TEXTILES.ORG
Working innovation: all successful companies innovate to grow, but each approach is unique
January 1st, 2019
If there were a formula for writing a hit song, we could all do it. Efforts have certainly been made to figure out just what’s required to reach the top of the charts, but there simply isn’t a single defined path that can be taken to ensure musical success. In manufacturing, businesses that look to […]
Exhibition combines the physical and digital worlds
January 1st, 2019
Contemporary artist Michael Rees likes to create artwork that connects to a specific space. His experimental exhibition at Grounds for Sculpture, a 42-acre sculpture park, museum and arboretum founded on the site of the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds, began in the exhibit hall looking for inspiration. His show, “Synthetic Cells, Site and Para (Site)” […]
Taking the lead: women in the tent rental industry
January 1st, 2019
When Sarah Crews, director of sales and marketing for Miami, Fla.-based Economy Tent International (ETI), started going to outdoor trade shows 13 years ago, she didn’t see many women attending the events. Tent rental companies headed by women were even scarcer. But over the years that situation has changed, says Crews (formerly Lapping). “As the […]
Women’s work: challenges and rewards in the specialty fabrics industry
January 1st, 2019
Since the earliest days of civilization, women have sewn garments, constructed the tents they called home, and woven the textiles that made life more comfortable and defined distinctive cultures. Over the millennia, textiles produced by women have been essential to life and enterprise. As industrialization made these goods profitable, however, the textile world became a […]
Upward mobility: on-the-go hot air ballooning
January 1st, 2019
Who doesn’t wish they could just fly away once in a while—especially at the sight of hot air balloons gracing the horizon? But expense, equipment and accessibility can make hot air ballooning prohibitive for the average person. FlyDOO, a start-up company based in southeast France, is aiming to change all of that. Founder Leandro Corradini, […]
In the pink: Cooley Group supports breast cancer patients and families
January 1st, 2019
Social stewardship and community outreach have been woven into the culture at Cooley Group, headquartered in Pawtucket, R.I. Nearly every quarter, Cooley Group conducts a specific outreach program under the “Cooley Cares” banner to improve lives and make positive changes in the community. Founded as a cotton awning fabrics manufacturer in 1926, Cooley Group has […]
Labor saving products for productivity
January 1st, 2019
Slick tent setup Rainier’s High Peak tent system provides an elegant, streamlined look with a frame design that allows for quick and easy installation without tools. The system features a flying center pole tension top with a catenary (arched) design and does not use interior support poles, maximizing usable space. The tent comes in a […]
Robotic fabric flowers react to people
January 1st, 2019
The natural world is constantly changing. Take a walk through a meadow and the view is different from one moment to the next. That’s the idea behind the kinetic sculpture called “Meadow,” on display at Dutch Design Week 2018 last October. Studio Drift, an Amsterdam-based design firm, created the sculpture to explore the way in […]
Melynda Norman-Lee brings tented events to life, continuing a tradition of success at JJL Events Inc.
January 1st, 2019
"When I work on challenging projects I see the possibilities, not the restrictions,” says Melynda Norman-Lee, event project manager for J J L Events, Toronto, Ont., Canada. “I start visualizing the final outcome when I first start talking with the client. If I haven’t captured that vision from the beginning, I won’t be able to […]
Safety in style: the foldable bike helmet
January 1st, 2019
Let’s face it, even though a bike helmet is essential for protection, many people won’t wear one because it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient or not particularly attractive. Two former SpaceX engineers hope to change that. Co-founders David Hall and Jordan Klein have introduced Park & Diamond™, a helmet that looks and feels like a traditional baseball cap—yet […]