Cal Poly Pomona Professor to Co-Design and Distribute HeatShield Clothing for Agricultural Workers

POMONA, Calif. — June 26, 2025 — Cindy Cordoba, an apparel and merchandising management assistant professor at Cal Poly Pomona, will blend her expertise in functional apparel design, sustainability and textile waste management with her advocacy for agricultural workers, thanks to a $398,926 state grant that will fund the co-design, production and distribution of the first 100 HeatShield garments to agricultural workers in Southern California. The garments are intended to protect a workforce that faces unique occupational health risks — they are 35 times more likely to die from heat exposure than workers in other industries.

The grant was awarded from the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program (EHCRP), as a part of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Farmworkers — the recipients of the HeatShield garments — will be involved in every stage of the design process, from initial ideation to field trials, including the selection of fabrics and key functional creatures. The project began on May 30 and is expected to conclude in December 2027.

“According to a 2021 research study, extreme heat exposure for outdoor workers could triple by mid-century, putting $39.3 billion in annual earnings at risk,” Cordoba said. “These facts, along with what I’ve seen and learned from workers firsthand, have motivated me to pursue a solution that is both equitable and sustainable. I believe that through circular, user-centered design, we can create protective clothing that addresses the realities of climate vulnerability and uplifts those who are too often left out of the conversation.”

Cordoba, alongside her co-principal investor Dr. Helen Trejo and Cal Poly Pomona students, will interview farmworkers in Spanish and English, use 3D software with heat mapping, run textile laboratory testing, and analyze the data they collect. Together they will develop educational materials, conduct outreach, workshops and events in bilingual formats. The garment blueprint specifications will be publicly accessible, allowing other organizations to reproduce garments at scale and sustainably.

Cordoba hopes to democratize access to specialized workwear addressing worker well-being and long-term environmental sustainability: “The design process moves away from fast fashion models by focusing on durability, ease of disassembly, and responsible material choices, all of which help extend the garment’s lifecycle and reduce post-consumer waste.”

A native of Colombia, Cordoba grew up in Antioquia, home to the country’s largest agriculture sector, and where she cultivated her professional experience by working with rural communities to develop renewable energy systems using agricultural waste. That, and witnessing her colleagues at the Huntley College of Agriculture grapple with the growing challenge of working in extreme heat, informed her drive to protect agricultural workers.

“I saw a unique opportunity to design solutions for a vulnerable yet vital workforce – one that supports California’s food systems and economy.”

Posted: June 30, 2025

Source: Cal Poly Pomona

Authentise To Include Autodesk Fusion In New Bundle Pricing To Accelerate End-To-End Digital Manufacturing

PHILADELPHIA — June 26, 2025 — Authentise today announced a new mass market bundled pricing that brings its tightly integrated manufacturing solutions to a wider audience. The joint offering enables seamless end-to-end digital workflows —from part design in Autodesk Fusion to execution and traceability in Authentise Flows — at a price point engineered to unlock high performance at significantly lower cost.

In February, Authentise and Autodesk launched a beta program for a tight integration of workflow management for Additive Manufacturing — deeply integrated into Autodesk’s leading CAD/CAM/CAE Solution. It’s the first solution to combine cloud-powered automation, such as nesting and simulation, with local control for manual edits and seamless machine connectivity inside an end-to-end workflow.

This next step in their collaboration comes on the heels of enthusiastic reception at AMUG 2025, where major manufacturers expressed strong interest in the combined solution. The bundle addresses a growing demand in the market: reliable, automated manufacturing tools that don’t require compromises on capability or cost.

“We’ve seen how compelling this integration is for companies who want a simpler, smarter way to produce parts,” said Andre Wegner, CEO of Authentise. “By combining the world-class design and simulation tools of Autodesk Fusion with our agile production management platform, we’re giving engineers and manufacturers a full-stack digital thread at a fraction of the effort and risk it usually takes.”

The Bundle Offer

Available starting in July 2025, two bundles are now offered through Authentise:

  • Polymer Bundle
    • 5 Named users for Autodesk Fusion
    • Authentise Flows
  • Metal Bundle
    • 5 Named users for Autodesk Fusion (including 5-axis Milling and Process Simulation)
    • Authentise Flows
    • Authentise Material Genealogy

Deployment is low-risk: no license fees are charged during rollout, and only 50 percent of the deployment fee is due to start. The remainder is deferred until customer acceptance —regardless of how long that takes.

