Research

A dietary modification to silkworm feed has produced silk fibres with significantly greater tensile strength and markedly reduced shrinkage under wet conditions, new research shows. Developed at Tohoku University, the method adds plant-derived cellulose nanofibres to silkworm feed without chemical treatment, with performance gains persisting through spinning and weaving into finished textile products.

The first widely available Lifecycle Assessment study for cashmere has been released, covering nomadic grazing and farmed production systems across China and Mongolia. The study identifies primary production as the dominant impact stage and finds herd-level management and productivity as the key drivers, offering brands a baseline for targeted intervention and sourcing decisions.

Onshore garment manufacturing in Australia has a new development: a first-of-its-kind Clothing Smart Factory feasibility study is now under way. The study unites RMIT, Swinburne and UTS in a research consortium, backed by Epson and Investment NSW, to assess the technical, workforce and financial requirements for a technology-enabled facility in New South Wales.

Clearer physics of liquid droplet behaviour on solid surfaces could transform how textiles are designed to absorb or repel moisture. A review paper has addressed the forces operating where liquid, air, and solid interact, identifying a poorly understood variable in wetting mechanics with implications for athletic wear, protective equipment, and rainwear.

Garments dyed with a melanin-like pigment extracted from sewage sludge have been produced for the first time, in a proof-of-concept collaboration between TU Delft and Dutch fashion label Hul le Kes. The biopolymer, recovered from wastewater treatment waste, offers UV protection and antioxidant properties and may reduce dependence on cuttlefish-derived and synthetic textile dyes.

Electrochemical treatment of textile dye wastewater generates toxic disinfection byproducts, including chloroform and bromoform, at concentrations far exceeding US drinking water safety limits. Sodium chloride, routinely added to boost treatment efficiency, has been identified as the primary driver of byproduct formation, raising serious concerns for factory workers and downstream environmental health.

High strain sensitivity and wrist posture recognition have been achieved in a knitted sensor wristband by combining copper-coated yarn with a 1×1 rib stitch structure, new research finds. The study provides practical guidelines for designing wearable fabric sensors that meet comfort, durability, and performance demands across scalable textile manufacturing and long-term use conditions.

Potassium fertilisation has increased cotton yields by up to 70% in deficient soils, with fibre strength and elongation identified as the quality parameters most sensitive to potassium availability. Arkansas field trials across two growing seasons have reinforced current fertilisation recommendations and introduced new tissue-testing thresholds to support in-season crop monitoring.

New Zealand's fibre sector is worth more than $926 million at farm gate, new research has found. The findings, part of the first study to examine the industry as a whole, are released ahead of a full Foundational Fibre Report due in August, led by Fashion and Textiles New Zealand and supported by the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust.

Indian wheat straw has been successfully converted into lyocell fibre, yarn, and finished garments comparable to wood-based alternatives, in a proof-of-concept pilot led by Canopy and Laudes Foundation. The project has shown that agricultural residues can replace wood-based pulp in lyocell production, cutting forest pressure and reducing crop-burning pollution across northern India.