When we think of textiles, we think of jeans, T-shirts, and tablecloths and not high-technology. But a patented invention of the Saxon company STS Textiles shows that textiles can indeed be very high-tech. For three years, the company worked on a fabric that stores thermal energy and can be cooled down or warmed up as needed. The result; a veritable miracle material made of paraffin, a synthetic wax, which reliably insulates facades and is used in clothing to protect the wearer from extreme cold or heat. The development conserves energy and protects the environment, and at the same time is reviving a flagging sector in rural communities.