#Research & Development

2014-10-13

Keep away from cords and drawstrings!

Clothing needs to be designed with safety in mind if escalators and playgrounds are not to become a death trap for children. The DIN EN 14682 standard "Safety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing" contains recommendations how garments for kids aged up to 14 years should be designed.

It is frightening how many recall campaigns are listed on the information page of the European Union(1) for products presenting a risk of strangulation or serious injury. In the past fatalities and major injuries have unfortunately occurred time and time again due to the use of unsuitable closures on children's clothing. A fact that is barely recognised in the public debate surrounding the safety of textiles. Instead, the focus falls here on possible contamination with harmful substances.

Christiane Schulze from the Hohenstein Institute in Bönnigheim is pressing for even greater caution in the interest of children: "Most textiles on the market are now tested for harmful substances, as for example under OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. And there has been a significant fall in the number of complaints involving this aspect. I am hoping to see a similar positive trend where the Cord Regulations are concerned."

Christiane Schulze's team of staff are also making a contribution here, working on behalf of manufacturers and trading companies: They examine clothing designed for children and adolescents in relation to the DIN EN 14682 safety norm before manufacturing starts, so avoiding product recalls from the outset.

(1)

http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/safety/rapex/alerts

© Hohenstein Institute ® The ends of drawstrings/cords on children's clothing must not have knots or other decorative features. Safe alternatives are heat-sealing or bar-tacking the ends of such cords. Zips must not exceed a total length of 75 mm.

A new standard to combat plastic waste in forests

With DIN SPEC 35808 “Tree Shelter for Forestry Applications,” the testing and research service provider Hohenstein, in collaboration with Rottenburg University of Forestry, as well as forestry authorities and industry partners, has established a clear framework for bio-based and fully biodegradable tree shelters. The pre-standard defines requirements and practical testing methods designed to reduce plastic waste in forests and strengthen the long-term protection of soil and the environment.

Hohenstein publishes 2025 Sustainability Report

The testing and research service provider Hohenstein has published its latest sustainability report, outlining key progress and strategic initiatives. The report focuses on ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, the company’s new mission statement and the systematic expansion of sustainable services for customers worldwide.

New DIN SPEC assesses environmental impact of textile fragments in soil

Textile products made from synthetic fibres, finished fabrics or dyed materials release fibre fragments into the environment at every stage of their life cycle. With the new DIN SPEC 19296, Hohenstein has developed a standardised testing method to analyse how these fragments behave in soil under natural conditions. Until now, little was known about their environmental behaviour or potential ecological effects once released.

Testing and research laboratory ensures safe and more sustainable products worldwide

For 80 years, Hohenstein has stood for independent testing, scientific expertise and practical solutions. Today, the testing and research service provider supports manufacturers and brands worldwide in making textiles, hardlines and medical devices safe, more sustainable and market-ready – thereby building trust among consumers. With an international presence and interdisciplinary expertise, Hohenstein supports its customers from production through to market launch, helping them navigate an environment of growing regulatory and societal demands.

Walter Reiners Foundation Prize awarded to three ITA graduates

Sabina Dann, Lukas Balon and Annegret Storm from the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University were awarded the Walter Reiners Foundation Prize by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) for their master’s and bachelor’s theses. Peter Dornier, Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation, presented the awards during Techtextil at the VDMA stand in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

Regional hemp bast for lightweight construction profiles

The cultivation of fibre hemp for the production of ropes and clothing has a long tradition in Saxony. Due to its excellent fibre properties, it is also suitable as a renewable raw material for reinforcement in fibre composites. At the STFI and IWU in Chemnitz, the CannaPul project is cur- rently investigating how a regional value chain for hemp-based lightweight construction profiles can be established. To this end, the technical processing of hemp fibres into continuous fibre strands and their embedding in a suitable bio-based matrix are being investigated.

RE&UP contributes to Global Fashion Summit 2026 circularity discussion

RE&UP contributed to the global conversation on textile circularity at Global Fashion Summit 2026 in Copenhagen, where Fatih Konukoğlu, Chairman of RE&UP and Vice Chairman of Sanko Holding, took part in both the keynote session “The New Rules” and the panel discussion “A Reckoning and Renewal for Circular Horizons”, alongside leaders from H&M Group, Looper Textile Co. and Sourcing Journal.