As a non-profit, public-private partnership and a Manufacturing USA Innovation Institute headquartered in Bedford, MA, we accelerate textile technology and manufacturing breakthroughs that protect our nation, empower industry, and improve everyday life. We do this by (1) advancing transformative technologies, (2) connecting a dynamic domestic advanced Fabric Innovation Network and membership consortium, and (3) inspiring and educating America’s next-generation workforce. Discover more at affoa.org.
We are revolutionizing the textile industry by transforming traditional fibers, yarns and textiles into highly sophisticated, integrated, and networked devices and systems, enabling novel products & business models that leverage fabrics as a service.
Advancing the manufacturability of the most disruptive fiber and fabric technology while building the next generation supply chain and manufacturing workforce
To reinvigorate the U.S domestic textile industry, create new jobs, and provide domestic manufacturers with a competitive edge
Transforming traditional fiber, yarns, and textiles into highly sophisticated, integrated, and networked devices and systems
Developing the domestic supply chain of the future to meet DoD and commercial needs with long-term strategic and rapid response capabilities
Inspiring, educating, and training students and workers for the future advanced textiles industry
Innovating technologies that will enable fabrics to deliver new value added services to consumers, creating new fabric-based business models
With over 125 members across 28 different states, AFFOA’s Membership provides access to a robust network of innovative startups, universities, manufacturers, large commercial brands and DoD partners who are advancing the functional fiber and fabrics industry.
New national challenge seeks advanced textile solutions from industry and innovators that improve protection against...
Four awardees will receive no-cost access to AFFOA’s expertise, prototyping, testing, and scale-up capabilities to...
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America marks new chapter in advanced textile innovation at state-of-the-art facility....
New board members bring extensive experience in defense, medical devices, deep tech investing, and nonprofit...
Advanced functional fabrics serve many complex functions. They transform traditional fibers, yarns and textiles into...
Manufacturing USA Innovation Institute, AFFOA, expands its successful product accelerator program to support America’s...
The US Advanced Textile Manufacturing ecosystem is gathering at Gillette Stadium, in Foxboro, MA, for...
The non-profit, Manufacturing USA Institute, focused on revitalizing America’s textiles industry through advanced technologies and...
Non-profit organizations collaborate to identify and discuss shared education and workforce challenges in America’s textile...
The Dynamic Data Recorder (DDR) is one of the latest innovations from DTS (Diversified Technical...
New program aims to optimize cutting-edge tactical gear using Bemis’ EverFit™ technology for commercial and...
AFFOA Names Nuream and Z-Polymers the New Awardees of the Product Accelerator for Advanced Fabrics...
AFFOA Earns 2025 Great Place To Work Certification™ Cambridge, MA — Advanced Functional Fabrics of...
Fibers and textiles date back to the beginning of civilization itself, yet remarkably, the fundamental...
Brooklyn, NY, January 28th 2025: LOOMIA, a leader in electronic textiles and flexible electronics, and...
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc. (AFFOA) is proud to announce the addition of Eric D....
One of AFFOA’s key focus areas is Education & Workforce Development, and we are excited...
AFFOA partnered with MIT visiting artist, Chloe Bensahel to support the prototyping and identification of...
DoD Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) MII provided an institute overview and demonstrated technology...
The textile-heated garment industry is revolutionizing how we stay warm. Advanced Functional Fabrics of America...
Loomia and Z-Polymers are the first two companies to receive product development assistance from AFFOA’s...
The future with textiles 2.0 In his presentation Dr. Sasha Stolyarov, CEO, Advanced Functional Fabrics...
Dr. Steven Wax, performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and...
June 28, 2023 – The Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) Manufacturing Innovation Institute is...
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc. (AFFOA) is proud to announce the addition of Elisabeth...
As a non-profit, public-private partnership, AdvancedFunctional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) bridges the gap between early-stage...
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc. (AFFOA), a non-profit public-private partnership focused on invigorating the...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, August 3, 2022 – Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA)...
Advanced Textile Source article on new smart textile program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Raleigh , North Carolina – On Monday, June 27, 2022, at RTI...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Culver City, CA – Loomia Technologies is partnering with Advanced Functional Fabrics...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cambridge, MA. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and...
