Underwater shade at Penn State

May 1, 2019  |  Swatches

When you think about outdoor spaces for people to congregate, a water tower is probably not on the list. But on the campus of Penn State University, State College, Pa., a new water tower located next to the Palmer Museum of Art and the Stuckeman School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture was …
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Parà Group’s green initiatives focus on conservation, preservation and clean energy.

May 1, 2019  |  Industry News

By Paul Johnson As a world leader in the manufacture of marine, awning and outdoor fabrics, Parà Group makes a wide range of products for iconic brands, such as Ralph Lauren Home, Fendi Home and Missoni. Five state-of-the art factories in Northern Italy produce more than 33,000 pounds of yarn and 3…
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Additional services enrich relationships and bottom line

May 1, 2019  |  Features

Adding services to core offerings can provide a way to cement customers to your business, meeting more of their needs and strengthening your appeal—and bottom line—in the process. Once a company has a firm grip on its core business, attention often turns to broadening the services already offere…
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Building a better umbrella

May 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Umbrellas come in different shapes and sizes, but often the chief problem is that they don’t hold up to wind. Consider estimates that more than one billion umbrellas are broken every year: That’s enough polyester waste to cover New York City. Enter Hedgehog Carbon, an umbrella that is wind-teste…
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A coral reef, upcycled

May 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Textile artist Vanessa Barragão grew up in the seaside town of Albufeira, Portugal. s a designer she expresses her love of the ocean in the stunning art installation, Coral Garden.  Barragão is concerned with the polluting effects of the textile industry on the environment—particularly on delic…
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The protective textiles market

May 1, 2019  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Advanced textiles sector participants can benefit from strong growth predictions.  by Seshadri Ramkumar The protective textiles sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4 percent, according to a recent report by Leeds, U.K.-based WTiN Intelligence Service. Earlier estimates by other market s…
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Are you ready for the new digital future?

May 1, 2019  |  Business

Industrial Revolution 4.0 is here. by Connie Huffa Humans were born to learn and innovate. By nature, we constantly define, measure, analyze, improve and control our environments. Whether we know it or not, by wanting the latest and greatest we are changing not only how we make and buy things, but h…
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The value proposition

May 1, 2019  |  Editorial

Thirty years ago, I was working as a magazine editor in a small Minneapolis-based trade publishing company, and at the time we had no desktop publishing capability; we typed our copy and sent it to a local printer, who would typeset it and then deliver it to us in his battered green pickup. Sometime…
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Beanie hardens into a safety helmet

May 1, 2019  |  Swatches

One of the quickest ways to get hurt downhill skiing is to skip the helmet. In fact, 88 percent of all snow sport-related deaths are due to head injuries, yet many people just won’t wear a helmet on the slopes. Australian bioengineer Rob Joseph learned this lesson the hard way. Frustrated with his…
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Retractable canopies keep concert-goers protected

May 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Located in a forest setting between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md., the Merriweather Post Pavilion is an historic outdoor music venue. Designed by architects Frank Gehry and N. David O’Malley, the venue opened in 1967 and has hosted the greats in rock, country, blues, jazz, hip hop and class…
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