Latest Innovations in Sustainable Fibres and Fabrics Technology

By Lana Hawkins

What if there was a way to create wardrobe, footwear, machines and buildings without harming the environment in the process? Well, in case you haven’t heard, there are such ways and they’re called sustainable fibres and fabrics. They have been used all across the globe by manufacturers in different fields with just one goal – to create exquisite designs that’ll reduce waste, operational costs and maintenance, but also improve durability, energy-efficiency and overall quality of said materials. So, without further ado, we present to you some of the latest innovations in sustainable fibres and fabrics technology.

Green Architecture

Sustainable architecture has gained massive recognition over the years, as an innovative solution to minimize the negative impact of buildings on the environment. This is achieved by using eco-friendly building materials and sustainable practices such as the practice called fabric first. The goal of this approach is to maximize the performance of materials in building practices to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Certain materials used for insulation and heating systems are known to regulate the temperature inside the household and alleviate regulated emissions.

Yoga Apparel and Shoes Made from Ocean Waste

According to National Geographic, there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. A major part of this waste are abandoned fishing nets which are spread across the oceans. In light of these horrifying facts, a US manufacturer decided to take some necessary steps to put stop to ocean pollution. Yoga democracy has introduced the eco tech fabric in the production of yoga apparel by using recycled nylon made from fishing nets to produce leggings, shorts and sport tops. Similar to this, Adidas presented the latest innovation in footwear – a 3D shoe made of recycled plastic ocean waste. This global shoe manufacturer is taking necessary steps in using sustainable materials for creating its footwear.

Garments Made from Oranges and Pineapples

Although it might sound a bit unconventional, we assure you that it’s quite real. The Italian based company called Orange Fiber uses nanotechnology techniques to extract cellulose from discarded orange waste. The textiles are also improved by adding essential citrus oils, whose goal is to nourish the skin. On the other hand, Piñatex is a non-woven textile made from pineapple leaves, developed by Ananas Anam whose aim is to develop new textiles using natural fibers, which are the by-product of the pineapple harvest.

Bolt Threads Made of Silk

Using yeast engineering, Bolt Threads has developed a way to make stronger and stretchier polymer fibres called engineered silk. According to their website, their technology moves away from petroleum-based polymers, toxic processes and non-renewable materials and moves towards closed-loop production, sustainable fabrics and more renewable solutions.

Fabrics That Charge Your Phone

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have created a fabric using solar cells and triboelectric nanogenerators which is light, flexible and quite breathable. But that’s not even the half of it. The triboelectric nanogenerators can actually generate energy when set in motion, meaning they can use this energy to power phones, as well as other global positioning systems.

UV And Water Resistant Outdoor Fabrics

Jason Mills, a New Jersey based manufacturer of knit textiles created the ultimate outdoor fabric which protects from insect bites, offers good breathability, but is also water repellent and fire retardant. The materials are convenient both as a protective garment, but also for the tent industry. Similarly, Malibu Shade, a Sydney based company, makes use of only the best tension fabrics on the market today to produce a range of products with the latest UV stabilizers, great durability and exceptional weightlessness.

During the last couple of years, there have been major innovations in different fields, starting from fashion and wide range of consumer products all the way to construction and various industry areas. That being said, these sustainable fabrics and fibres hold many benefits for both people and the environment and are said to be the future of technological advancement.