Richard Feistman, Ph.D. has recently joined AFFOA as its Director of Education and Workforce Development (EWD). An...
Developing career pathways and providing real-world learning experiences are critical to filling the advanced manufacturing...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2021 CONTACT: David Overy Media and External Affairs Specialist...
AFFOA is excited to announce its collaboration with AFFOA Member LOOMIA on their E-Textiles 101...
Question: What does a Silicon Valley-based innovation competition have to do with the U.S. sewn...
ASTM Special Issue Journal on Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing In the Post-COVID-19 Manufacturing Era Technical...
AFFOA member IPC, the world’s leading trade association for the electronics manufacturing industry, has invited...
Bonbouton is a remote monitoring company powered by patented graphene technology and AFFOA member led by...
AFFOA ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF THREE NEW MEMBERS TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Carolyn Kirk, Dave...
Miniature interconnects combined with sensors and antennas give designers powerful new means of integrating Internet...
Massachusetts Emergency Response Team helps manufacturers produce personal protective equipment and other medical devices for...
It’s been almost two years since we wrote about the work that Advanced Functional Fabrics of...
AFFOA Board of Directors Announces Appointment of Dr. Alexander Stolyarov as CEO CAMBRDIGE, MA,...
Lincoln Laboratory joins MIT and others in testing N95 and similar, imported respirator masks to...
CAMBRDIGE, MA, ISSUED MAY 12, 2020. The Board of Directors of Advanced Functional Fabrics of...
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced health care providers to dramatically increase their use of swabs,...
CAMBRIDGE, MA : As the COVID-19 crisis began to exacerbate in the US, Cambridge, MA...
BOSTON (WHDH) – Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday announced a new initiative and over...
On March 17th, AFFOA issued a “Call to Action” to its membership seeking to activate...
The IPC D-70 E-Textiles Committee has launched the IPC D-70 E-Textiles Committee COVID-19 Response Community....
BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration announced an online portal where individuals and companies can easily...
In response to current shortages of certain supplies due to COVID-19, The Federal Emergency Management...
As part of its growth strategy, the KARL MAYER Group has concluded an agreement to...
CopperGel and nufabrx® announced today a partnership to create a ground-breaking line of pain relief,...
NATICK, Mass. — The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (CCDC SC) is...
The self-reading “pH fabric” could deliver early warning of an exposure to a harmful chemical.
What happens when you combine the strength of the American worker with investment in cutting-edge...
Producing functional fabrics that perform all the functions we want, while retaining the characteristics of...
Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy has approved a new policy on advanced manufacturing...
Philadelphia, PA – Today, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) announced that a $1.5...
Drexel University on Wednesday will open a new center that its leaders hope will revive...
Drexel University is debuting its new Center for Functional Fabrics, a project that’s been in the works...
AFFOA Member Bonbouton Accepted Into MetLife Digital Accelerator Powered by Techstars
Advanced functional fabrics workshop, held jointly with AFFOA and industrial partner New Balance, develops concepts...
Small Business Innovation Summit Pitch Session The Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business...
Could fabrics be the next technology disruptor? The short answer is yes if the predictions...
AI-trained robots are learning to read their surroundings based on just a few visual cues,...
Basic research advance leads to production of more than 250,000 chips embedded within fibers in...
The potential, progress and challenges for next generation smart garments.
STEAM Innovation Program: Advanced Functional Fabrics (AFF) Product Design Challenge How can you use Advanced...
IPC Issues Call for Participation for IPC E-TEXTILES 2019 IPC invites innovators, technologists, materials suppliers,...
Scientists at MIT say they are able to weave diodes into fabrics
Yoel Fink wants a fund that would invest in startups working on products that use...
The collaboration with MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab points to the future of customizable fashion.
December 13, 2018 (BOSTON) – MassChallenge, a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators today announced...
Women’s jeans with deep yet subtle pockets, performance stretch, temperature regulation and much more!
Come to the Women of Wearables (WoW) Boston Chapter December event, in partnership with CIC...
As part of their community service requirement, the FIT student chapter of the American Association...
