The science of fashion

A short history of hair colouring

The long and deadly history of skin foundation

It’s tougher than Kevlar and incredibly light, but scientists still struggle to recreate the spider’s secret recipe

Nike’s controversial Alphafly running shoes have pushed sport tech to new frontiers. The race for speedy soles began with Goodyear rubber

A material that once adorned royals and their palaces is now found in the wardrobes of suburbia

Synthetic fabrics posed a threat to the cotton industry, until a chemical solution for non-iron clothing was found

Until the 17th century, high heels were mainly worn by men

It’s no surprise that the greatest innovations in rain-repellent fabric came from Britain

Thanks to the Spandex pioneers, a tough fabric became more comfortable