“Authentise is a prime example of the core promise of Fusion’s Industry Cloud — a cloud platform with a breadth unseen in the CAD/CAM industry, and which supercharges third parties to build commercially successful applications in any vertical,” said Alexander Oster, director of Additive Manufacturing at Autodesk. “With this bundle, additive manufacturing users have access to a one-stop product that delivers robust workflows with managed execution, traceability, and real-time insights — without needing to jump between disconnected tools.”

Proven Workflow, Immediate Impact

The Authentise + Fusion solution is already helping manufacturers dramatically improve throughput, traceability, and decision-making. Tasks such as print time estimation, nesting, build preparation, material tracking, machine data capture and shopfloor actions are now streamlined into a unified experience.

Future releases will continue to deepen the integration, making processes like automated support generation and slicing even more accessible from either platform.

Posted: June 30, 2025

Source: Authentise

DECATHLON Taps RHEON LABS As Global Innovation Partner To Power Next-Gen Sports Apparel 

VILLENEUVE D’ASCQ, France — June 26, 2025 — DECATHLON, a sporting goods retailer, announces a global partnership with British materials technology company RHEON LABS to make advanced material science part of everyday sport.

The collaboration gives DECATHLON access to RHEON’s full technology platform — including current and future innovations in strain-rate sensitive materials — enabling the development of apparel that enhances control, comfort and performance during physical activity.

The partnership brings together RHEON’s material innovation with DECATHLON’s experience designing for athletes.

The result: performance-driven apparel built to meet the needs of athletes, wherever and however they move, and make it accessible to all.

Built to move. Designed to adapt.

RHEON™ is a patented polymer that remains soft and flexible during everyday movement but stiffens dynamically in response to movement or impact. The result is support that adapts to the body’s needs in real time — improving comfort, control, and performance without sacrificing freedom of movement.

Stephen Bates, CEO at RHEON LABS, said, “DECATHLON’s belief that innovation should serve everyone aligns perfectly with our own. RHEON started in elite sport — now, this partnership will unlock that same level of performance for millions more.”

The first launch from the partnership will be a KIPRUN running tight, arriving in AW25 and designed to focus energy and reduce muscle movement.

Additional developments are underway across other categories, including the Decathlon fitness sports specialist Domyos, with first technologies set to arrive in 2026.

Aurelien CORBIER, Textile Innovation leader at DECATHLON, said: “Innovation truly matters when it empowers everyone. By partnering with RHEON LABS, we’re taking materials designed for athletes and making them accessible to all. This aligns perfectly with our focus on providing excellent products for everyone, leading to better comfort, control, and performance.”

Collaboration at the heart of innovation

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to collective innovation, fueled by the diverse perspectives within both companies, across design, development and engineering teams, and a common spirit of curiosity and bold thinking.

DECATHLON and RHEON LABS are co-building a future where sport is more inclusive, more inspiring, and more essential than ever. A future where what we create today still matters 50 years from now.

Posted: June 30, 2025

Source: DECATHLON

Everviolet And MISSION Introduce The Cool Essential Collection: A Fusion Of Softness And Advanced Cooling Technology For Women’s Comfort

NEW YORK CITY — June 26, 2025 — Everviolet, a wellness-focused intimates brand, and MISSION, a provider of wearable cooling technology, are proud to announce the launch of the Cool Essential Collection. This innovative, four-piece, limited-edition capsule combines Everviolet’s signature softness with MISSION’s advanced cooling technology to deliver comfort, support, and relief for women in everyday life — from postpartum and menopause to daily stress and seasonal heat.  Heat health begins with the bottom layer & up.

Designed to empower women with comfort in every moment, the Cool Essential Collection features:

  • Cool Essential Bralette – A wire-free, versatile design that supports without restriction
  • Cool Essential Jersey Cami – Lightweight, layering-friendly, and breathable
  • Cool Essential Panty – A feminine, full-coverage brief with a barely-there feel
  • Cool Essential Robe – A wrap-style layer with generous drape and cooling versatility

Available in Mauve and Black, the collection offers inclusive sizing (S–2X for intimates; XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL for the robe) and is available on MISSION.com and Everviolet.com starting June 23, 2025.

