Education & Training

DyStar has announced that the inaugural winners of the annual CEO ‘Caring for the Future’ Award are its Wuxi Production Site, which executed the best sustainable production practices while continuing to deliver high value products and DyStar China’s sales offices and laboratory, which implemented several programs that have reduced their consumption of electricity and water, on a continuing basis. Sustainability at DyStar is driven by the integration of sustainable practices into its daily operations and value chain. An annual award scheme linked to its Company-wide Sustainability Program, ‘Caring for the Future’, was introduced in 2011 to motivate all production site and offices to uphold this core brand value.

Just days after launching its new online Looking for Wool sourcing guide, an online directory which will enable businesses to source wool and wool-rich products for both the apparel and interiors sector, The Woolmark Company has released five new introductory training manuals to assist in educating the retail and trade sectors about the benefits of Australian Merino wool.

This video was made by Robert Newton a TV documentary producer whose family were in textiles in North Carolina for generations. Newton got the idea for the documentary after he found himself constantly correcting people who said that the textiles industry in NC state was dead. It’s a full blown TV documentary which lasts 30 minutes but its well worth watching.

The Source it procurement platform at Texprocess 2013 in Frankfurt am Main from 10 to 13 June offers a comprehensive overview of the world’s most important sourcing regions. For the first time this year, the focus of Source it is on national presentations with selected manufacturing companies and among the countries and regions represented will be Egypt, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, South America and Vietnam.

The Textile Institute has announced details of its latest intensive training short courses for the textiles industry. The Institute is a leading provider of short courses for the industry, drawing on over 100 years of textiles knowledge.

According to researchers at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, wearable computers which can withstand washing are one step closer thanks to a technology which integrates electronic micro devices into yarns. The academics developed a prototype garment to demonstrate the technology, which they say could be used for medical and military purposes.

The Workwear & Corporate Clothing Show is the only UK event dedicated entirely to the manufacture and supply of professional clothing, from cutting edge corporate wear to durable workwear and life-saving PPE (personal protective equipment).

A new course on the Karl Mayer ML 46 will be available as of January 2013 and the first series of courses in India was held in September 2012.

25 German textile machinery manufacturers presented their latest solutions at two VDMA conferences this month in Istanbul and Gaziantep in Turkey. Almost 600 participants from the Turkish textiles industry used the opportunity to learn how German technology can help the sector to cope with the tough competition from Asia and several German companies were able to close deals with Turkish customers during the events.

German medical device manufacturer Maquet Cardiopulmonary AG is investing in a new clean room production centre and research laboratory in Hechingen which will be used to process and further develop its range of knitted textile based medical devices and other products.

According to events organiser UBM Asia, the Cashmere World show which has relocated from Beijing to Hong Kong, has had a successful debut in Hong Kong. The fair is said to have benefited from the presence of important international buying offices in Hong Kong enjoyed synergies with the co-located Fashion Access (25 – 27 September 2012) show. Close to 2000 buyers from 50 countries were on hand to view the fibres, yarns and finished cashmere products on offer.

Focusing on the topic of “consumption,” over 135 delegates from brands, retailers, government organizations, NGOs and academia joined in the 6th annual conference of the RITE Group (Reducing the Impact of Textiles on the Environment).

Karl Mayer has reported strong growth in India over the past 18 months and says it has up to 80% of the market and is still expanding its position. The German company says it has responded to the growing importance of the country by offering a “projected development of its supply of services, training programmes and new machine construction as well as an improved spare parts service”.

In this two part feature, Debra Cobb takes an in depth look at the world of textiles which deliver cosmetic benefits and concludes that there is potential for cosmétotextiles to go beyond beauty and deliver wellness, therapeutic, and medical benefits.

The UK government announced yesterday over £2 million worth of support for a new skills programme led by a consortium of employers and the Textile Centre of Excellence in Huddersfield that will improve the skills of people already working and develop the next generation of skilled talent for these industries. The partnership includes manufacturers from textiles, technical textiles, apparel and textile services sectors, trade associations and Creative Skillset.

The recent symposium on cosmétotextiles held at Interfilière Paris highlighted the growing success of these hybrid fabrics, as well as posing questions about their future. A cosmetic textile is defined by the French Office for the Standardisation of Textile and Clothing Industries as “a textile article that contains a substance or a preparation that is intended to be released sustainably on to the different superficial parts of the human body, especially the skin, and which claim particular properties such as cleansing, perfume, change of appearance, protection, maintenance in good condition, or correction of body odours.”

