Fabric architecture projects: immersive environments

August 1, 2026  |  Markets, Product Trends

A goal among design firms in recent years has been to create immersive environments. In fact, that trend surfaced on the 2026 trends predictions list released by architecture and design firm Gensler.
Thread suppliers tailor innovation to customers’ needs

July 1, 2026  |  Markets, Product Trends

External market pressures are everywhere in the textile industry. To succeed, thread manufacturers focus on service and developing products in response to their customers’ needs. Growth areas are in specialty niches and supported by internal R&D.
High standards, innovation in truck cover fabric performance

June 1, 2026  |  Markets, Product Trends

Every tarp on a highway is a small engineering project in motion. At 65 mph, a cover is not just keeping a load compliant; it is resisting abrasion at tie-down points, surviving UV exposure and cycling through heat and cold. For truck tarp and cover fabricators and the suppliers that serve them, the…
Geotextiles and geogrids mean longer-lasting roads

April 1, 2026  |  Markets, Product Trends

Can geotextiles and geogrids help build roadways that last for 100 years—or longer? Yes, say both industry and transportation representatives, although wider adaptation may require overcoming a few bumps in the road.
PFAS testing: What textile companies need to know

March 1, 2026  |  Markets, Product Trends

Many jurisdictions have current and forthcoming regulations banning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a variety of products, including textiles. Laboratory testing can help prove compliance with such bans of these so-called “forever chemicals,” although not without some caveats and c…
Want to add powder coating or electrostatic painting?

January 5, 2026  |  Markets, Product Trends

To expand beyond their core business, some awning companies may offer ancillary services. A painting service, either powder coating or electrostatic painting (ESP), is one option. Two Advanced Textiles Association member companies offer their insights on why they chose the technology and how the abi…
Advancements in automotive textiles

December 2, 2025  |  Markets, Product Trends

Textiles for the automotive market are an exacting product segment but also one full of opportunity, whether producing materials for upholstery shops or mass-produced vehicles. Trends include achieving sustainability goals and creating novel lightweight insulating materials that need to work a littl…
Happenings in fabric graphics

November 1, 2025  |  Markets, Product Trends

The textile industry is an international beast, subject to the effects of supply availability, sustainability, worldwide regulations and changing tariffs. Successful companies deal with those changes by being nimble, focusing on core strengths and planning for the years ahead.