Latest news with #Fibre2Fashion
Fibre2Fashion
5 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
ADNOC & partners to invest $817 mn in UAE manufacturing sites
ADNOC announced that its partners across its supply chain commit to invest AED3 billion ($817 million) in manufacturing facilities across the UAE. The announcement was made at the 'Make it in the Emirates' forum currently underway in Abu Dhabi. ADNOC and its partners will invest AED3 billion (~$817 million) in UAE manufacturing facilities, creating 3,500+ skilled jobs. Backed by ADNOC's ICV program, the projects support the 'Make it in the Emirates' initiative and include sites across major industrial zones. The move aligns with ADNOC's plan to locally produce AED90 billion (~$24.52 billion) in goods by 2030. The facilities are located across Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), Dubai Industrial Park, Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone) and Umm Al Quwain. They will create more than 3,500 highly skilled private sector jobs and manufacture a wide range of industrial products including pressure vessels, pipe coatings and fasteners. The facilities have been enabled by commercial agreements ADNOC signed with the companies under its In-Country Value (ICV) program. The ICV program is providing a platform for businesses to capitalize on ADNOC's diverse commercial opportunities as it delivers on its plan to locally manufacture AED90 billion ($24.5 billion) worth of products in its procurement pipeline by 2030. Yaser Saeed Almazrouei, ADNOC Executive Director, People, Commercial and Corporate Support, said: 'We welcome our partners' commitment to advancing local manufacturing through their investments in these state-of-the-art facilities which will strengthen the UAE's industrial base and create highly skilled private sector jobs. These investments reflect ADNOC's ongoing drive to support the 'Make it in the Emirates' initiative and localize strategic industrial capabilities through our In-Country Value program. We look forward to working with our partners to ensure business continuity and unlock further opportunities for sustainable growth and economic diversification.' The facilities include newly operational sites, major expansions and investment commitments. The state-of-the art facilities are aligned with ADNOC's current and future procurement requirements, underscoring its support for the 'Make it in the Emirates' initiative. The announcement builds on the success of ADNOC's ICV program, which has driven AED242 billion back into the UAE economy and enabled 17,000 jobs for UAE Nationals in the private sector since 2018. Manufacturers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs are encouraged to explore the 'Make it with ADNOC' app, which provides businesses with visibility into the products ADNOC plans to purchase, offering a more streamlined and integrated procurement process. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Fibre2Fashion
5 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Fitch lowers EM10 growth to 3.9%, China drives revision
The GDP-weighted average potential growth forecast for ten key emerging markets (EMs) has been revised down to 3.9 per cent from 4.0 per cent, Fitch Ratings said in its latest Global Economic Outlook. Fitch Ratings has cut the GDP-weighted average potential growth for 10 key EMs to 3.9 per cent from 4.0 per cent, mainly due to China's downgrade to 4.3 per cent. Mexico, Indonesia, and Korea also saw downward revisions, while India, Brazil, Russia, and Poland received upgrades. India's pandemic scarring was reduced to 5.4 per cent. South Africa and Turkiye estimates remain unchanged. The slight reduction is primarily due to a downgrade in China's growth potential, now estimated at 4.3 per cent—down from 4.6 per cent projected in the 2023 edition. The revision for China had been signalled earlier in a special report released in November 2024. Fitch also downgraded supply-side potential growth estimates for Mexico (from 2.0 per cent to 1.8 per cent), Indonesia (from 4.9 per cent to 4.7 per cent), and Korea (from 2.1 per cent to 1.9 per cent). However, these reductions were balanced by upward revisions in four economies—India, Brazil, Russia, and Poland. India's potential growth has been revised upwards to 6.4 per cent from 6.2 per cent, supported by stronger-than-expected post-pandemic recovery and a reduced cumulative negative 'level shock' to its GDP, the rating agency said in a release. Fitch now estimates India's scarring impact from the pandemic at a total of 5.4 per cent (2.7 per cent in each of 2020 and 2021), down from the previous estimate of 7 per cent. Brazil's potential growth has been raised to 2.0 per cent from 1.7 per cent, while Russia sees a notable increase to 1.2 per cent from 0.8 per cent. Poland's projection improves slightly to 3.2 per cent, up from 3.0 per cent, due to a stronger contribution from capital deepening. On an unweighted basis, the average potential growth across the EM10 now stands at 3.1 per cent. Meanwhile, potential growth estimates for South Africa and Turkiye remain unchanged at 1.0 per cent and 4.1 per cent, respectively. Fitch's estimates continue to factor in the pandemic-related output losses in 2020 and 2021 for Mexico, South Africa, India, and Indonesia. While these 'level shocks' remain, India's robust economic rebound has prompted a reassessment of its long-term scarring, indicating greater resilience in the aftermath of COVID-19. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Fibre2Fashion
6 days ago
- Science
