Specialty Fabrics Review interviews Craig Fawcett, president of Lethbridge Custom Canvas

January 1, 1970  |  News

Interview by Sigrid Tornquist What is your industry prediction? To a degree, the weaker businesses have been weeded out. If you’ve made it through these last couple of years intact, business should start picking up. What is your business philosophy? Train the employees, give them the authority…
Read More
Creating an interior fabric collection

January 1, 1970  |  News

In her book, The Design Directory of Window Treatments, interior design veteran Jackie Von Tobel created thousands of hand-drawn illustrations, but it wasn’t until her friend and business associate, Jeanelle Dech of Adaptive Textiles in West Chester, Pa., suggested that she create a fabric col…
Read More
How to get your photos published

January 1, 1970  |  News

Flip through any magazine and see what catches your eye. Chances are it will be the largest, most compelling photographs. Editors and graphic designers rely on imagery to enrich the story. “A lot of our time each month is spent tracking down quality electronic images,” says Specialty Fab…
Read More
Sustainable packaging materials for finished goods

January 1, 1970  |  News

Fabrics and membranes help make farming more sustainable in many ways, but a large portion of agriculture’s environmental footprint has to do with the packaging and distribution of the goods. Luckily, Megaplast S.A., a packaging company headquartered in Heraklion, Crete, Greece, has developed …
Read More
Finishing methods for materials

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Andrea Swensson Vinyl laminated polyester Heat sealing “Provides a clean, pleasing finish to the quality printed product. No holes punched in the material. No thread to distract the appearance. And bonding strength to last the life of the material versus a tape, which can lose its hold in v…
Read More
Sewing vs. welding seams

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Andrea Swensson Sewing Economical. For shops just starting out, a new sewing machine can cost only a fraction of a new welding machine. Convenient. The needle-and-thread method can accommodate a variety of thicknesses without much adjustment, and many shops already have sewing capabilities. Versa…
Read More
Creating an event out of fabric

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Gail Nickel-Kailing Wanting to “wow” their best management staff, T-Mobile approached Rainier Industries seeking colorful, creative and flexible graphics and displays for a staff appreciation event planned at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The Challenge: Sight unseen What d…
Read More
Deciding between buying or subleasing equipment

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Maura Keller The decision to buy equipment or continue to sublease is often made on a per item basis. Before buying, ask yourself: Do I have the storage space for this item? Is there an ongoing market for it? How many times will I need to rent it out to make a profit? “I … <div><a hr…
Read More
Tools and resources for making estimates

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Shelby Gonzalez Several fabricators recommend the MFA Time Standards Manual as a useful reference point when estimating the time a project will take. When it comes to software that will help you track jobs and generate professional-looking estimates, work orders and invoices, you have many option…
Read More
Meeting FAA requirements with aircraft upholstery

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Abbie Yarger Working with aircraft interiors takes more than simply agreeing to do a job. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented numerous regulations and procedures for upholsterers providing aircraft services. “Those people who want to get into the aircraft market have to do…
Read More