IFAI Expo highpoints and highlights

December 1, 2022  |  Expo Report, Features

Last year, attendees to the IFAI Expo in Nashville, Tenn., were cautious. We were all still wearing masks and practicing social distancing, and for some, the future was a bit uncertain.
Read More
Members Only  
Pros and cons of mobile marine shops

December 1, 2022  |  Features

When you’re a marine fabricator with a mobile unit, you’re often at a competitive advantage. Not only can you offer customers fast, convenient repairs and service, but you’re often able to recruit business from other boat owners who notice you at their marinas. Vendors who are fully mobile can…
Read More
Members Only  
Truly Circular

December 1, 2022  |  Features

You know the story. Textile waste is one of the largest causes of pollution on the planet. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that Americans alone generate more than 15 million metric tons of textile waste annually, which is about 104 pounds per person per year. And we’re not just…
Read More
Mike Charlton defines success on his own terms

November 1, 2022  |  Features, Perspective

Mike Charlton begins most weekdays with a leisurely cup of coffee on his back porch with his wife and business partner, Rachel Charlton, in Yorktown, Va. They typically leave for work by 9 a.m., where they fabricate custom marine canvas projects until 5 p.m.—at the latest.
Read More
Members Only  
Geosynthetics in agriculture

November 1, 2022  |  Features

The list of concerns hitting the agricultural industry and the ranchers and farmers who operate in that arena is extensive and seemingly getting longer by the minute. Acts and regulations governing the use of pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides and their containment and disposal; water restrict…
Read More
Emerging Leaders 40 and under

November 1, 2022  |  Features

Meet the up-and-coming people who are making their names in the textile industry.
Read More
Mission Critical

October 1, 2022  |  Features, Perspective

Call it a business founded on frustration and driven by inspiration. Spiritus Systems, which supplies nylon tactical gear for law enforcement, military personnel and other customers, started as an idea that took root on the side of a mountain in the Hindu Kush range in Afghanistan, where reliable ge…
Read More
Members Only  
Fabric structures that withstand extreme environments

October 1, 2022  |  Features

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands are drawn by the chance to vacation in surroundings renowned for their beauty and serenity. While locals share the tourists’ appreciation for what their paradise offers, they are also mindful of the environmental challenges Mother Nature often throws at them. This …
Read More
Members Only  
The science behind military uniforms

October 1, 2022  |  Features

Military uniforms have come a long way since the American Revolution when the Continental Army battled the British attired in tricorn hats and blue coats paired with white waistcoats and white overalls.
Read More
IFAI EXPO Show Preview 2022

September 1, 2022  |  Features

Join thousands of textile professionals as we return to Charlotte for the industry’s flagship event and partner with the Sun Shading Expo North America. Connect with the industry for four days of networking, education and product sourcing. Celebrate more than 100 years of IFAI Expo as we look towa…
Read More