- Fibre2Fashion
Infrared imaging confirms thermal regulation benefits of Outlast tech
Outlast is pleased to share the results of a newly conducted infrared (IR) imaging test designed to evaluate the thermal performance of gloves made with and without Outlast Temperature Regulation. This test was performed under controlled environmental conditions and demonstrates the heat management advantage of incorporating Outlast. Outlast's IR imaging test shows gloves with Outlast Temperature Regulation maintain cooler external temps than those without. Using natural wax microcapsules, Outlast absorbs excess heat and releases it when needed, ensuring thermal balance and enhanced comfort. The test confirms its effectiveness in managing heat and reducing perspiration. Test Overview and Setup The comparative analysis used our standard red demo gloves made with the article 'Carlton'. The test compared two glove samples: Left glove: Fabric 'Carlton' with integrated Outlast Temperature Regulation Right glove: Fabric analogue 'Carlton' without Outlast A middle-aged male participant wore both gloves, and external surface temperatures were recorded using an infrared camera placed at a fixed distance of 1 meter. The ambient test environment was maintained at 22.1 ° C with 44 % relative humidity. Conclusion The results clearly demonstrate that gloves equipped with Outlast Temperature Regulation maintain lower external surface temperatures under identical conditions. This confirms the material's effective heat-buffering capacity, particularly in dynamic thermal environments, and supports the conclusion that Outlast temperature regulation enhances wearer comfort by mitigating perspiration. These findings provide further evidence of the value of incorporating advanced thermal management technologies in performance apparel and equipment. How does Outlast Temperature Regulation work? The heart of Outlast Temperature Regulation is natural wax. Safely enclosed in microcapsules, it can be easily applied to a textile or incorporated into yarns or fibers. When the human body produces excess heat, the natural wax starts to melt within the microcapsules. Thanks to this melting process, the natural wax is able to absorb and store heat. Thus, the textile buffers the heat and the human body does not warm up further. Instead, the user remains in his or her individual climatic balance and sweating can be reduced or sometimes even avoided. When physical activity decreases or the outside temperature drops, Outlast smart fabrics are able to release stored heat back to the human body. The natural wax solidifies and releases heat. Through this constant active temperature adjustment, Outlast keeps the user comfortable at all times. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Fibre2Fashion
6 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Ionic+ SVP Noble Biomaterials CMO
Ionic+ allows for flexibility in all end use applications As performance and sustainability continue to converge in textile innovation, Noble Biomaterials stands at the forefront—pioneering advanced antimicrobial technologies that go beyond industry standards. Founded in 1997, the company is known for its groundbreaking Ionic+ platform, which includes silver-based and plant-based antimicrobial systems designed to enhance textile functionality while promoting hygiene and durability. Most recently, Noble has partnered with premium hunting gear brand KUIU to launch the first-ever application of its plant-based Ionic+ Botanical technology in performance apparel. This collaboration marks a significant moment in the evolution of functional textiles, where renewable treatments not only improve garment performance but also contribute to more responsible product lifecycles. In an exclusive interaction with Fibre2Fashion, Allon Cohne, Senior Vice President of Ionic+ and Chief Marketing Officer at Noble Biomaterials, discusses the vision behind this partnership, the science of Ionic+ Botanical, and how Noble is redefining the role of antimicrobial solutions—from outdoor performance wear to healthcare and beyond. What motivated Noble Biomaterials to develop Ionic+ antimicrobial technology, and how does it address long-standing hygiene challenges in textiles? Noble was founded in 1997 as an intelligent materials company focused on selling silver fibre technology for its antimicrobial properties. After spending two years developing the technology and conducting clinical testing for use in medical devices, the first commercial success came in the form of a product application everyone uses: no-stink antimicrobial socks. Today, Ionic+ offers the most advanced portfolio of antimicrobial solutions in textiles with topical fabric finishings, extruded yarns, staple fibre, and masterbatch technology. Noble's antimicrobial technology is used by category leaders in athletic wear, healthcare, and medical. How do your different Ionic+ treatment types cater to varying textile applications such as apparel, bedding, or medical fabrics? Ionic+ allows for flexibility in all end use applications. Depending on the performance, durability, and economic requirements, the portfolio of Ionic+ is built for versatility. For the highest performance rating and durability, a silver metalised Ionic+ yarn offers the premium solution. As a more universal high-performance option, Ionic+ extruded yarns are used in socks, apparel, and healthcare. Yarn technology is considered a permanent characteristic of the fabric and Noble markets Ionic+ yarns as Ionic Pro. For a durable fabric finish, Noble offers a revolutionary