Hybrid technology: a new approach to design and production

August 1, 2017  |  Industry News

When technology and textiles intersect, it’s not surprising that the nomenclature often has us scratching our heads. Just what do we call this stuff? Smart textiles? E-textiles? Something else? Are they all the same? If that’s not enough of a conundrum, we’ve got something else to add to the l…
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Eco-friendly upholstery fabrics

August 1, 2017  |  Products

Breathe by Milliken™ textiles are eco-friendly, durable performance upholstery fabrics that repel everyday stains, are easily cleanable, sustainably designed and responsibly manufactured. Breathe fabrics are the industry’s first fluorine-free performance fabrics compatible with both natural and …
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Koons’ inflatable graced Rockefeller Center

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

American artist Jeff Koons, well known for vivid and often whimsical takes on pop culture and everyday life, created a show-stopping inflatable sculpture of a ballerina that was installed at Rockefeller Center from May 12 to June 2, 2017. Seated Ballerina was a larger-than-life version of a piece he…
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Choosing the right foam for your seating project

August 1, 2017  |  Markets

From cockpit cushions with hull angles to bosun’s chairs and boat mattresses, choosing the best solution for cushion foam is a bit of a science. The task can feel daunting given the complexity of choices in foam types, materials, densities and compression factors, but choosing correctly is crucial…
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Chair knitted using 3-D technology

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

The Tent Chair from Benjamin Hubert of the London-based experience design agency Layer Design is laid-back and modern. Created for the renowned Italian furniture brand Moroso, the chair’s fabrication is in itself cutting-edge. The chair is knitted in one seamless piece using 3-D knitting technolog…
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Soft robotics virtual reality gloves

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

Wouldn’t it be great to play the piano like a virtuoso? Now there’s a soft robotics glove that gives you the experience—in virtual reality. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have created gloves that take simulated experiences to a more sophisticated level than existing device…
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Fabric helps brick-and-mortar retailers take visual branding to another level

August 1, 2017  |  Features

The effects of society’s ever-increasing digital dependency, overabundance of shopping malls and shifting spending habits are not doing the retail industry any favors. But its future is not all doom and gloom. A study released earlier this year by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and IBM found…
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J & J Custom Design helps at-risk boys develop vocational skills

August 1, 2017  |  Industry News

When meeting with the director of Safe Harbor Boys Home and Maritime Academy about volunteer opportunities earlier this year, Jo Ann and John Greco were asked to revive its out-of-service upholstery shop. The couple, who own upholstery business J & J Custom Design LLC, took on the challenge with…
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How to attract and hire exceptional employees

August 1, 2017  |  Business

In the buyer’s market of recent years, it was probably easy for you to attract top-notch job candidates. Not so much today. With new job creation being healthier than expected in 2016, and further increases so far this year, finding and hiring the best candidates for your shop will no longer be a …
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Chad Miller keeps American National Manufacturing on top of changing market demands

August 1, 2017  |  Features, Perspective

People often ask if we make a particular product, and the answer is often no. But can we? To that, the answer is yes,” says Chad Miller, director of contract manufacturing of American National Mfg. Inc. and formerly co-owner of Plas-Tech Sealing Technologies, Corona, Calif. “We have everything w…
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