At the heart of the collaboration is MISSION’s proprietary hydro-active cooling technology — a chemical-free, sustainable innovation activated by moisture and airflow. This allows the fabric to pull moisture away from the skin even during intense heat or activities and dries rapidly for continuous comfort.

Unlike traditional cooling fabrics, MISSION’s solution avoids synthetic gels or phase change materials, offering quick-dry, breathable, sweat-wicking relief with antimicrobial odor control and no added skin irritation.

Posted: June 30, 2025

Source: MISSION

Elevate Textiles’ GHG Emission Reduction Targets Approved By SBTi

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — June 26, 2025 — Elevate Textiles, a global provider of advanced, high-quality products and mission critical textile solutions, is proud to announce the validation of its near-term and net-zero emissions targets by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). Elevate, along with its distinguished brands American & Efird (A&E), Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann, and Safety Components, will utilize these validations to continue to push forward in accomplishing its 2030 sustainability goals.

The SBTi is a corporate climate action organization and collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute, and the World Wide Fund for Nature. It promotes best practices in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets, enabling them to play their part in combating the climate crisis. SBTi develops standards, tools, and guidance that allow companies to set Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reductions targets in line with what is needed to keep global heating below catastrophic levels and reach net-zero by 2050 at the latest.

Elevate is committed to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 46.2 percent by 2030 from a 2019 base year, in addition to reducing absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel and energy related activities, purchased goods and services, and processing of sold products 46.2 percent within the same time frame. In this process, Elevate submitted GHG emission reduction targets to the SBTi, who then assessed its near-term and net-zero targets against their own Net-Zero Standard Criteria and Near-Term Target Criteria and Recommendations, which were approved. According to SBTi, Elevate’s net-zero target is the most ambitious designation currently available.

“As we continue our decarbonization journey, we are proud to announce the validation of our 2050 net-zero targets,” said Jimmy Summers, chief sustainability officer, Elevate Textiles. “Concurrently, we received a revalidation of our 2030 near-term science-based targets, which we are on track to meet. These steps mark an important milestone in an increasingly difficult decarbonization challenge.”

Elevate recognizes the crucial part companies play in helping the economy become net-zero within the next twenty-five years. It is essential that rapid and deep emission cuts are made to reach this goal. By joining the initiative, Elevate, among other companies, is helping ensure its climate action is in line with the latest science.

Posted: June 30, 2025

Source: Elevate Textiles

AATCC Welcomes New Great Lakes Local Section

DURHAM, N.C. — June 25, 2025 — AATCC welcomes the Association’s newest Local Section! The C6 Membership Committee and AATCC Board of Directors approved the creation of the new Section on May 15, 2025.

The Great Lakes Section was created to foster connection and AATCC activities in the Great Lakes region – Ill., Mich., Minn., Ind., Ohio, and Wis. The founding officers are excited to begin planning in-person activities and events for the section members to provide a local hub to textile professionals.

Founding Officers of the Great Lakes Section

Section Chair: Tazeen Akhtar is a graduate of Textile Engineering from NED University. She is from the second batch of the Textile Department at NED. She started her career by joining Crescent Greenwood Ltd., which is the largest denim manufacturing unit in Asia. She has worked in major Textile Mills, gaining experience in ginning, spinning, weaving, wet processing, dyeing and finishing. Based in Chicago, she is a textile consultant and full-time, stay-at-home parent. She is the newly elected and first chairwoman of the NED Engineers Alumni Association (NEDEA). She has undertaken a major revamp for NEDEA, organized multiple events, and planned professional webinars, as well as other upcoming events. With the same zest, she is very enthusiastic about reviving the AATCC Great Lakes Section, bringing the same passion and experience from NEDEA.

Section Vice Chair: Kamryn Henderson is a Textile Laboratory specialist at Victoria’s Secret & Co. where she develops test methods, conducts R&D/innovation/quality testing, and helps manage their product performance standards/protocols. She’s currently located in Columbus, Ohio, and is an NC State alumnus. She was student member at NC State’s AATCC Student Chapter before joining AATCC again through VS&Co’s Corporate Membership!

