Nano-Camo: Chameleon-like Camouflage Outfits in the Offing

In the near future, just in five to ten years, the adventurous people can see some of their fantasies come true. They can own outfits that will turn blue when at sea and brown when in a desert environment. The same effect could be used in making everyday chic fashion clothing for fashionistas that automatically changes color to fit different visual settings. Sandia National Laboratories researchers have demonstrated that, in theory, they could cause synthetic materials to change color just like certain fish species which blend with their environment by changing color.

The Basic Principle Underlying Nano Camouflage Clothing
The researchers have followed the mechanism that the fish use to change colors. The power source for the whole process depends upon the basic cellular fuel called ATP, which releases energy as it breaks down. Around 50% of the power is absorbed by the motor proteins, the tiny molecular motors that can move along surfaces. When fish change colors, motor proteins aggregate and disperse skin pigment crystals carried in their “tails” as they walk with their “feet” along the microtubule skeleton of the cell. They rearrange the color display through this.

The on/off switch
The scientists are also introducing on/off switch to control the motion of the motor proteins. The effect is controllable, and even reversible. “We essentially reengineered the protein structure to introduce a switch into the motor,” says the principal investigator George Bachand. “So we can now turn our nanofluidic devices on and off.” Previous efforts at regulating motor activity have used fuel intake as a control mechanism which operated on the principle- the less the fuel, the slower the process. However, the Nano-camo switch operates independently of fuel changes, resembling the improvement in early automobile technologies when a simple ignition switch took over for more complicated rheostats.
So, just wait and watch for the amazing chameleon-like camouflage 'Nano-camo' for fashionistas and environmentalists.

Synthetic Fiber Manufacturing

We all know that fabric is made up of yarns that are, in turn, made by fiber spinning. These fibers are obtained from natural sources like plants and animals. However, the synthetic fibers are made in laboratories through polymer processing and thus sometimes called polymer fibers.

The polymers of synthetic fibers are derived from by-products of petroleum and natural gas that include nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, and other compounds like acrylics, polyurethanes and polypropylene. The polymer is first converted into a fluid state. The thermoplastic polymer is just melted but if the polymer is not thermoplastic then it has to be dissolved in a solvent or has to be chemically treated to form soluble or thermoplastic derivatives. The fluid polymer is then forced through a spinneret, a bathroom shower head like equipment having multitude of holes.

The polymer extruded from spinneret cools to a rubbery state, and then to a solid state. In case of polymers for specialty yarns which do not melt, dissolve, or form appropriate derivatives, the small fluid molecules are mixed and reacted to form the otherwise intractable polymers during the process of extrusion. There are four basic types of spinning for polymers- wet spinning, dry spinning, melt spinning, and gel spinning.

Wet spinning is the oldest process and is used for polymers that need to be dissolved in a solvent to be spun. The spinneret is submerged in a chemical bath that leads the fiber to precipitate, and then solidify, as it comes out of the spinneret holes. Acrylic fiber, rayon fiber, aramid fiber, modacrylic fiber, and spandex fibers, are made through wet spinning.

Dry spinning is also used for polymers that have to be dissolved in a solvent but here solidification results from evaporation of the solvent. Air or inert gas is used to evaporate the solvent which results in solidification of the fibers. Acetate fiber, triacetate fiber, acrylic fiber, modacrylic fiber, PBI, spandex fiber, and vinyon are made through dry spinning.

Melt spinning is used for the polymers that can be melted. The molten polymer is pumped through a spinneret which subsequently gets cooled and solidified. Melt spun fibers can be forced through the spinneret in different cross-sectional shapes such as round, trilobal, pentagonal, octagonal etc. which give different qualities to the fabrics like insulation, sparkle, soil and dirt resistance among others.

Gel spinning, also known as dry-wet spinning as the filaments first pass through air and then are cooled further in a liquid bath, is used to make very strong and other fibers having special characteristics. Here polymer is partially liquid or in a "gel" state, which keeps the polymer chains somewhat bound together which leads to greater tensile strength. The high strength polyethylene fiber and aramid fibers are manufactured through this process.

Textile Machinery Market Report

After experiencing a good investment climate, the global textile machinery market is bearing the burnt of global recession by experiencing a slower rate of growth. Imports and exports, both have declined. China, which is the largest importer of textile machineries experienced a fall of 14% in its imports during Jan-Oct 2008 against the figures of 2007. Germany, which is largest exporter also saw a major fall in demand for textile machinery down 12% during Jan-July 2008 against the same period in 2007.

