Napier Auto Upholstery restores a sentimental treasure

February 1, 2021  |  Markets, Upholstery

When a client brought the first vehicle he had ever owned—a 1955 Ford Consul Mk1—to Napier Auto Upholstery of Napier, New Zealand, the motor trimmer and upholstery specialists knew they had a sentimental treasure on their hands, as well as a research project. With the proper rebuild, the
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Shade around the world: custom canopy projects

January 1, 2021  |  Awnings & Canopies, Markets

Custom canopy projects can present unique challenges to their creators, but that’s a reason many designers, fabricators and installers enjoy them. These projects give them a chance to flex their creative muscles while solving problems.
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Fabric-covered classrooms earn OFPANZ Supreme Award

January 1, 2021  |  Swatches

New Zealand’s Green School describes its campus as “a place for inspired learning,” and now three fabric-covered pod-like classrooms are inspiring students as well.
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Sustainable Sunbrella collections

January 1, 2021  |  Products

RETWEED is the first sustainable line of performance textiles from Sunbrella® and uses up to 93 percent recycled content. This mid-century modern and vintage tweed-inspired collection, created in partnership with Richard Frinier, has the textural appearance of hand-loomed textiles where no two roll…
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Technology and market demand usher in a new age in ballistics protection

January 1, 2021  |  Features

The market for ballistic protective clothing has traditionally functioned as a small slice of the military and law enforcement protective markets. Today, however, demand for such apparel is growing at an unprecedented rate across the globe, reflecting changing political and social circumstances. Fac…
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Columbia introduces ‘heat magnet’ textile to the outdoors market

January 1, 2021  |  Swatches

Columbia Sportswear has launched its new Omni-Heat™ Black Dot technology, described as “the outdoor industry’s first external thermal shield built to protect from the cold” in a company press release. The new textile features thousands of multilayered black dots that act as a “heat magnet,…
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Closing the gaps in the textile supply chain

January 1, 2021  |  Features

With many moving parts, the textile supply chain requires hiccup-free involvement from entities up and down the line to ensure it functions properly. But with something so complex, the chain is often buffeted by factors beyond its control, leaving fabric manufacturers and their end users vulnerable …
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Big Span Structures completes parking garage façade with eye-catching details

January 1, 2021  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Capital Crescent Trail users in Bethesda, Md., are enjoying an aesthetically pleasing facade of digitally printed blue sky and bird silhouettes, designed and installed by Big Span Structures as part of a parking garage expansion project. In addition to the eye-catching view in place of an otherwise …
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How to be an efficiency champion at your specialty fabrics business

January 1, 2021  |  Features

No business owner wants to waste time and money, have frustrated employees, and risk customer relationships with mistakes and delays. But the truth is that all of these things happen when businesses operate less efficiently than they could be.
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Army, Texas A&M develop self-healing material

January 1, 2021  |  Swatches

The U.S. Army and Texas A&M University researchers have developed a new material that can autonomously heal in air and underwater. The 3D-printable and stimuli-responsive polymeric material is expected to enable massive reconfigurability in future military platforms, according to Dr. Frank Garde…
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