact AATCC promptly, as sponsorship opportunities are limited and expected to fill out quickly.

The 2024 Textile Discovery Summit is open to all individuals who wish to participate. Whether you are an industry professional, researcher, or textile enthusiast, this event offers a unique platform to gain insights, foster collaboration, and stay informed about the latest developments in the field. For comprehensive program details, accommodation information, sponsorships, tabletop reservations, or registration, please visit www.aatcc.org/summit/.

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.

Nominations open for 2024 AATCC Awards

AATCC presents several prestigious awards each year, along with thousands of dollars in honoraria. Some awards were established to recognize outstanding achievers in the textile sciences, whose discoveries influenced the world. Others recognize AATCC members for service to the Association that has strengthened and promoted its purpose and mission to the world.

Joint Statement: Urgent clarification needed on scope of Textiles EPR for PPE and Medical Devices

EDANA, the voice of nonwovens, alongside fellow industry associations CIRFS (European Man-Made Fibres Association), EURATEX (The European Apparel and Textile Confederation), ESF (European Safety Federation), and EuroCommerce (Retail & Wholesale), has issued a joint statement raising critical concerns regarding the transposition of Directive (EU) 2025/1892, the targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive.

Young researchers recognised for cutting-edge work in recycling, fibre technology and textile mechanics

At the Aachen-Dresden-Denkendorf International Textile Conference held in Aachen at the end of November, Peter D. Dornier, Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation of the VDMA, honoured five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability prizes were awarded in the categories bachelor/project theses and diploma/master theses. Academic theses that develop solutions for resource-saving products and technologies, for example, are eligible for the sustainability awards.

Level playing field at stake: Europe’s textile industry demands decisive action

Yesterday, the European Parliament took a welcomed and necessary step by voting a resolution calling for stronger market surveillance, reinforced customs controls and faster enforcement of the Digital Services Act in case of infringements. For Europe’s textile and clothing manufacturers, this is the first political acknowledgement that the system is broken — and that enforcement must finally match the scale of the problem.

SHIMA SEIKI returns to ShanghaiTex

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Hong Kong and Chinese market subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI (HONG KONG) LTD., will exhibit at the ShanghaiTex 2025 exhibition (Booth No.: Hall N3, Booth A20) held in Shanghai, China this month. This marks the return of SHIMA SEIKI to ShanghaiTex after a 14-year hiatus, its last exhibit at the show having been in 2011.

Fraunhofer CCPE presents the “Monomaterial Design Set” – Innovative solutions for circular product design

Composite materials made from different types of plastic often extend the lifetime of products but make recycling more difficult in the circular economy. That is why Fraunhofer CCPE has developed the “Monomaterial Design Set”. This new approach helps to reduce the variety of plastics used in durable products and offers circular solutions for designers and product developers.

arena introduces renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber in its latest swimwear collection

Italian swimwear specialist arena has unveiled a new collection that brings sustainability and performance even closer together. Launched on December 4, the line features swimsuits made from recycled nylon and renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber — the first time the bio-based spandex has been used commercially in swimwear.