Crafting skilled employees and happy customers at Charman Motor Trimmers

May 1, 2019  |  Features, Perspective

With a growing business and a dearth of skilled labor, Kimber Buglass trains his own employees, fostering project ownership and pride in the job. “Treat every job as if it’s your own job,” says Kimber Buglass, owner and managing director of Charman Motor Trimmers and Upholsterers Ltd. “I…
Innovative and sustainable: GERES Zero Gravity down jacket

May 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Berg Outdoor, the Portugal-based clothing and gear brand, creates outerwear with five goals in mind: it must be lightweight, versatile, innovative, functional and sustainable. The ultralight GERES Zero Gravity down jacket ticks off all of those boxes. Berg looked to Porcher Sport, the French maker o…
Watershed Dry Bags for airtight protection

May 1, 2019  |  Swatches

The folks at Watershed® like to say they are obsessed with water. CEO Eric Revels began his career as a whitewater raft guide in the U.S. and South America while he pursued his dream to be a whitewater slalom canoe racer. Throughout his adventures, he grew tired of dealing with damp gear stored in …
Advice for understanding IP law

April 23, 2019  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Advice for innovators from innovators. by Janet Preus Editor’s note: Select entrepreneurs were asked to answer questions about intellectual property (IP) law and their experiences with it. Those interviewed are at various stages in their careers. Questions asked: What do you wish you had known ear…
Recycle, repurpose, reclaim

April 23, 2019  |  Features

Companies are finding creative ways to address the growing push toward recycling and repurposing used fabrics. It’s tempting to think that recycling was “invented” sometime in the late 1960s, but that would ignore the fact that back in the 11th century, Japan was figuring out ways to reuse its…
Knitted textile supports thin concrete structure

April 23, 2019  |  Swatches

A striking, double-curved pavilion recently on exhibit at the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo in Mexico City showcased an experiment with the materials and processes used in construction. The installation was framed using a knit textile that supports its thin concrete structure. Dubbed Knit…