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Invisibility technologies
September 1st, 2014
A challenge with very new technologies is to predict with any accuracy how—much less when—they might be applied and what materials would be used to create a functioning product. Invisibility technologies fit into this scenario. By Janet Preus First, it is important to note that an invisibility “cloak” has nothing to do with textiles, per […]
Welcome to Bounce Below
September 1st, 2014
Bounce Below in the Llechwedd Caverns in Wales, U.K., bills itself as the largest underground trampoline. By that it means very large trampolines, constructed of three enormous nets interconnected by spiral stairways and a 60-foot slide within the caverns. Twice the size of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, the cavern is outfitted with a spectacular lighting […]
Recycle, upcycle
September 1st, 2014
Commercial interior fabrics routinely take on a second life. Does it pay to be green? Yes, it may cost more to initiate the practice when it comes to manufacturing recyclable fabrics for use in commercial interiors—just as with most innovative initiatives—but down the road, it can pay off nicely. Plus, those not on the bandwagon […]
Entrepreneur in action
September 1st, 2014
Steve Frost advances his company by standardizing processes—and being willing to change. We try to develop best practices and focus on repeating them, which includes making lists and standardizing problems,” says Steve Frost, president of Stamford Tent & Event Services, Stamford, Conn. “But you can write all the forms you want—they’re not going to cover […]
Snapshot: Making the impossible possible
September 1st, 2014
By Sigrid Tornquist When Steve Frost of Stamford Tent & Event Services was asked to fit an 80-by-70-foot tent into an 80-by-50-foot space on a yacht club’s seawall, he said no. But when the client persisted, Frost eventually agreed to see if there was a way to make it happen. Inspired by the outriggers of […]
Outdoor furnishing showcase, integrating art
September 1st, 2014
LongHouse Reserve, a 16-acre estate in East Hampton, N.Y., opens to visitors from May through October to tour landscaped gardens accented by artwork and the latest outdoor furniture designs. Jack Lenor Larsen, an internationally recognized textiles designer, author and collector, owns the Reserve and opens it yearly so that the public can experience art naturally […]
Hybrid building: farmers by day, musicians by night
September 1st, 2014
When the Central New York Regional Market Authority commissioned a year-round farmers’ market building in Syracuse, N.Y., members expected the hybrid fabric and steel structure to multi-task. Little did they know how rapidly the popular shopping spot for fruits and veggies would become an exciting concert venue, known as F-Shed at the Market. The hybrid […]
“Plum Crazy” Plymouth Duster, wrapped
September 1st, 2014
Mopar, supplier of parts and tools expressly designed for Chrysler automobiles, sponsors vehicles in the National Hot Rod Association’s Professional Modified (ProMod) Drag Racing Series, and wanted its Plymouth Duster to win big and stand out. The ProMod team added a 2,000-horsepower engine and custom carbon-fiber body to beef up speed and tone down weight. […]
The birth of an artificial womb
September 1st, 2014
Infants born prematurely struggle with undeveloped lungs, inadequate digestive systems and other physical challenges associated with coming into the world too soon. Research now suggests that their early exposure to a mechanical, uncomfortable world may cause them to suffer from sensory or motor deficiencies as they develop. The womb is not an incubator; it is […]
Scaly mammals and motorcycle protection
September 1st, 2014
A motorcycle racer and a tropical pangolin (scaly anteater) would not seem to have much in common—until now. At the Dainese D-Store in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, U.K., riders can purchase the protective gear manufacturer’s latest design in back protection, named the Manis (the scientific name for the pangolin family) because its overlapping plate-like scales form […]