Innovative fabric facades

April 1, 2020  |  Features

Changing the look and function of architecture for a sustainable future.  by Bruce N. Wright, FAIA Architects are fond of describing their buildings in the metaphoric terms of the human body. The supporting structure is often referred to as the skeleton that holds it up; the enclosure (or envel…
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Memory quilts from upcycled T-shirts

April 1, 2020  |  Swatches

Sometimes, the idea for a new product comes about in an unexpected way. Take Project Repat, for example. Company cofounder Ross Lohr was stuck in a traffic jam in Nairobi, Kenya. After two hours, he discovered the jam was caused by an overturned produce rickshaw pushed by a man wearing a T-shirt tha…
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2020 Specialty Fabrics Showcase

April 1, 2020  |  Features, Specialty Fabrics Showcase

Fabrics, always combining performance and style, are the natural choice for applications ranging from awnings and tents to marine fabrication, outdoor structures, indoor architecture, arts and apparel, medical and aerospace products, to name just a few. For our annual two-part showcase, we asked our…
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Attract younger workers to the trades

April 1, 2020  |  Features

Tech and training are sparking interest. by Jeff Moravec There’s a simple, well-known and significant problem in the fabrication business: too much work, not enough workers. “Fabricators have more business than they can handle,” says Russ Griffin, co-owner of Northcoast Marine Specialties LLC …
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The Limitless Milk Shirt

April 1, 2020  |  Swatches

That memorable question, “Got milk?” takes on a whole new meaning in today’s technological marketplace. That’s because the Los Angeles-based startup Mi Terro is making the Limitless Milk Shirt, a T-shirt out of the white stuff. The motivation is sustainability. Each year, 128 million tons of…
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Promoting shade in the marketplace and happiness in the workplace

April 1, 2020  |  Features, Perspective

For Patrick Howe and Wholesale Shade, high-quality custom shade sails are the product of a happy and efficient workplace. by Jill C. Lafferty My day consists of making sure my employees are happy. That’s my number one job,” says Patrick Howe, owner of Wholesale Shade™, a private label shade sa…
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