Cashmere World organisers say the show is primed for a big and successful Hong Kong debut with many of the world’s most important cashmere producers and luxury brands invested in the exhibition.

The work of 24 carefully selected textile design graduates was shown at Texprint London last week where knits featured heavily. Texprint’s chairman, Barbara Kennington presented all 24 designers to sponsors, press, key decision-makers and leading creatives in the fashion and interiors markets at Texprint London — a gallery-style display focusing on key pieces by each new talent — on July 12 and 13 at Chelsea College of Art & Design, Pimlico, London. The designers’ full collections were available to view on request.

According to the Hohenstein Institute, 50 % of everyone in Germany practices sport at least once a week, which is still fourth place in a European country comparison. Wearing knee-length compression socks, the institute says, was long viewed as uncool by sportsmen and women, but more and more active sportsmen and women have reported the positive effects of wearing these special elastic socks.

As if current economic challenges weren’t enough to cast a pall over last weekend’s Interfilière and Mode City shows for the intimate apparel and swimwear trades, the November-like Parisian weather did its best to dampen spirits. But Interfilière’s mills and suppliers did much more than “keep calm and carry on.” They continue to invest and innovate at an extraordinary rate; with an emphasis on upgrading their fabrics with new fibres and technologies.

ITMA, the world’s most established textile and garment machinery exhibition, will put the spotlight on innovations that promote sustainability for its 17th presentation in Milan, Italy, in 2015. A trendsetting showcase of exciting innovations since 1951, the theme chosen for the 2015 edition is ‘Master the Art of Sustainable Innovation’.

The Advanced Textiles Research Group of the School of Art and Design is looking for highly motivated individual with sound knowledge on modern computerised flat-bed knitting technologies.

The 51st Dornbirn Man-Made Fibers Congress will take place from 19 – 21 September 2012 in Dornbirn in the Vorarlberg region of Austria, where over 700 delegates from more than 30 countries will meet to discuss the future of the man-made fibres industry.

Senol Sankaya, CEO of leading Turkish manufacturer of knitted goods, Yesim Tekstil, has been named as one of three speakers in the Supply Chain session of the 28th IAF World Apparel Convention to be held from 24-28 September 2012 in Oporto, Portugal.

The creative flair and design talent of graduating students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s (PolyU) Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) have won applause from the local knitwear industry at their Knitwear Fashion Show held yesterday at The Mira Hong Kong.

Leading Japanese manufacturer of advanced flat knitting machines and design systems, Shima Seiki has launched its latest Knit Style Book of knitwear design trends.

In cooperation with Amoena Medizin-Orthopädie-Technik GmbH, a developer and supplier of specialist bras, swimwear and breast prostheses, researchers at the Hohenstein Institute have developed a special bra for breast cancer patients. The new bra, which was developed under a publicly funded research project (AiF no. KF2136714HG0) can be worn during and directly after radiation therapy and takes into account the high sensitivity of the skin which often occurs during treatments as well as changes in breast volume.

This new one-year Masters degree has been developed to meet the industry’s demand for a postgraduate course within the field of fashion knitwear design and product innovation in knitted technical textiles. Aimed at graduates and professionals from both design and technology backgrounds, the course integrates creative and technical perspectives within the context of advanced fibre materials and computerised flat-bed knitting technology.

Naturally Advanced Technologies (NAT) which produces and markets CRAiLAR, a natural fibre made from flax and other bast fibres, has entered a joint development agreement with leading cellulosic manmade fibres producer Lenzing. The agreement calls for the companies to evaluate the blending of CRAiLAR Flax fibres with Tencel (Lyocell) and Lenzing Modal. Lenzing's high-quality fibres are primarily used in the textile industry in women's outerwear and sportswear, as we

Dr. Sam Moore of Hohenstein Institute America will present interim findings from a long term study of the effects of nano silver particles on the environment. The presentation will be made at the joint conference of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) and the Southern Textile Research Conference (STRC) to be held May 20-22, 2012 at Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort in Pawley's Island, SC. The conference is titled ‘Sustainability, Inn

US and EU textile and clothing import prices rose sharply in 2011 reflecting hikes in raw material prices, according to the latest Textile Outlook International reports from the global business information company Textiles Intelligence.

