Sunrooms present lucrative opportunities for fabricators

July 1, 2026  |  Features

The beauty of sunrooms is that they allow people to enjoy the outdoors without actually having to be outdoors. But the downside of sunrooms is that they let in a lot of natural light, potentially subjecting those trying to enjoy that space to fluctuations in UV exposure and uncomfortable temperature…
Read More
Made in America: Strategies for U.S. success in a global industry

July 1, 2026  |  Features

"Made in America” can mean different things, depending on context. It could refer to consumer products created with U.S. labor from raw materials sourced from around the world. It could describe an item sold to the federal government or used in an infrastructure project, where a percentage of it m…
Read More
Members Only  
2026 State of the textile industry report

June 1, 2026  |  Features, State of the Industry

Last year, we were wondering how tariffs would affect the U.S. economy and the domestic portion of the global textile industry, as the rates seemed to change daily at the time the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) annual industry survey was being conducted in the spring. Inflation thus wound up be…
Read More
Members Only  
What event industry pros look for in draping fabrics—and why

June 1, 2026  |  Features

Statement-making draping is reshaping client expectations for events. As event planners use this technique more intentionally to define celebratory spaces, the bar for both design and execution is rising, particularly in tented events.
Read More
Members Only  
How fabricators estimate jobs and ensure profitability

June 1, 2026  |  Features

Fabrication work can be rewarding, but it often includes long hours. Unfortunately, outworking competitors doesn’t always translate into a more profitable operation. Getting estimates right for custom work is essential to run a successful business, but it’s tricky by nature to accomplish because…
Read More
Members Only  
Agriculture fabrics for ever-changing seasons

April 1, 2026  |  Features

Whether traveling the countryside in the United States or around the globe, it doesn’t take long to spot a storage building, livestock or poultry shelter, or agriculture storage structure made of a textile. It could be a framed Quonset-hut style building with a textile skin rather than a metal she…
Read More
What makes Paul’s Custom Canvas so respected

April 1, 2026  |  Features, Perspective

For nearly 50 years, Paul’s Custom Canvas has made a name for itself in Denver, Colo., through steady work and reliable craftsmanship.
Read More
2026 Specialty Fabrics Showcase

April 1, 2026  |  Features, Specialty Fabrics Showcase

Awnings, marine upholstery, outdoor furniture, banners and signs, and more: Regardless of the end product, the fabrics a business needs may have to perform in harsh conditions while still looking good and fitting into a budget. For our annual showcase, 21 companies—the majority of them members of …
Read More