According to the report of the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), Italy's textile machinery industry experienced 18% lower production as compared to 2007. China, India, and Turkey, although leading purchasers were down as compared to 2007. Germany, United States and Switzerland placed fewer orders for textile machinery where as Brazil, Egypt and Bangladesh have emerged as strong markets for textile machinery.
According to the experts, the situation will not improve in 2009 due to current credit crunch and demand for more guarantees by banks for providing credit lines along with other reasons main being uncertain financial markets and dependence of the textile industry on state subsidies in many countries.

Now the industry struggles to maintain the growth instead of further rise in demand for textile machineries globally. The growing Asian textile industry will be the main factor that will renew the business of western textile machinery manufacturers along with the local competitors. The rising demand for nonwoven disposable textile products like filters and tissues will also lead to growth in textile machinery market mainly in the emerging economies of China and India etc. where nonwovens are introducing good business opportunities because of the growing prosperity in these countries. Rising demand for eco- friendly fibers will boost the textile machineries that use a more eco- friendly textile processes.

High Performance Technical Textiles

Any textile that is used for its functional characteristics is known as technical textile. The appearance and aesthetics of technical textiles are secondary and their functionality is primary factor for their usage. They are high performance fabrics that are primarily used for non-consumer applications. As such, industrial fabrics are essentially technical textile.

Various types of raw materials are used by technical textiles industry which include metals, like steel; minerals, like asbestos and glass; synthetic polymers, like PES, PA, PAN, PP etc.;
regenerated fibers like rayon fibers and acetate fibers; natural fibers like cotton fibers, jute fibers, wool fibers etc. Also, various processes are employed for manufacturing technical textiles that range from processes like weaving and knitting to stitch bonding, chemical, thermal bonding, needle punching and many more.

Technical textiles made from so many different types of raw materials and processes can be classified into many categories based upon their end uses.

Agrotech: or Agro-textiles are used in agricultural applications concerned with growing and harvesting of crops and animals.
Buildtech: or Construction textiles are used in construction and architectural applications, such as for concrete reinforcement, insulation, air conditioning, noise prevention etc. which are extensively used in football stadia, airports and hotels.
Clothtech: or Clothing textiles are all those textile products that represent functional components, of clothing and footwear such as interlinings, sewing thread, insulating fibrefill and waddings.
Geotech: or Geotextiles are woven, nonwoven and knit fabric used for civil and coastal engineering, earth and road construction, dam engineering, soil sealing and in drainage systems etc.
Hometech: or Domestic textiles are used in many hoHigh Performance Technical TextilesHigh Performance Technical Textilesme furnishing fabrics including carpet backings, curtains, wall coverings, etc.
Indutech: or Industrial Textiles have wide applications in many industries for activities like separating and purifying industrial products, cleaning gases and effluents, transporting materials between processes etc. Nets, brushes and conveyor belts are good examples of industrial textile.

Medtech: or Medical textiles are the medical fabrics used in health and hygiHigh Performance Technical Textilesene applications generally in bandages and High Performance Technical Textilessutures eHigh Performance Technical Textilestc.

Mobiltech: are the textiles used in transport industry for construction purposes in automobiles, railways, ships etc. Truck covers, ropes, tarpaulins, seat covers, seat belts, parachutes, inflatable boats, air balloons are all examples of mobiltech.

Oekotech: or Eco-friendly fabrics are mostly used in environmental protection applications - floor sealing, erosion protection, air cleaning, prevention of water pollution, water cleaning, waste treatment/recycling along with making clothing, home furnishings etc. Eco- friendly fibers are fast becoming popular due to their low impact on environment.

Packtech: or Packaging textiles are used for packaging and range from heavyweight woven fabrics used for bags, packaging sacks etc. to the lightweight nonwovens used as durable papers, tea bags and other food and industrial product wrappings.

Protech: or Protective textiles are used in the manufacturing of protective clothing that provide protection against heat, radiation, molten metals etc. to the industrial workers. Bullet proof jackets, astronauts suits etc. are the examples of protective clothing.

Sporttech: or Sports textiles are used for making sports wear and other sports accessories. Synthetic fibers and coatings have largely replaced traditional cotton fabrics and other natural fibers in the production of sports textile.

The Making of Warm and Cozy Quilts

Quilts are a delight to eyes and cozy to feel. However, much effort is put into for making quilts so beautiful and comfortable. They are made through quilting, which is a form of sewing done either by hands, sewing machines, or by quilting machines.


