A wall displaying nearly 30 years of industry awards marks the entrance to Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas in Virginia Beach, Va.—a testament to the shop’s history of quality and craftsmanship.

Zippers can feel like a wild beast that can never be tamed,” says Mike Boatman, owner of Boatman Marine Canvas in Oklahoma City, Okla. “When you start working with zippers for the first time, you find out really quick that it’s not as simple as sewing the zipper onto a piece of material.”

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the historic Bellosguardo in Montecito, Calif., has hosted countless parties and events—but none as large or complex as the 500-person wedding recently executed on a hot August night by 24/7 Events, Valencia, Calif.

All types of geosynthetics are experiencing heightened interest from a spectrum of industries that are seeking out and using these solutions. This is happening mainly in response to environmental pressures but also due to increased infrastructure activity that has sharpened the need for geogrids, geomembranes, geotextiles and other formats used to stabilize terrain, provide drainage and filtration, or serve as containment barriers, among other purposes.

While traditional tent styles are always popular with consumers, there also are numerous requests for new and different event venues. As a result, tent and event rental companies are constantly on the lookout for the “next big thing” to offer clients.

Is there a role for textiles in today's composites industry? The answer is not just yes, it is a resounding affirmative. In March, the composite industry’s JEC show in Paris confirmed this with a strong showing of textiles ranging from super high-strength fibers to large scale textile structures. These are used across a wide range of markets, from transport to energy, medical and sports equipment. Textiles are offering a myriad of benefits, and in this feature, we look at the contribution of textiles to better performance, lighter weight and improved sustainability.