Although textile scientists and textile engineers research various physical functions and serviceability of textiles for different end users, we do not know enough about how consumers make tradeoffs between the differences in comfort, functionality, and price that may stem from different fiber blends in the raw materials for different types of end products.
"In mills now, you typically have high-tech science," says David Hagler, global director of apparel for Nike Golf, whose parent company has a dedicated "innovation team" of between 40 and 50 lab technologists, "wear testers," textile scientists, merchandisers and designers who work on innovative materials.
Among them were agricultural economists, pharmaceutical scientists, plant physiologists, textile scientists, and linguists.
Textile membranes find their applications as both interior and exterior structures offering interdisciplinary challenges for architects, artists, engineers, chemists, physicists, textile designers and material scientists.
This new journal will invigorate a wide-range of academics and industrial practitioners such as material scientists, cultural theorists, design theorists, artists, and market researchers to promote scholarly exchanges from various aspects of fashion and textiles worldwide.
Some critical issues and suggestions for future work are discussed, underscoring the roles of materials scientists and textile engineers for the future of these new "green" materials through value addition to enhance their use.
"We're not putting plants in Asia because we want to take advantage of the cheap labor costs," explains Peter, though he does note that almost every scientist in his Textile Effects lab is a woman with an advanced degree.
"We knew that the substance was still used in coatings for ships, but it shouldn't be in textiles that people wear," said scientist Jürgen Kundke.
In serious consideration of the worldwide environmental issues associated with the extensive use of the textile dyes and effluents generated thereof, the scientists across the world are in search for potential treatment technologies for their treatment.
In recent years, textile conservators have been working more closely with scientists to develop a better understanding of the materials that comprise banners and painted textiles in general [2, 3].