The basic process of quilting involves selecting of patterns, fabrics and batting; measuring and cutting the fabrics into right sized blocks and then piecing these blocks together to make the quilt top. After that the three pieces are layered to form a quilt sandwich and then sewed with hand or machine. Excess batting is trimmed from the edges and binding is sewn to the front edges of the quilt with machine and hand-stitched to the quilt backing. Batting, binding, piecing etc. are the exclusive quilting terms one, who's interested in quilting should know.

The quilts are decorated with complex designs and patterns which depends upon the visualization and creativity of the quilter. Various quilting softwares have made this work an easy task for them. With all the embellishing needle work and techniques various quilt styles are made such as appliqué quilt, block quilt, embroidered quilt, patchwork quilts among many others.

Apart from hand quilting, machine quilting has also become very popular. Machine Quilting is done by sewing machine as well as Longarm quilting machine. In sewing machine, the layers are tacked together by laying the top, batting and backing with pinning, using large safety pins, or tacking the layers together before quilting is done. The longarm quilting machine holds and keeps the quilt stationary on rods while the machine head moves the needle across the quilt. When quilting with sewing machines, the fabric has to be moved through the machine.

Longarm quilting process is a very fast process done with the help of longarm quilting machines that are 10 to 14 feet in length and consist of an industrial sewing machine head, a 10-to-14 feet long table, and a number of rollers on which the fabric layers are positioned. There are hand guided as well as computer guided quilting machines. The computer-guided machine head is attached to a computer system that lets the quilter to choose a design to be sewn onto the fabrics. With selection of the design, the machine will sew the chosen design onto the quilt without any assistance by the quilter.

There are two types of longarm quilting- pantograph designs and customized designs. Pantograph designs span the length of the longarm table which is placed beneath a plastic layer on the table and then traced using the laser found on the machine head. The design can be repeated in rows to create an all-over design on the quilt top. This is a relatively fast and easier method of quilting. Customized designs have individual designs or blocks on various parts of the quilt depending upon the requirements of the end user or the customer. Many sewing styles are adopted for the purpose, such as meandering, feathers and motifs. It is time-consuming and therefore quilts become expensive when made through this method.

Versatile Industrial Applications of Textile

Textile is not only about clothing, it has many other uses that we don't even think about. The more common uses of textile other than in making apparels is that of making home furnishings. Other uses include making of many textile accessories and trims like braids, bows, appliqués, Velcros etc. There are many other fashion accessories too that make an extensive use of fabrics such as bags, scarves etc. Among all these things, what is not included generally are the industrial textile products-the products that are used by other industries to support their whole manufacturing activity.
There are many such industrial products such as tarpaulins, tents, slings, display booths, conveyor belts etc. that are a necessity for proper functioning of industries. Tarpaulins or tarps are made up of water repellent fabrics and are used by the industries to cover the transportation trucks or to protect their movable or immovable belongings.In fact selecting truck tarp fabrics is a work of great concern. Cotton canvas and polyethylene fabrics are the popular fabrics for making tarps.

Apart from tarps, slings are also an important textile product that is used for lifting and handling various materials. There are many types of industrial slings namely chain slings, wire rope slings, metal mesh slings, natural and synthetic fiber rope slings, and synthetic web slings. They are selected by the industries according to the size, weight, shape, temperature, sensitivity of the material to be moved, and environmental conditions under which the sling has to be used. Nylon, Dacron, polyester, polypropylene etc. fibers and fabrics are widely used to make these industrial slings.
Yet another very useful textile product for industrial application is tent. The industrial tents are used as storage facilities, sales areas, exhibition halls, weather-protected space, production and workshop facilities, airport check-in halls or waiting rooms, and also as a cover for building sites and protection for tipped sand or gravel, etc. Cotton, nylon, polyester, and other UV protective and waterproof fabrics are used to make these tents.

An Introduction to Industrial Knitting

Most of us love to wear knitted fabrics that are so comfortable due to their perfect fit and stretchability. However, I am doubtful as to how much each of us know about the knitting process followed by the apparel manufacturing companies for making highly popular clothing such as sports wear, underwear, sweaters, suits, coats, rugs and other home furnishings.


Industrial Knitting
Knitting is the second most popular method of fabric construction, after weaving. The complex knitting industry has two primary divisions, one of which manufactures knitted fabrics for garment manufacturers, sewing centers, consumers etc. and the other one produces completed apparels such as hosiery, sweaters, underwear etc.

