Marshall Atkinson

Check out the latest article in the AATCC Review on modeling fabric hand. Here's a teaser. If you want to see the best part of the article, login to (or join and then login to) AATCC. PROJECT ROADMAP The purpose of this article is to announce Project Roadmap, an initiative to objectively model hand as a fabric attribute. This involves characterizing, measuring, categorizing, and comparing the hand of various fabric samples as the basis for creating a digital model to define tactile appearance. A key requirement of any model is to assess how it correlates to the subject it is mimicking. The successful development of this capability will provide a roadmap for new technology that benefits the textile industry by simplifying fabric development and assessment. Ideally, this project should involve organizations that promote the wellbeing of the fashion, textile, and apparel industries (like the AATCC), yarn, fabric, and apparel manufacturers (the supply chain) who will benefit from more objective specifications, and apparel brands, who will better be able to communicate what they want.  Academia may well play a role—as long as their objective is to help commercialize a solution and not study the thing to death. Ultimately, the hand test instrument providers will be involved by providing instruments for evaluation. However, their commercial influence in the project must be tempered by the requirement to supplant old-fashioned, subjective hand assessments with a new digital industry standard benefitting all. Some apparel brands might be inclined to develop this project in secret, thus making their hand solution proprietary. However, that would be bad for the industry since it would pit “my practices” against “best practices.” What we really need is cooperation between brand competitors. Competing brands share the same supply chain—it’s the quality and design of a product, not where it is made, that differentiates it from its competitors (well, that and marketing). So too, the way that hand is digitized won’t make one apparel company better than the other—the fabrics it selects (not the means of digitization) will deliver the right sensation to the customers. Please contact Black Swan Textiles (keith.hoover@blackswantextiles.com) to support and participate in Project Roadmap. 

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The apparel supply chain is packed with moving parts, and even more misaligned incentives. On paper, you’d assume everyone’s working toward the same goal: The factory is acting in the brand’s best interest. The buying office safeguards product quality. Third-party inspectors offering an independent lens. But in reality? It’s not that simple. And nowhere is this more obvious than in quality control. Let me walk you through an extreme (but very real) example. The Situation: A U.S.-based brand had a familiar setup: 👉 A Hong Kong supply hub managing operations 👉 Local staff embedded in the country of production 👉 A major TIC (Testing, Inspection, Certification) partner executing their final quality control Meanwhile, the brand’s longtime supplier had shifted production out of China into a Southeast Asian factory. That factory had dedicated staff solely focused on this brand. Everyone, on paper, was aligned. But when the supplier began missing quality targets, tensions flared. The Breakdown: As complaints mounted, allegations of bribery surfaced, suggesting factory staff may have been influencing quality reporting. In response, the technical director of the TIC firm decided to conduct an unscheduled, on-site inspection to verify the situation for himself. What happened next says everything: The factory denied him entry. Yes, the factory, tasked with producing for a major U.S. brand, refused access to the technical lead of the third-party quality partner. Why? Because the factory couldn’t meet the brand’s standards. And a surprise inspection would have made that painfully clear. The Root Problem: This isn’t just a story about one factory. It’s a glimpse into a structural issue in our industry: When we rely on people alone to define and control “quality,” we open the door to: ⭕ Subjectivity ⭕ Pressure ⭕ Manipulation ⭕ Mismatched incentives Everyone reports “truth” through the lens of their own interest. And when quality becomes political, consumers and brands pay the price. The QSee.ai Approach: At QSee, we believe quality shouldn’t be a negotiation. It should be standardized, consistent, and independent of human politics. That’s why we built an AI-powered QC system that: ✅ Captures real-time, objective inspection data using smartphones ✅ Trains to match each factory’s unique product specs and quality thresholds ✅ Delivers consistent quality intelligence, without bias ✅ By removing the guesswork and subjectivity, Qsee makes quality control what it was always meant to be: clear, fair, and aligned with the truth...not someone’s story about it. Want to talk about how this could work in your own supply chain? Don't push this off any longer - let’s connect today #ApparelManufacturing #QualityControl #AIinManufacturing #SupplyChainTransparency #ManufacturingInnovation #Industry40

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🧵 Pima vs Supima Cotton – What’s the Difference? 🧵 If you’re in the textile or fashion industry, you've probably heard of Pima and Supima cotton. Both are known for their luxurious feel, but what really sets them apart? Let’s break it down 👇 🔹 Pima Cotton • Extra-long staple (ELS) cotton • Grown in Peru, the U.S., Australia & more • Soft, durable, and better than regular cotton • No formal certification – quality may vary 🔹 Supima Cotton • 100% American-grown Pima cotton • Certified & trademarked by the Supima Association • Even softer, stronger & resists pilling • Excellent color retention • Comes with traceability & consistent quality 💰 Price Difference? Supima is typically 20–50% more expensive than regular cotton, and even pricier than generic Pima — but you're paying for verified quality and luxury. 🌿 Whether you’re sourcing fabrics or educating your customers, knowing the difference helps in making the right quality decisions. At Prime Texfab, we work with all premium cotton types, including Supima-certified options for home textiles and garments. 📩 Reach out to us at info@primetexfab.in to explore certified, sustainable cotton solutions. #TextileIndustry #CottonFabric #Supima #PimaCotton #HomeTextiles #LuxuryFabrics #SustainableTextiles #PrimeTexfab #ExportQuality

