Emily Walzer

1 month ago | formula4media.com | Emily Walzer

Material Innovation / CircularityExtending the Life of Footwear Sustainably, Step by Step. In recent years, “Keeping Shoes Alive” has emerged as a rallying cry within the footwear industry. Eco-minded businesses in particular have embraced the idea that product longevity is key to sustainability giving shape to new initiatives and updated strategies devoted to making shoes wearable longer.

2 months ago | formula4media.com | Emily Walzer

InnovationOn the Cusp of Growth, Can Sustainable Materials Meet Expectations? Call it Next-Generation, or the Age of Eco-Alternatives or A New Day for Innovation, but whatever the label, new cutting-edge, eco-forward developments are generating considerable buzz about the future direction of the textile industry. Fresh takes on entire systems are being explored. Execs are grappling to make circularity a reality, transparency mandatory and de-carbonization central to decision-making.

2 months ago | formula4media.com | Emily Walzer

FOOTWEARNew Regulations and Technology Advancements Drive Sustainability Efforts. With a slew of new legislation being enforced banning sales of footwear made with toxic chemicals, and pressure building for businesses to meet their ambitious sustainability goals, corporate eco-forward initiatives will be top of mind across the industry in the year ahead.

Oct 27, 2024 | formula4media.com | Emily Walzer

STANDARDS/TESTINGTesting materials for performance attributes is nothing new. The Martindale abrasion tester and CLO thermal insulation test both debuted in the 1940s, and remain workhorse equipment in labs today; color testing, introduced a century ago when the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) was housed at the Lowell Textile School in Lowell, MA, continues a mainstay of the textile community.

Jul 8, 2024 | formula4media.com | Emily Walzer

INNOVATION/TRENDSThese days, if you ask a textile industry exec “What’s the next big thing on the horizon for functional fabrics,” odds are the response will be “material that is better for people and the planet,” as this is increasingly the go-to statement when talking about future product innovation. But the phrase belies the difficult task of actually achieving the goal of ushering in eco-performance textiles that excite consumers and spark creative energy within the active/outdoor space.