Tent Expo is the biggest show of its kind in North America for the tent...
“What if?” It is the question where innovation begins, and few companies have asked it...
Recent breakthroughs in fibers and fabrics are transforming these age-old materials into high tech for...
Come and Join us on November 29th, 2018 at 1:30pm at UMass Lowell, Saab ETIC...
True stories of indefatigable researchers, heroic engineers, and champions of, neuroscience who are finally turning...
A new take on Handel’s classical water music. Rein et. al., Diode Fibres for Fabric-Based...
The mission of Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) is to enable a manufacturing-based revolution—what...
Researchers incorporate optoelectronic diodes into fibers and weave them into washable fabrics.
Everyday items like watches and backpacks can now be turned into wearable technology. But what...
A T-shirt that can change color to complement your mood (and help you pare down...
New Fabric Discovery Center hailed by state, local leaders
The initiative brought resources and talents from both institutions together.
We are excited to host our annual Members Only Workshop on June 13-14. This event...
Prediction: much-maligned QR codes, often camouflaged except to machine eyes, will become the de facto...
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed the first color-changing fabric that can...
More than $2M given out at 2018 Rice Business Plan Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 13th, 2018 Contact: Leigh Drori, AFFOA LEIGH@AFFOA.ORG; 617.817.1522 AFFOA Partners With MIT-Venture...
Year-long program will give early-stage entrepreneurs a leg up in the functional fabrics industry.
If one MIT researcher has his way, our fabric could be the next great technological...
Silicon Valley-based Gore Innovation Center enters joint development agreement with graphene sensor startup Bonbouton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2018 Contact: Leigh Drori, AFFOA LEIGH@AFFOA.ORG; 617.817.1522 AFFOA and Greater Lawrence Technical...
Registration is now open! Mark your calendar for September 13, 2018. IPC E-Textiles 2018 will...
MicroAward Pilot Program Rapid and frequent advances in fiber materials (“Moore’s law for fibers”) and...
UMass Lowell Partners on Research to Prevent Catastrophic Failures of Buildings, Bridges and More
Is the Apparel Industry Primed for a Return to the US?
VF Corporation and North Carolina State University are collaborating for student development at NC State...
Global clothing giant VF Corporation is exploring rental and service-based business models to promote the...
A class taught by a University of Rhode Island professor of biomedical engineering has inspired...
Do you have an idea for an innovative advanced fabric product and want to form...
NuVu Studio, a full-time innovation school for middle and high school students based in Cambridge,...
Second award from Mass. Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) grows partnership between MIT Lincoln Laboratory, U.S....
If you have an idea on an innovative advanced fabric product or service that can...
In a small industrial building at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, a 20-foot fiber draw tower is...
The Philadelphia-based Drexel University has recently partnered with the DoD-supported AFFOA (Advanced Functional Fabrics of...
The Department of Defense’s effo rt to bring America to the forefront of textile technology...
Cher Horowitz’s closet from the film “Clueless” had a futuristic computer system that helped her...
At the Defense Fabric Discovery Center (DFDC), engineers develop advanced fiber technologies for a range...
A common perception, even by some here in the Upstate, is that textile manufacturing is...
Earlier this year, pioneering developments in the technical textiles industry were recognised at the Future...
FORT PAYNE, Ala. – If you go back roughly 15 years, there was a good...
One of the first things you pick up about Yoel Fink at the Massachusetts Institute...
The Baker Administration has awarded $7 million in funding to help support seven advanced manufacturing...
Manufacturing Day℠, which occurs on the first Friday in October, is a celebration of modern...
Incoming freshmen received a “Welcome Week” treat during move-in weekend — a smart backpack that...
A team of UMass Lowell researchers has partnered with a research and development company to...
In the midst of moving in, meeting new roommates and exploring campus, Drexel freshmen will...
As part of this year’s freshman orientation at MIT, new students encountered the typical lineup...
Members of the Class of 2021 received a surprise gift upon checking in to MIT...
The inspiration for WiseWear was my grandfather Dominic Cameratta. He suffered from a condition called...