A knitted fabric is made with yarns formed into interlocking loops with the help of hooked needles. Crocheted fabrics are the simplest form of knitting where a chain of loops is constructed from a single thread with the help of a hook. When the interlocking loops run lengthwise, each row is called a wale identified with the direction of warp in woven fabrics. When the loops run across the fabric, each row is called a course which corresponds to the filling or weft in woven fabrics.

Apart from the number of stitches or loops per square inch in a knitted fabric, the needle quality also decide its properties. With varying thickness and length of needles the stitches will also get thicker and longer respectively. There are three types of needles that are mostly used for industrial knitting- the latch needle, spring-beard needle, and compound needle.

Types of Knitted Fabrics

Depending upon the wales and courses, there are two types of knitted fabrics
1.Weft knit fabric, where one continuous yarn forms courses across the fabric.
2.
3.Warp knit fabric, where a series of yarns form wales in the lengthwise direction of the fabric.

Weft Knitting has three basic stitches- Plain-knit stitch; Purl stitch; and Rib stitch. Any other stitch is a variation of these three stitches. basic stitches of hand knitting can be identified with weft knitting. When done on weft knitting machines, individual yarn is fed to a single or multiple needles at a time.

In warp Knitting, each needle loops its own thread. The needles of warp knitting machines produce parallel rows of loops that are interlocked in a zigzag pattern. The stitches on the front side vertical with a slight angle. The stitches on the back are horizontal as floats at a slight angle. These floats are called laps or underlaps and are a distinguished features of warp knit fabrics. There are seven basic types of warp knitting- Tricot knit; Milanese knit; Simplex knit; Raschel knit; Ketten Raschel knit; Crochet and Weft-insertion warp.

Warp knit fabrics are smooth, sheer, wrinkle resistant, shrink strength and abrasion resistant as such they are very popular with the masses. Warp knit fabrics are considered better than the weft knit fabrics as these fabrics do not ravel easily, are less prone to sagging and have superior dimensional ability.

Industrial Sewing- Complex Process for Simple Garments

Sewing, as we commonly know, is fastening of some flexible material like fabric, leather etc. using needle and thread. Sewing is done not only for making clothes and home furnishings but also for bookbinding, shoemaking, quilting and for many other such functions. Although the basic necessity in all sewing remains that of needle and threads, the techniques and machines used are different for different sewing purposes. For instance, dressmaking at home will require a simple sewing machine. For quilting, a machine with advanced features is required while for commercial apparel making, heavy duty industrial sewing machines are needed for high quality seams.

Industrial Sewing Process
Industrial sewing is far more complex process when compared with general sewing done at home. It requires many preparations and mathematical calculations for producing garments with perfect seam quality. For conducting industrial sewing, one must possess the required technical knowledge as the flat sheets of fabrics having holes and slits are given curves and folded in three-dimensional shapes in very complex ways that require a high level of skill and experience in order to get smooth, wrinkle-free designs. Apparels thus designed are then cut using templates and sewn by manual laborers or automatic sewing machine. The seam quality is very sensitive to cloth tension that differs from time to time in the whole sewing process. As such, the cloth has to be handled with great care while it is guided towards the sewing machine needle.

Pre-sewing Tasks
Even before the actual work of sewing starts, there are many pre sewing tasks that have to be accomplished. These can be enlisted as recognizing the fabric's shape as appropriate tensional force depends on the properties of fabric; deciding fabric edges to be sewn – whether sewing for joining two parts of cloth or for decorative purposes; planning of sewing process to establish the sequence of seams to be stitched; and identification of seam lines as the seam lines are situated inside the fabric's outer line and therefore distance between the two (seam allowance) has to be determined.

The Sewing of Clothes
The actual sewing process consists of guiding the fabric along the sewing line with a certain speed that is in harmony with the speed of sewing machine. The errors of fabric orientation are either controlled manually or through automatic machines. When one edge of seam line is sewed, the fabric is rotated around the needle till the next edge of the seam line coincides with the sewing line. The process is repeated until all the edges of seam line are sewed.

While sewing, many factors have to be considered such as thread tension and consumption because the correct balancing of the stitch and the tension given to the threads is very important for quality stitch formation. Care has also to be taken for presser- foot displacement and compressing force. Presser- foot is the part of sewing machine that holds the fabric in place as it is being sewn. If this system is not efficient then it results into irregular seams and many other defects, especially when running on high speed. Needle penetration force measurement is also very important for the analysis of quality problems or 'sewability testing' and for quality monitoring.

