Brenda Hagerty and Porcupine Canvas: sales and customer-focused marketing

July 1, 2018  |  Features, Perspective

“Cold calls are a thing of the past,” says Brenda Hagerty, co-owner and president of Porcupine Canvas Manufacturing Ltd. in Boucherville, Quebec, Canada. “Calling someone out of the blue to try to sell them something just doesn’t work in today’s industry. What clients want are our feet…
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Future architecture: Nicholas Goldsmith and the journey from mass to membrane

July 1, 2018  |  Markets

Nicholas “Nic” Goldsmith, FAIA, has been a major player for more than 40 years in the development of fabric architecture in North America and around the globe through his leadership of the innovative architectural/engineering firm FTL Design Engineering Studio, based in New York City. I’ve kno…
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Enhancing workplace (and worker) performance: automation and technology, equipment ROI and the new workforce

July 1, 2018  |  Features

Canvas Innovations in Holland, Mich., focuses on custom marine canvas and upholstery products, says owner Chris Ritsema. The company also has a smaller portion of the business dedicated to other textile-related products, such as porch enclosures, shade sails, awning recovery, furniture covers, golf …
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Stressed? Interactive textiles monitor humans and structures for potential damage

July 1, 2018  |  Features

During the evening rush-hour traffic, the eight-lane 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis suddenly collapsed on August 1, 2007, killing 13 people and injuring 145. The bridge was a continuous truss design, and an overstressed gusset plate at a critical joint was later determ…
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Faster printer

July 1, 2018  |  Products

The Mutoh ValueJet 1948WX is recommended for everyday and high-production sublimation printing. With its staggered four-head design, it prints at speeds up to 2,199 sq ft./hr., with applications for trade show graphics, promotional items, flags, interior decor, apparel and more. Designed with advanc…
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Durable health care upholstery fabric

July 1, 2018  |  Products

KnollTextiles’ Between the Lines collection offers performance, bleach-cleanable upholstery, privacy fabric and wallcovering for the health care and industrial markets. The collection includes coated upholstery fabrics such as Brigadoon 21, a phthalate-free vinyl upholstery fabric priced at less t…
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3-D knitting with custom flair

July 1, 2018  |  Projects

What if you could use a knitting machine much like a 3-D printer to produce a sweater for a customer tailored to fit her perfectly? Not only that, what if she could choose the color and pattern as well? That’s the idea behind technology developed by computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon Universit…
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Industry 5.0

July 1, 2018  |  Editorial

It was probably a $200 billion mistake. After that, we made a rule: No more meetings in the bathroom. ~Michael Eisner, former CEO, Disney   Recently, my book club was discussing the merits of the book “Exit West” by Mohsin Hamid, which portrays the adventures of a couple (and a world) esca…
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Fabric artwork targets gun violence

July 1, 2018  |  Projects

A medium that is soft, warm and welcoming might just be the ideal outlet to discuss the cold, hard facts about gun violence in America. This is the thinking behind the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles exhibitions, “Guns: Loaded Conversations,” created in conjunction with Studio Art Quilt…
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Siren Socks for foot health

July 1, 2018  |  Projects

A side effect of diabetes can be numbness in the feet, causing people with the disease to be at risk for serious foot conditions including ulcers that can get infected and even result in amputation. It’s important for diabetics to monitor their feet daily. Typical tracking methods include therap…
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