How can fabric hand be described in a way that is measurable, comparable and reproducible, rather than resting on subjective terms alone? That question will be on the agenda at the AATCC International Summit 2026. The event runs October 5–6 in Wilmington, North Carolina, bringing together textile experts to discuss developments in textile testing, performance, comfort, sustainability, artificial intelligence and innovation.

This year’s AATCC Summit won’t have a tabletop with emtec. Instead, the company is represented by its U.S. textile consultant Harrie Schoots, who also serves as chair of the AATCC C11 Committee on Conferences, responsible for organizing and further developing the summit alongside AATCC staff and members. At the same time, Schoots is part of the programme.

From “hand feel” to data

His presentation, titled “Digitizing Haptics: The New Frontier of Comfort,” looks at how objective haptic measurement can support textile development, quality evaluation and the understanding of comfort. In the spotlight of his remarks will be emtec’s TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer, developed to make the feel of textiles measurable, comparable and reproducible.

Schoots notes that descriptors such as “soft,” “comfortable” or “luxurious” are widely used in textile development, yet have traditionally been evaluated largely through subjective human perception. The TSA is positioned as emtec’s solution for the objective measurement and evaluation of textile tactile properties and hand feel. By combining instrumental measurement with digital data evaluation, it is intended to help textile professionals understand, compare and optimize the sensory properties of textile materials. The aim, as described, is to enable manufacturers and brands to move from subjective descriptions toward quantifiable, comparable and data-driven evaluation of fabric hand feel.

Panel on objective sensory performance

Beyond the presentation, Schoots will moderate the panel discussion “Taking the Feelings out of Hand Feel.” The session will examine the science behind fabric hand, comfort and haptics, as well as the tools and technologies available to objectively evaluate sensory performance. It is also intended to provide a focused forum for one of the textile industry's most challenging questions: How can human sensory experiences be translated into objective and useful information? The discussion will explore how data-driven approaches can support product development, quality control and consumer satisfaction while reducing reliance on purely subjective evaluation.

Throughout the event, Schoots will focus on connecting with the textile community by meeting textile professionals, researchers, manufacturers, brands and technology providers. He is also looking forward to sharing emtec’s approach: objectively measuring the tactile and thermal properties of textile materials and converting sensory characteristics into reproducible measurement data.