With the introduction of its Productivity Enhancement Pack (PEP), leading flat knitting machine builder Stoll says it has increased the productivity of its machines yet again and is thereby setting new standards in the production of knitwear. PEP accelerates the knitting process via increased carriage speeds and the improved possibilities offered by yarn carrier staggering at the fabric selvedge. Stoll says the custom technologies developed are energy-saving, lasting

Karl Mayer says its customers not only benefit from its high-tech machines - the company's know-how and expertise can also give them the edge over their competitors. Warp knitted fabric manufacturers can win leading market positions and tap into new applications using efficient high-speed tricot machines and raschel machines, and the opportunities offered by the Karl Mayer Academy to learn more about them are available to textile manufacturers worl

Rory Longdon, winner of the prestigious George Gold Award at Graduate Fashion week in June 2011 sees the full fruit of his hard work as the launch of his first high street collection goes on sale at George at Asda this week. Rory, who graduated from Nottingham Trent University in June, won the opportunity to create a capsule Christmas knitwear collection for George alongside a £20,000 cash prize, a four week paid placement at George and mentoring sessions from Bran

 According to show owner CEMATEX, visitors to ITMA 2011 can look forward to knowledge-sharing, cross-fertilisation of ideas and more collaborative interactions with some of the world's leading textile researchers and educators. A total of 46 institutions have applied to take part in the Research & Education (R&E) pavilion, making it a key highlight at this year's ITMA exhibition which will be held at

The Scool of Art & Design at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is introducing a new MA/MSc Technology Integrated Knit Design course. The technology-driven postgraduate course aims to combine creative design with an in-depth understanding of new textile materials, Smart products and technological skills. "Textile manufacturers are offering global products with increasingly complex manufacturing processes and design compon

The top award at Graduate Fashion Week has been won by a Nottingham Trent University fashion knitwear design student. Rory Longdon was named the prestigious George Gold Award winner as the showcase came to a close in London on Wednesday night. In an amazing night for the University's School of Art and Design, another fashion knitwear design student, Wonjee Chung, came home with the Stuart Peters Visionary Knitwear Award. The

The East Midlands' materials hub project (MATHUB) is running a seminar aimed at all companies and individuals who have an interest in Smart and Sensory Materials with built in technology. Key speakers are leading textile academics Professor Tilak Dias of Nottingham Trent University and Dr John Williams of Leicester's De Montfort University. "This exciting field of development has brought the traditional knitted structure a new lease of life. An interdisciplinary appro

The School of Art & Design at Nottingham Trent University has an ambitious development strategy which allows us to offer an exciting opportunity for a PhD Studentship. The studentships will pay UK / EU fees and provide a maintenance stipend linked to the RCUK rate (£13,590 per annum for 2011/12) for up to three years. Everyday clothing consists of textile fibres which are woven and knitted to p

Warp knitting machinery specialist Karl Mayer has introduced its own training courses for the warp knitting industry in the USA. Through its Karl Mayer Academy, which was set up some time ago to consolidate international training, the company’s own trainers are now able to also transfer knowledge and information on warp knitting in the USA. Previously, outside partners were responsible for holding training courses in the USA. The first course to b

Sunscreen was yesterday's solution, today its UV protection clothing – according to researchers at Germany’s Hohenstein Institute, doctors believe that the right clothing gives better protection from the dangers of the sun than creams. Nevertheless, the researchers say, many people who spend a long time outdoors because of their work, such as builders, gardeners, farmers, law enforcement officers, industrial cleaners or waiters, are reluctant to use specia

The FabricLink Network, a US based web resource for educational information on fibres and fabrics has introduced a new sweater knit and yarn resource to its updated website.  Sweater Knit & Yarn Resource contains in-depth information and images on a wide variety of products and processes and the resource is located in the Fabric University area of FabricLink.com and can be viewed here. The resource features a variety of educational information about fabric h

With knitted textiles and apparel representing approximately one third of the global textile market, the book provides an updated reference to knitting technology, with specific focus on the developments in knitted fabric production and textile applications. The first set of chapters begin with a brief review of the fundamental principles of knitting, including the types and suitability of yarns for knitting as well as the properties achieved through knitted fabrics