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Apparel manufacturing isn’t what it used to be. The shift I’ve seen over the last 5 years? 👉 Brands now demand speed without sacrificing customization 👉 Smaller, frequent orders are replacing seasonal bulk buying 👉 Quality is expected—but what’s remembered is consistency Manufacturers who haven’t adapted to this new pace are already struggling. The game has changed. The ones winning are the ones who listen, adapt, and deliver fast.

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Automation vs. Artistry – Can Machines Replace Craftsmanship in Home Furnishings? As the textile industry embraces automation—from Auto looms to AI-powered design tools—one question keeps surfacing: Can machines truly replace the craftsmanship that defines home furnishings? Having spent over 23 years in this industry, my answer is nuanced. Yes, automation brings scale, consistency, and speed. It reduces human error and helps meet the aggressive timelines of global retail. But artistry? That’s not something you can plug into a machine. There’s a reason why handwoven rugs feel different underfoot. Why a hand-embroidered cushion catches your eye. Why customers still pay a premium for the imperfectly perfect. The future of home textiles lies in balance: 🔹 Using automation for process efficiency. 🔹 Preserving artisanal techniques for identity, soul, and value. At Abhi Home, we strive to integrate both—leveraging tech where needed, but keeping the human touch alive in our products. Because when tradition meets technology, magic happens. Would love to hear your thoughts—Where do you think the line should be drawn? #TextileInnovation #Craftsmanship #Automation #HomeFurnishings #AbhiHome #ArtisanMade #FutureOfWork #DesignWithSoul

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Kim Glas highlights practical steps to fortify the US textile industry, emphasizing its diverse applications beyond traditional garments. Textiles play a crucial role in various sectors like electronics, aerospace, automotive, healthcare, defense, and more. Despite its understated nature, the textile industry holds strategic significance across multiple domains. #Textiles #IndustryInsights

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5 Fabric Sourcing Mistakes That Could Be Costing Your Brand. From ignoring GSM to overlooking colorfastness, I’ve seen brands make avoidable mistakes that hurt product quality and customer trust. In this quick post, I break down 5 common sourcing errors and what to do instead. If you are building a quality-driven fashion brand, this one's worth your scroll. #FabricSourcing #FashionIndustry #KaviraFashions #Menswear #LinkedInInsights #TextileTips #BrandBuilding

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Unifi Manufacturing, Inc. (makers of REPREVE® ), is excited to launch A.M.Y.® Peppermint, a naturally deodorizing yarn engineered for long-lasting freshness and the fully circular REPREVE Takeback™ and ThermaLoop™ insulation, both made entirely from 100% textile waste. Key Features of A.M.Y. Peppermint: •Durable odor control sustained through 50 home launderings •Available globally in virgin and REPREVE polyester yarns, with REPREVE options fully traceable via FiberPrint® technology and certified by U-TRUST® Key Features of REPREVE Takeback and ThermaLoop insulation: •Both made entirely from 100% textile waste, excluding colorants, additives, and low-melt polymers  •REPREVE Takeback circular polyester includes white-dyeable high-performance filament, staple fiber, and solution-dyed colors •ThermaLoop insulation is available in down-like fiber and fiberball, and padding to deliver performance and thermal efficiency. We’re proud to create products for our partner brands that perform and drive meaningful impact across industries.  #UNIFI #REPREVE #OdorControl #ThermaLoop #REPREVETakeback

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My new book provides comprehensive insights into Fully Fashioned Garment Manufacturing, encompassing essential calculations for producing high-quality Flat Bed Knitting Machines utilizing Fully Fashioned Knitting Technology. Available globally in eBook, Paperback, and Hardcover formats, the book addresses all facets of sweater manufacturing, including yarn count, conversion methods, appropriate gauges for various yarn types, tactile qualities, cover factors, package density, measurement points, and calculations of hidden measurements. It also covers knitting data calculations for diverse styles and linking data, along with guidance on establishing specifications using Golden Ratios. This resource is indispensable for sweater manufacturing enterprises, aspiring manufacturers, and educational institutions specializing in knitting technology curricula.

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Zippers: A small component, but a big impact on garment quality! My latest blog post breaks down the different types of zippers and why understanding them is crucial for quality control. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/g4y7GZE6 #zipper #qualitycontrol #garments #fashion #manufacturing

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