Every experienced textile professional knows that two bales with identical test results can behave completely differently on the spinning frame, in the dye bath, or in the finished garment. The reason is that our standard fiber measurements, while useful, have never told the whole story. And until recently, we lacked the tools to tell it.
Category: Abstracts 2026
Keynote: Navigating the Forces Shaping our Industry
Nathan Fisher Key Account Executive with Daikin America, Inc. and President of the Southern Textile Association (STA), will start off the 2026 Southern Textile Research Conference (STRC) with the Keynote Address.
THREAD-X: Leveraging AI & AR Technology to Accelerate Workforce Training
Across the US, industries are navigating a historic demographic shift often referred to as the “Silver Tsunami”. It is estimated that by 2030, approximately 2.1 million jobs could go unfilled across the manufacturing sector because of a lack of skilled applicants. This transition is creating a massive knowledge transfer gap, where institutional expertise is leaving faster than it can be passed on or replaced.
Innovations in Dyeing and Coloration
The amount of water, energy, and harmful chemicals consumed during conventional dyeing through traditional methods over the past century has been tremendous, and in many countries, water has become a very precious and limited resource. The textile industry continues to face several challenges such as an increasing shortage of natural resources such as water and energy, higher prices and costs related to raw materials and these natural resources, increasing regulatory and environmental pressure, as well as increasing expectations of social responsibility and business compliance. In recent years, efforts have been made to reduce the amount of water, energy, and chemicals used.