Ionic+ Botanical that uses renewable citric acid as the antimicrobial active. Topical finishes are less durable than yarn solutions and are more economical. How does the citric acid-based Ionic+ Botanical differ in performance and sustainability from Noble's traditional silver-based technologies? Silver antimicrobial finishes have been around for decades. Noble took a new approach to the category of fabric finishing and we wanted to create something truly revolutionary. Fabric finishes eventually wash out or abrade off, so Noble looked at a renewable plant-based active—citric acid. The R&D team focused on citric as a way to fend off bacteria growth, while the regulatory team took into consideration registering the active as an antimicrobial. The ability to bring new plant-based active with performance equal to silver topical finish was a major achievement in innovating the antimicrobial space. What made the hunting and outdoor performance category the right entry point for introducing Ionic+ Botanical with a brand like KUIU? Ionic+ is a perfect technology for brands looking to elevate and differentiate fabrics in a category. KUIU is taking advantage of this by using Ionic+ as a platform for innovative and unique fabrics. Ionic+ can add value to hunting, outdoor, athletic, and fashion because it offers unique technology solutions. Our technology makes fabrics distinctive because the yarn or botanical finish are very unique. What inspired the collaboration with KUIU, and how did you identify the hunting category as a strategic fit for introducing Ionic+ Botanical technology? The inspiration for KUIU is very similar to what most innovative brands strive for—bring better products to market. This inspiration comes from solving problems mainly in textiles. For us, we wanted to disrupt the antimicrobial space with an EPA-registered, plant-based antimicrobial fabric finish. This goal for fabric innovation and bring something different, new, or better to market fits the KUIU brand very well. The collaboration became inherent. Can you elaborate on the development process of the Velocity tee with KUIU and how Ionic+ Botanical's citric acid-based antimicrobial properties enhance performance in extreme outdoor conditions? The Velocity tee was engineered for high-output hunts where odour and comfort are critical. KUIU tested Ionic+ Botanical in multiple field conditions to ensure consistent performance. The result is a lightweight, breathable shirt with natural antimicrobial protection. Can you share any insight into what future fabric developments are planned with KUIU and how they might further push performance boundaries? At the moment, I can just say that we have additional fabric developments planned with KUIU. What role can Ionic+ technology play in reducing over-washing of garments, and how might that influence sustainability in the textile lifecycle? The role of all antimicrobial fabric technologies is to reduce reliance on important resources required to care for garments and fabrics. Antimicrobial technologies remove bacteria that cause odour, so they require less washing and detergents to care for. Fabrics can be worn longer and washed less, which helps preserve the life of the garment and fabric. Ionic+ offers a full range of antimicrobial solutions. We always recommend yarn solutions because the technology is embedded into the fabric, offering lasting benefits throughout the lifecycle. How do you address recyclability and end-of-life concerns for textiles embedded with advanced technologies such as silver-based antimicrobials? Noble has created an exclusive partnership with waterless dyeing technology to bring full fabric circularity to market. Noble launched Ionic PRISM in 2024. This is an exclusive line of fabrics that uses 80 per cent less water and 90 per cent less chemistry to manufacture, and it incorporates Ionic+ Pro antimicrobial yarn technology. Not only does PRISM reduce the resources required to manufacture and care for the fabric, but it is also 100 per cent recyclable. How are your materials contributing to the growth of the wearable technology market, especially for apparel that tracks health or fitness metrics? We developed Circuitex technology to deliver biometric monitoring applications. Our line of metalised yarn and fabrics provide highly conductive, lightweight textiles that can move electrical energy and data through soft surface materials. Noble continues to work closely with a wide range of customers who are innovating end use applications, and we see tremendous opportunity and growth in this category. How important is cross-industry collaboration—between textile innovators, technology firms, and health experts—in shaping the future of smart and responsive fabrics? We attend and display at over 20+ tradeshows a year in different categories and industries. Collaboration is the key to success. You never know how a development in one category can benefit another. We continue to internalise and socialise our findings wherever possible, so we can cross-pollinate textile applications. With sustainability now a non-negotiable, how is the advanced textile industry balancing high-tech performance with circularity, biodegradability, or responsible material sourcing? We believe we have made significant contributions through our technologies and have risen to the occasion of responsible resourcing. In 2025, we will announce a concept that will significantly reduce the impact of resourcing and manufacturing to our customers. This said, Noble is the supplier of technology. We can make suggestions