For printing, position yourself as the expert

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Holly O’Dell Fabric graphics can open the door to new opportunities and repeat business. The key is to match the customer with the correct solution. “The client shares with us what they are looking for, and we recommend the best print method, application and fabric to give the desired…
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Routine, not ordinary

January 1, 1970  |  News

By William C. Smith Not all applications requiring advanced fibers are exotic. The use may be routine but the fibers used make it an advanced textile. For example a “routine” knit is used for underwear for soldiers in war zones subject to IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and similar f…
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There if you need it

January 1, 1970  |  News

By William C. Smith Advanced textiles can be defined by virtue of their highly specialized fibers or a unique technical application. There are a large number of specialty fibers available for advanced textiles, but most are limited in production and tend to be quite expensive. In considering their u…
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Gettin’ stringy with it

January 1, 1970  |  News

By William C. Smith The fiber industry keeps changing, especially for the producers of the lower-volume specialty fibers. Others have received the rights to produce, and many are available from several companies under various names. These are the most common ones. For a more extensive list, visit In…
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What equipment do you need?

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Janice Kleinschmidt Michael Richardson, Aurora Specialty Textiles Group You need a sewing machine for making a 1-inch hemmed, double-stitched border around the edge and the ability to insert grommets in the corners and possibly the top and bottom, depending on width. Elissa Decker, Moss Inc. Our …
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Lasting impressions

January 1, 1970  |  News

Fabric and coating technology has definitely increased outdoor durability—but it’s not durable indefinitely. By Janice Kleinschmidt “Outdoor durability and product lifespan can range drastically, depending on output, ink, fabric, application, finishing and the physical environment.…
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Specialty Fabrics Review interviews Andrea Lampson and her husband Mark

January 1, 1970  |  News

Interview by Sigrid Tornquist What advice would you and Mark give to someone who is looking to purchase a small manufacturing business? We looked at hundreds of companies before buying this one, and identified two main things to look for in a business and two main things to have in place as you take…
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Snapshot: A walk to the party

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Sigrid Tornquist After an 11-year hiatus, the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum located on the Congress Street Bridge in Boston, Mass., opened in June 2013—with the help of the Dorchester Awning Co. The company manufactured and installed four 100-foot-long ramps that lead from the bridge to…
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Driving innovation

January 1, 1970  |  News

>By Holly O’Dell The U.S. military and its research and manufacturing partners are exploring new capabilities in uniforms that once were reserved for science fiction. “With the proliferation of electronic devices, electronic textiles will play an ever-increasing role,” says Dr. …
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Future plans

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Sigrid Tornquist “I think that for textile finishes we will find that nanometer-thin coatings will become more relevant. They do not change the textile character (flexibility, haptics, etc.) and are very durable (e.g. wash-fastness). Such coatings can strongly adhere to literally any substr…
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