First do no harm

August 1, 2014  |  Features, Upholstery

Performance upholstery fabrics need not come with a steep environmental cost. New fabrics, blends and treatments are making sustainability an affordable option. By Sigrid Tornquist On an even playing field, when faced with a choice between an environmentally friendly upholstery fabric versus a toxic…
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Getting creative

August 1, 2014  |  Business

Certified green “There are 107 textile environmental labels in our markets,” says Paul Taylor of Camira Fabrics Ltd. “You have to balance trying to drive the improvement of the product or process with how much it takes in resources to get the label.” These four certifications…
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Foam and flammability

August 1, 2014  |  Upholstery

The foam used in upholstered furniture can be another environmental concern if it’s treated with flame retardants. Until recently, the only way to meet the flammability requirements of the California Bureau of Home Furnishings Technical Bulletin 117 was to use flame-retardant treated foam. &ld…
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Fabric is king in digital printing

August 1, 2014  |  Features, Graphics

Advancements in printing methods and equipment are giving end users a wider choice of options designed to meet their specific needs and requirements. By Barb Ernster The rapid growth in printers and the variety of substrates available today have captivated the fabric graphics industry. New models of…
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Realistic print prototypes speed up design and production

August 1, 2014  |  Graphics

Hewlett Packard has identified an emerging trend: traditional manufacturers of home fashion and textiles are using HP Latex digital printing technology for prototyping and proofing, printing directly onto production media before going to production. For many years, proofing has been done using water…
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LivingBanners encourage cancer patients

August 1, 2014  |  Graphics

Northcott Banner Corp. in Minneapolis, Minn., was one of the first banner shops in town to do dye sublimation printing. Owner Millie Northcott says her business focus and printing method have changed, but the dye sublimation process remains a cornerstone of her business. One of her more recent pursu…
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Eco options

August 1, 2014  |  Graphics

With all the legal requirements and environmental standards today, end users are looking for eco-friendly options. That’s a catalyst for printer manufacturers like Roland to meet those demands, says Lily Hunter at Roland DGA Corp. “We’re noticing a shift to greener, more sustainabl…
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Textiles in cleanrooms

August 1, 2014  |  Markets

Cleanrooms are spaces that maintain low levels of airborne particulate and viable micro-organisms; any liquids and gases entering a cleanroom are purified to maintain the cleanliness level. Textiles may be used to prevent contaminants from entering, remove contaminants, prevent contamination by peop…
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No distractions

August 1, 2014  |  Projects

Artist Freyja Sewell believes that a better awareness of one’s body, senses and materials can lead to a higher appreciation of the physical world, and so created a “sensory concentration space.” The small fabric enclosure allows the user to remove all distractions from experiencing…
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Antistatic, conductive, or static dissipative?

August 1, 2014  |  Markets

Knowing the type of static control required of a textile is essential. Imagine this scenario, as described by Bud Weisbart, vice president of A & R Tarpaulins, the parent company of AR Tech, Fontana, Calif. Mechanics are assembling an aircraft. Large fabric tubes transfer fresh, cool air inside …
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