The following unedited text has been submitted to Knitting Industry by Sunil Kumar Puri, Executive Director of Sportking Institute of Fashion Technology, Ludhiana, India. Sunil has over 30 years experience in the knitting industry, is a qualified professional in Total Quality Management, Kaizen and Lean Production and runs his own knitting machinery sales company, Techknit Overseas Pvt. Ltd. The paper attempts to explain ‘Sweater Geometry’ for fully-fashion

The creative flair and design talent of graduating students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)'s Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) have won big rounds of applause from the industry at their Knitwear Fashion Show held today at The Mira Hong Kong. A collaborated effort of design students, ITC, various knitwear producers and yarn suppliers, the Knitwear Fashion Show aimed to foster relations between ITC and industry, as well as showcasing the q

26 April 2009, Lenzing - Lenzing Fibers Project Manager Tom Burrow discusses the performance, aesthetic and environmental benefits of Tencel, a synthetic cellulose fibre derived from sustainably grown trees.          

Technology Day 09': Trendspotting - Fashion Institute of Technology April 17th The second annual Technology Day conference will be held Friday, April 17th in the John E. Reeve’s Conference Center at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Seventh Avenue at 27th Street. Register now by visiting: http://www.fitnyc.edu/techday This year the theme is "Trendspotting" and will focus on FIT’s diverse and unique use of technology in all the disciplines.  The conference w

20 February 2009, Lenzing - Lenzing Fibers are presenting their new botanic principles. “TENCEL and Lenzing Modal come from Nature and botanic principles are used in the overall production of these fibres. Thus, there is a piece of Nature in each and every item of clothing which contains Lenzing Fibers,” says Lenzing.              

Leading warp knitting machine builder Karl Mayer, an international ambassador for the warp knitting industry, recently saw its first graduates emerge from the Karl Mayer Academy China which the Obertshausen, Germany based company opened earlier this year to support the Chinese warp knitting industry. The education and training centre in Wujin which belongs to Karl Mayer China Ltd, offers a comprehensive range of specialist warp-knitting courses in a block fo

Hohenstein Institutes, the internationally recognized textile testing and research center, has announced that Samuel B. Moore will join the company as the Projects Manager for the United States market. Hohenstein Institutes is a founding member of the International Oeko-Tex Association which grants the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification, an international certification process that ensures textile products are tested for harmful levels of more than 100 chemicals known

With knitting once again enjoying a huge surge in popularity, the relevance of this craft is being celebrated by the launch of a significant collection of knitting resources and a three-day international conference exploring the vitality of knitting today. ‘In the Loop: knitting past, present and future’ takes place at the University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art from the 15th to 17th of July, 2008. Aimed at all who are interested in knitting, from

Warp knitting machine builder Karl Mayer is setting up Karl Mayer Academy China to support its Chinese manufacturing and sales facility subsidiary Karl Mayer China Ltd which opened in Wujin in July this year. Karl Mayer builds highly efficient warp knitting machines and provides technical assistance and training on these and all aspects of warp knitting through its Karl Mayer Academy in Obertshausen. The education and training centre for Asia will offer a programm

At the ceremony held on June 9, former ACIMIT president and owner of Mec-Mor SpA, Angelo Vanali awarded prizes to 10 students studying textile engineering at Italian universities and textile institutes, winners of the annual competition organized by the ACIMIT Foundation to promote research on issues related to the textile machinery industry. This year, two students were rewarded with a five-day trip to Shanghai, to attend ITMA ASIA+CITME 2008 in July, where over 160 Itali

Since its foundation in 1960 the KARL MAYER Academy has become established as an important competence centre for warp knitting and a source of information for the sector. Training at the Academy is offered in the form of units and given mainly in English, lasts between one and four weeks, and imparts theoretical knowledge with the emphasis on textile technology, fabric science, fault detection and analysis. Practical training on production machines using the latest technology intensifies the lea

We aim to offer our clients comprehensive training opportunities as part of our package of services. Since 1960, KARL MAYER has been running training and study programmes for its clients and employees. On 01.01.2006, the KARL MAYER Academy was initiated – a perfect concept, based on many years of successful, practical training. The training courses have been completely revised and, from 2006 onwards, they will be available in blocks of courses lasting from one to four weeks. The courses, which

Dr Tilak Dias is Senior Lecturer in Knitting Technology at the University of Manchester’s School of Materials. Through Engineered Fibre Structures Ltd, he consults to industry on a broad range of textiles based subjects, including electro-textiles. The following is a synopsis of his curriculum vitae with regard to research and development. More...