and recommendations, but ultimately it is up to brands and the end users to make the decisions that can make a positive impact on our planet's resources. As more brands look to integrate sustainable treatments, how does Noble ensure EPA and global regulatory compliance without compromising innovation speed? Noble takes great pride in having regulatory team members on staff. The team is intimately involved in our product developments so when we start a project with R&D, our regulatory team has visibility to advise. This allows early insights into requirements globally. Noble received EPA registration for the Ionic+ Botanical formula in early 2023. As regulatory scrutiny increases around treated textiles and biocidal claims, how is the industry preparing to meet compliance while maintaining innovation speed? Noble follows regulatory processes around the world very closely and provides guidance to our customers for antimicrobial claims on an ongoing basis. Because our regulatory team has visibility and access to our development team, our innovations are vetted along commercialisation process. What are some of the key challenges the functional textile industry faces when it comes to consumer education and transparency around embedded technologies like antimicrobials or conductivity? The greatest challenge for end users is understanding how the supply chain works—how and where things are made. Currently, the entire world is learning more about how the supply chain works via tariffs. This could be a positive byproduct of the chaos we are all experiencing. It is important to know where things are made—and maybe more important is to understand how 'quality' products are made. What future developments or textile partnerships can we expect from Noble Biomaterials that will further shape smart, safe, and sustainable fabric design? Noble has one of the most diverse customer portfolios in textiles. We work with global apparel brands, aerospace, military, defence, healthcare, and medical organisations. Our partners bring to market some of the most advanced textiles in the world, and we encourage everyone to follow Noble to see what our partners develop next. How do you see the role of antimicrobial and intelligent textiles evolving in the next five years, especially with the growing focus on health, wellness, and performance in apparel? Ionic+ is a solution for brands, but it is also an innovative technology for industry partners. Noble is partnering with on Ionic+ PRISM, an exclusive solution-dyed fabric. We are also partnering with Coolcore for Ionic+ CoolPro, a cooling and antimicrobial fabric. We are having conversations with many other industry partners looking to advance and innovate fabrics. All these partnerships serve the broader community of categories and provides brands with leading technologies for end users. DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of
Fibre2Fashion
26-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
US based RedDrop debuts period swimwear for teens & tweens
RedDrop, a rising star in the wellness industry for its innovative tween period care and education, today drops its newest product to accompany girls in all their summertime activities: period swimwear. RedDrop's period swimwear can be worn any day during a girl's period as an alternative to pads or tampons. It's designed for versatility as a bikini bottom in classic black that can mix and match with any bikini top. As with RedDrop's other menstrual products, the bikini bottoms are specifically made for girls' smaller, changing bodies. The age-appropriate swimwear comes in a range of sizes from Youth XS (Kids size 8-10) to Women's XL (Juniors size 14-16). RedDrop has launched period swimwear for tweens, designed as a versatile, non-toxic bikini bottom that supports summer activities without interruptions. Available in sizes from Youth XS to Women's XL, it holds up to 18g of flow and includes educational resources. The launch follows major investments, including a $1million Black Ambition prize and a $200K Fifteen Percent Pledge Award. "We designed our period swimwear to be a perfect fit for tweens to participate in summer activities uninterrupted, from a day at the pool or beach to a weekend at the lake to sleepaway camp," said Dana Roberts, Co-Founder of RedDrop. "The swimwear also comes with empowering, straightforward educational resources to build confidence and body literacy. All girls should have access to affordable period care products made to meet their needs, no matter when their period starts." RedDrop's period swimwear is made from fragrance-free, PFAS-free and non-toxic materials that form moisture-wicking layers and flexible fits that move with growing – and swimming – bodies. The bottoms hold up to two light pads or three light tampons of flow (up to 12-18 grams) and won't get waterlogged after a dip in the pool. The new product launch comes on the heels of significant investments in RedDrop and its mission to address menstrual inequity with tween period products and educational resources. In November 2024, the minority- and women-owned company won the $1 million grand prize from Black Ambition, Pharrell Williams' non-profit organization to support Black and Hispanic Entrepreneurs. In February 2025, RedDrop won the Fifteen Percent Pledge Achievement Award totaling $200K. The Fifteen Percent Pledge is a racial equity and economic justice non-profit that addresses inequities in the American consumer economy and works towards closing the racial wealth gap. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