Stay Hot! Spend Less in Recession

Cutting down on budgets don't mean that you cease to be fashionable. By keeping your eyes open and adopting thrift techniques, you can get stylish clothing and accessories enough to maintain your hot looks in college, office and even in evening parties.

Search Your Closet
First, before going out to buy a new top or a footwear, look into your closet- fronts, backs and under the stacked up piles. Now sort your inventory. Keep the clothes and fashion accessories that you wear regularly. Recycle clothes that are still in good condition but you've got bored wearing them- make bags, halter tops, scarves, tank tops, belts out of your old jeans, t- shirts, neck ties etc.- They'll look all new- check with your friends if you don't believe it! Keep some that are in very good condition for reselling or swapping.

Mix and Match
There are certain dresses that can go with a number of outfits. You get a new look everytime you wear these dresses, say a top with suit for work, with skirt for a party, or with jeans for a casual date. These versatile items can be blue jeans, a little black dress, black slacks, white blouses, printed tops, pencil skirts, cardigans, sweaters, tanks and camisoles, ankle boots, heeled sandals etc. Thinks a little and mix and match these dresses to get new looks every time without spending a penny more.

Swap Clothes and Accessories
Clothing and accessory sales have gone down last year. However, the membership in different swapping meet up groups and sites related to swaps are increasing rapidly. Many have already taken advantage of the trend, you too can go for it. Most of the women use only 20% of their wardrobe at any given time! So why not get some hot clothes, handbags, footwear that only take space of others' closets and exchange with what you consider useless. You can visit one of such many swapping or swishing sites or can organize a clothing swap among your friends!

Buy from Thrift or Discount Stores
Everyone's doing that- even those who never went to these shops- after all, its recession time, and your budget is tight! Buy a designer-inspired bag or a dress instead of paying hundreds of dollars for a name brand. But don't equate cheap with inexpensive- cheap items have lower quality that won't stay even for a season. There are many other options to get quality fashion at discount rates- Clearance Sales near the end of the season, BOGO- buy one get one – sales will give you 50% discount on selected items, Special item sales- weekly sales by retailors, especially online retailors, where they feature a special item each week at discounted price ranging from 25 & 40 %. All's there for you, just keep your eyes and ears open.

Use Inexpensive Accessories a Lot
Matching or contrasting accessories with your outfit can surely change your looks in a big way. A single dress can be worn for a business conference, to a friend's gathereing, or cocktail party by just changing the accessories. There's no need to go for expensive ones. You can find a lot of inexpensive jewelery- bangles, earrings, bracelets, handbags made of inexpensive fabrics or recycled handbags made from textile wastes, they can all make you look cool!

Global Recession and the Fashion Industry

No industry has been spared by the global recession, not even the fashion industry. This industry that comprises various enterprises functioning in the apparel, footwear, home furnishings and fashion accessories markets, is also bearing the burnt of financial meltdown.

The “eagerly waited for” fashion shows are getting canceled. Many big names in the fashion industry have filed for bankruptcy and many others are negotiating for a take over or a partnership deal in order to help their finances. Jobs are being removed from many companies, and governments are being asked for bailing out the fashion industries. This has all started to show from last two- three months of 2008 and the growth graph is steeply falling in the present year. So, what is the industry doing? What strategies are being followed by the fashion retailers and fashion houses for surviving in tough times?

The fashion industry is focusing on individuality and innovation. The fashion businesses are following the changed patterns of consumer spending habits and offering them value added services. For protecting their gross margin, they are trying to prevent losses, optimize prices and manage their inventory systems efficiently.

Internet is in. Online selling, social commerce sites, blogs, mobiles, etc. are being used frequently for providing consistent brand and services. Social media channels are increasingly being used to reach consumers for promotion of brands, knowing consumer needs and for establishing brand loyalty.

Private labeling has, all of a sudden, become more prevalent. Private labels provide higher margins, increased flexibility and the capability of responding fast to the changes in fashion trends. Direct retail channels are being established and managed by stronger brands as it gives them tighter control over their brand identity. However, Weaker brands are looking for opportunities of becoming private-label suppliers to retailers.

The upcoming markets of Eastern Europe, South America and Asia are presenting new growth opportunities in the wake of already saturated U.S. and Western European markets. The companies committed to environmental friendly products and process are and will be far ahead than their competitors. Apart from it, the companies that offer customized fashion through online templates are also in positive stand as the technology savvy consumers demand fashion tailored to their individual lifestyle needs.

All said and done, the fashion industry is hoping to survive by building intuitive relationship with their customers.