Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1271945
TEXTILE TALK | EMILY WALZER n his new book, "Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age," Bruce Feiler coins the term "lifequakes," and explains how our personal stories are shaped more by how we survive crises, than by the impact of an actual event. Years in the making — sparked by a triple-whammy of distress in Feiler's own life that took place about a decade ago — the book stands out for its spot on relevancy. And not because we are living under a cloud of COVID that has re-shaped our personal and professional landscape; but rather how the pandemic signals a megatrend: Feiler says that what he learned from his extensive research for the book is "the variety of changes we experience in our lives is increasing and the pace at which we experience them is quickening." That pretty much sums up the textile industry in 2020. As one exec put it, "a decade's worth of change happened in four months." Absolutely. Whether that is how textiles are made, or sourced, or digitized, the rate of innovation is in overdrive. It is hard enough to for me to stay current with all the news and Zoom event invites flooding my email inbox, let alone get up to speed on an array of industry developments originally planned for 2021, implemented now. But this issue of Textile Insight attempts to do just that. Stories on the following pages offer you a glimpse of a future that has already arrived. Think of it as "2020 in 3D," which happens to be the headline in our story about bringing textiles to life online. Other stories forecast trends in fabrications tailored to fit a new active uniform, as well as address amplified efforts surrounding sustainability, the arrival of a new era of protective textile technologies, and offer views from the corner office on retail leadership. Feiler's research also points out that a surge of creativity is common during times of transition. That is true in today's textile world, and as well as in my own little world, where artist and designer friends are sewing up a storm. What started as mask- making efforts to aid local causes is evolving into a home workforce. This is definitely a trend to watch, as sewers are increasingly valued as essential workers. As for me, I've returned to embroidery as a creative outlet, updating worn jeans with needle and thread as change becomes part of our new normal. l Cheers, A Fast Track to the Future 4 • Textile Insight ~ July/August 2020 textileinsight.com As one exec put it, "a decade's worth of change happened in four months." T e x t i l e - B a s e d P r o d u c t S o l u t i o n s Through it all, we have your back. Even in challenging times, we want to assure you we're still here, sourcing and developing the sustainable textile innovations you demand. conceptiii.com proud partner of