Manufacturing USA wants to honor the best and brightest minds in manufacturing by recognizing students...
Selected Projects Capacitive Touch Sensor & Interface ...
AFFOA Members are invited to join us for an informational online webinar regarding e-textile standards...
Hacking functional fabrics to aid emergency response MIT and other innovators design novel solutions for...
As winner of the MOMA Young Architect Program, my co-author and long-standing collaborator, Jenny Sabin, has a...
On June 19, 2017, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) celebrated the opening of its...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2017 Contact: Leigh Drori, AFFOA LEIGH@AFFOA.ORG; 617.817.1522 AFFOA Opens $10 Million HQ...
Clothing tinkerers innovate fashion with science-based performance dresswear and 3-D knitting.
Lowell – May 31, 2017 – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, along with University of Massachusetts...
Lexington – May 25, 2017 – Today, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) celebrated an...
A group of researchers at the University of Georgia are on the leading edge of...
KINGSTON, R.I., Oct. 19, 2016—Prescribing a medication plan for a patient with Parkinson’s disease is...
A Philadelphia University-lead team recently completed work on two prototypes of protective suits for the...
Manufacturing Day℠ is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of...
Inman Mills produced the combed cotton used in the white bottoms athletes will wear. The...
David Hinks became dean of the NC State College of Textiles in January 2016 after...
“At a recent conference put on by Defense One, a website that provides news and...
“These fibers are to fabric what the neuron is to the brain, or the transistor...
Consider this as the weave of the future. A U.S. public-private consortium receives $317 million...
AFFOA is working to create the “the Internet of Fabrics,” MIT President Rafael Reif said....
“As I often say, we in the Pentagon need to think outside of our five-sided...
The initiative announced on Friday is one of a series of “Manufacturing Innovation Institutes” established...
Massachusetts has been chosen to host a $317 million futuristic textiles manufacturing center with a...
While the tech industry talks of “wearable” devices such as smartwatches, next-generation fabrics would literally...
UT is one of 31 universities in the fiber institute’s ecosystem and will assist by...
“Iowa State University is part of a new $317 million public-private partnership working to improve...
“A lab at Iowa State University has been tapped to participate in the “Advanced Functional...
“U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is expected to announce a $317 million initiative for...
“U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has announced the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America plan...
“The AFFOA mission is to transform traditional fibers, yarns and textiles manufacturing into a highly...
“Clemson University researchers will be part of a $317 million rethink of America’s textile industry...
“Clemson University says its experts will focus on creating virtual reality training programs to help...
“The project will operate under the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, a non-profit founded by...
“The project, led by new group Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, will be announced by...
“It is an honor to be working in partnership with MIT on a major project...
“[University of Central Florida], in partnership with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will research textiles that...
“Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter recognized AFFOA as a part of the White House’s National...
“AFFOA, led by MIT, is a national public-private partnership that brings together geographically diverse academic,...
“The research initiative will be headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., while Drexel will lead a local...
This story features a number of clips from the event at MIT, with voiceover by...
“MIT won a national competition to host a federally-funded program that will work to turn...
WWLP’s Tiffany Chan filed this report from MIT. She tells viewers the federal government is...
“Our institute, with the help of significant support from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and with...
Imagine wearing a T-shirt that’s connected to the Internet or allows you to charge your...
“Our institute will go everywhere a fiber and fabric goes,” said a statement from Yoel...
The innovation hub will be organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and bring together...
A multi-million dollar manufacturing hub is coming to Cambridge… Carter will make the announcement today...
The Pentagon said on Friday it awarded $75 million for the creation of an institute...
Katie Stebbins, the state’s assistant secretary for technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, joined WBUR’s Morning Edition...
The new manufacturing initiative is the latest effort in Carter’s push to marry the tech...
Carter has prioritized technology and innovation initiatives since taking over the Pentagon‘s top job last...
“The textile industry is hugely responsible for making Massachusetts into what it looks like today,”...
This story appears at the top of the “BizSm@rt” page. Forget the Internet of Things,...
This story appears on the front page of the Business section with the headline “MIT-led...
The advanced fabrics project, which is being announced on Friday, represents a new frontier for...