Delight Cloth is a light-emitting textile comprised of thousands of fiber optic strands. With a diameter of only 0.25 to 0.5 mm, the optical fibers are woven into a large translucent tapestry that can be hung vertically or horizontally. The material may be used for wall or ceiling treatments, as well...

Morphotex is the world’s first optical coloring fiber, inspired by the chromogenic principle of Morpho butterflies that inhabit areas along the Amazon in South Africa. Called “living jewels,” the cobalt-blue wings of Morpho butterflies impart vivid color although they have no pigmentation. Teijin...

Neoprene is used extensively in the water sports, soft orthopedic, sportswear, footwear, equestrian, and thermal protective equipment sectors. However, conventional neoprene causes serious discomfort when worn against the skin of humans or animals. Stomatex overcomes this discomfort by dynamically removing...

Libby Kowalski of Kova Textiles developed the Krystal Weave collection because she was inspired by the water-clear yarn that is used prominently as the horizontal element in the fabric. A glistening matrix of transparent and translucent threads, Krystal Weave fabric is like a crystalline curtain, which...

Exploring new ways to reference patterning found in nature, Karim Rashid digitally generated five designs and manipulated them to resemble multiple plant, animal, land, and human anatomies. The five patterns in the Digital Nature collection are available in chartreuse, cyan, magenta, silver, and sixty-five...

Building with air, the most natural of all materials, is a special challenge because air-inflated components are used in place of the usual load-bearing components. The idea behind Airtecture is based on mechanically pre tensioned membrane constructions that have been used for several interesting buildings...

When used as a window and skylight covering, the polyester-based Lighttex panel blocks and redistributes direct sunlight more effectively than vertical or horizontal blinds and creates diffused interior daylight with improved uniformity. Lighttex walls and space partitions enable daylight penetration...

NASA invented Memory Foam over three decades ago in order to provide comfortable seating for astronauts who had to endure steep gravitational forces and spend days sitting in tight quarters. As its name suggests, the soft material conforms to the body of its user and leaves a temporary registration of...

Gore Tenara KT is a three-dimensional moldable fabric made from 100 percent knitted polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Developed in a collaboration with fabric artist Jens J. Meyer and the Denkendorf Institute of Textiles and Process Technology, the fabric is immune to UV rays and is weather resistant,...

Artist Alyce Santoro invented Sonic Fabric after being inspired by Tibetan prayer flags inscribed with wind-activated blessings as well as by the use of small strands of cassette tape as wind indicators, or “tell tails,” on sailboats. Sonic Fabric is constructed from 49 percent recycled audio tape...