Section Secretary: Audra Hunter is a Principal Color engineer at Target. Her career spans 30 years of expertise in Color Management with roles at Express, Limited Stores, and White House | Black Market. Hunter is passionate about leveraging both new and existing technologies to streamline today’s complex supply chains.  Currently, she focuses on addressing emerging challenges that affect product quality and visual aesthetics, helping ensure that Target delivers consistent, high-quality experiences to its customers.

Section Treasurer: DeeDee Lamberti is a Textile consultant and stay-at-home parent. While not exactly in the Great Lakes Region, she represents Colorado and the surrounding region as a textile professional. As an active AATCC Member since 2008, she has served as Secretary for RA63, TCR, ECR, and more recently involved in Strategic Planning (2025). Her past employment includes working as Product Integrity Manager at SanMar and Laboratory Manager at Cocona/37.5 Technologies. Lamberti holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Colorado State University with a focus in textile science and sustainable fibers.

Amid the ever-evolving changes in the textile industry, the creation of the Great Lakes reflects the strength, commitment, and vision of the AATCC members. The Association is excited to stand alongside the founding members and is dedicated to offering ongoing support and resources to help the Sections thrive and expand well into the future.

Posted: June 30, 2025

Source: The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)

Astral Drops New Hemptech Apparel Built For Adventure, Made For The Future

SEATTLE — June 25, 2025 —   Since 2002, Astral has led the outdoor industry in designing the highest-performing equipment with the priority of protecting soil and water through its production process. Today, Astral proudly announces the expansion of its HempTech apparel line. The updated collection features new, performance-driven designs — including sun-hoodies, tees and hiking pants.

The brand’s commitment to incorporating hemp and other recycled or regenerative ingredients has long been integral to Astral’s materials philosophy. The brand was an early adopter in integrating hemp into footwear, recognizing the fiber’s remarkable natural performance characteristics and sustainability benefits, especially when compared to. Hemp is one of the most resource-efficient crops, requiring only soil, water, and sunlight to grow — and little to no pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. It uses 79-percent less water than cotton while producing over twice as much fiber. Beyond its low impact, hemp actively improves soil health by breaking down toxins and absorbs more carbon dioxide per acre than any commercial crop or forest.

The expanded HempTech apparel line now includes long and short sleeve sun protection tees, and performance hiking pants, in addition to the hooded sweatshirts and shorts released last year. Every item maintains Astral’s commitment to technical performance, offering natural breathability, durability, UPF sun protection, and odor resistance without synthetic chemical treatments or additives.

“We first introduced the performance hemp line in reaction to seeing technical fabrics leaning more and more heavily on petroleum-based materials to achieve design and functionality goals. We believe that approach comes at too high a cost to both the planet and the people wearing them,“ explains Philip Curry, Founder and CEO of Astral. “What we see in hemp is the rare opportunity to invest in a material that not only performs at the highest level but actively supports ecological health. It’s clear to us that regenerative, sustainable materials need to be embraced far more broadly, not just as an alternative. That’s why we’re committed to continuing to scale our use of them across our product lines.

Unlike synthetic, rayon, or viscose material that dominate the outdoor industry, rely on petroleum and chemical treatments, Astral’s hemp garments soften over time while maintaining their structure and performance. The result: apparel that not only performs in and endures the demands of wilderness athletes but improves with age and use.

“Where many brands incorporate hemp as a minor ingredient, we’ve seen the value in going all in,” said Daniel Windham, Astral’s Product Line Manager. “The success of our initial launch proved that a majority-hemp product can deliver on performance, durability, and sustainability. Expanding the line allows us to continue exploring hemp’s natural benefits while staying true to our commitment to regenerative materials that outlast the synthetic, rayon, and viscose materials that have sadly become the industry norm.”

Posted: June 30, 2025

Source: Astral

Flexible Carbon Fiber Composites Provider Carbitex Appoints Jen Hanna As Vice President Of U.S. Sales

KENNEWICK, Wash. — June 25, 2025 —  Carbitex — a supplier of flexible carbon fiber composites focused on performance footwear, travel, and accessories — has announced the appointment of Jen Hanna to the newly created role of vice president of sales for the U.S. market.

Hanna brings more than 12 years of experience in advanced materials and textile innovation, most recently as the director of Innegra Sales at Quantum Materials LLC, and previously as President at Innegra Technologies. Her unique path into materials innovation began with her background in sports — as a former LPGA professional golfer and NCAA Division I golf coach — combined with her degree in health and exercise science from Furman University. This athletic foundation sparked her curiosity about product development and performance optimization through materials innovation.

“Jen has the rare firsthand experience in successfully bringing new advanced materials to market,” said Junus Khan, president and founder of Carbitex. “It’s a challenge that demands curiosity, deep understanding and drive. Moreover, her background as a former professional athlete and D1 coach adds a unique level of depth that’s truly exceptional. I’m honored and excited to have her join Carbitex as we continue accelerating our growth.”

Based in Greer, S.C., Hanna will lead U.S. sales and brand partner relations, joining Global Vice President of Sales Filippo Sarto to drive Carbitex’s continued expansion.

“Joining Carbitex is an incredible opportunity to pursue everything I love — sports, competition, technology and the relentless pursuit of performance through innovation,” Hanna said. “The way materials can optimize performance — especially in sports — is something I’ve always been fascinated by. I’m excited to be part of a team that’s redefining what’s possible and to help drive the future of high-performance materials.”

Hanna’s commitment to excellence extends across all her ventures, reflecting the same drive and dedication that defined her professional athletic career and continues to fuel her success in advanced materials. In her entrepreneurial pursuits outside of materials innovation, Hanna owns two locations of luxury dog boarding facilities and founded a nonprofit dog rescue organization that trains therapy dogs.

Posted: June 30, 2025

Source: Carbitex

Frank Kerley Appointed Vice President Of Textile Division At Standard Textile

CINCINNATI — June 26, 2025 — Standard Textile Co. Inc. has appointed Frank Kerley as vice president of its Textile Division, effective July 1, 2025. In this role, Kerley will lead one of the company’s core businesses, with oversight of strategic direction, growth initiatives, and operational performance across its Healthcare and Hospitality textile markets.

Frank Kerley

Kerley brings deep industry experience and a proven track record of success. Since rejoining Standard Textile in 2023 as Vice President of Business Development, he has played a key role in expanding high-impact product categories including surgical textiles, Scrubin® uniform solutions, and clinical performance solutions. He provided executive guidance to Standard Textile’s Consultative Services group, which partners with healthcare providers to improve efficiency and outcomes through data-driven linen program and process optimization. In addition, Kerley helped modernize the company’s sales education strategy, introducing updated curricula and digital learning tools.

Kerley’s career with Standard Textile began in sales and sales leadership before he was promoted to Vice President of Integrated Services, where he oversaw several key corporate functions. Prior to his return, he spent 25 years at United Audit Systems, where he served as Executive Vice President and led the development and commercialization of technologically enabled services in the healthcare revenue cycle industry.

“Frank has made a meaningful impact since returning to Standard Textile,” said Alex Heiman, president of Standard Textile. “His leadership, experience and strategic vision position us well to accelerate growth and deliver even greater value to our customers across the markets we serve.”

Posted: June 26, 2025

Source:Standard Textile

RE&UP Hosts Industry Dialogue On Scaling Textile Recycling At Future Fabrics Expo

LONDON — June 26, 2025 — At this year’s Future Fabrics Expo, RE&UP brought together stakeholders from across the value chain for a private breakfast session titled: “Yesterday’s garments, today’s raw materials — what’s holding us back?”

Moderated by RE&UP’s Senior PR & Marketing Manager Keith O’Brien, the panel featured Nienke Steen, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, and Priyanka Khanna, Fashion for Good, who shared expert insights into the systemic and technical challenges preventing textile-to-textile recycling from scaling — and what’s being done to solve them.

With more than 50 guests in attendance and active participation from the audience, the discussion offered a rare cross-sector exchange between innovators, brands, retailers, and press exploring key topics such as:

  • Barriers to infrastructure and investment
  • The role of certification and standardization
  • Collaboration models that are pushing progress

The event reflected RE&UP’s ongoing commitment to building open dialogue around circularity — and accelerating the solutions needed to turn ambition into implementation.

“Yesterday’s garments are already today’s raw materials. There are still challenges, but we’re operating at scale — and with the right partners, we’ll continue to do better” said RE&UP’s General Manager Andreas Dorner.

Posted: June 26, 2025

Source: RE&UP

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