Exceeding expectations
February 1st, 2022
Shari Albertson is vice president of sales at Austin Canvas & Awning, a commercial and residential awning manufacturer and installer in Charlotte, N.C. She has over 15 years of awning sales experience and is the qualifying representative for the company’s general contractor’s licenses in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Yet nearly every time Albertson […]
Glenn Russell & Wayne Heflin: Strength in Simplicity
October 1st, 2021
Photography by Evan Anderson Photography / Film In 1984, Wayne Heflin and Glenn Russell met in a hallway of a U.S. handbag manufacturer. A seasoned professional within the fashion industry, Russell was the company’s financial controller. Heflin, a Vietnam veteran who entered the leather goods and fashion arena after his service ended, had recently established […]
Keeping up the shade market momentum
April 1st, 2021
Incorporating Sattler, Sunbrella and Norbar fabrics, ShadeFLA recently shaded the pool deck at Goodtime Hotel in Miami, Fla., including 17 cabanas, awnings for two bars and coverage for a 1,200-square-foot restaurant. Photo: ShadeFLA. Shade is on everyone’s mind, according to Margueritte Ramos, owner and sales manager of ShadeFLA. The Miami, Fla.-based company designs and installs […]
Matthew Dickerson: Daring to succeed
January 1st, 2021
A 6-by-4-inch yellow paint chip sits in a shadow box on the office wall of Matthew Dickerson, president and CEO of Tenshon, a shade sail manufacturer in Mesa, Ariz. More than a conversation starter, it symbolizes one of the most profound moments—and failures—of Dickerson’s career. Low on funds and barely two years into getting the […]
Breaking barriers in the textile industry for people who are blind
November 1st, 2020
National Industries for the Blind creates growth opportunities in the textiles industry for people who are blind or visually impaired. by Holly Eaman For many, 2020 has been a year of recognizing and working to overcome limitations—a technique that partners and employees of National Industries for the Blind (NIB) have mastered since 1938. Headquartered in […]
Woven Inspiration recovers the gilded age
July 1st, 2020
Woven Inspiration owner Christine Becker welcomes the challenge of preservation—of history and her craft. by Holly Eamon Christine Becker was destined for a life immersed in design. Born in Verona, Italy, she spent her childhood captivated by the city’s medieval architecture before moving as a teen to the artist-inhabited neighborhood of Greenwich Village, N.Y. Influence […]
Disaster shelter design competition tests engineering students
April 1st, 2020
John Brown University’s disaster shelter contest challenges students to develop and demonstrate solutions for emergency scenarios. By Holly Eamon Global economic losses from natural disasters topped $232 billion last year, rounding out a decade that cost the world nearly $3 trillion, according to the 2019 Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight Annual Report published by global […]
Better together: Indiana Fabric Solutions’ partnership philosophy
January 1st, 2020
Indiana Fabric Solutions’ partnership philosophy is helping both the company and the community grow. By Holly Eamon Business is booming at Indiana Fabric Solutions, in part because of the owners’ focus on fostering connections within the workforce and the community. Connections, community and communication are key factors in the company’s recent expansion. Four years ago, […]
Creativity CUBED
July 1st, 2019
Electra’s inventive flat-top temporary fabric structure helps it keep pace with Dubai’s fast-evolving event industry. By Holly Eamon In a world where customers increasingly expect their demands to be met instantaneously, companies that don’t prioritize active listening—or engagement—risk being left behind. Based in the competitive market of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), event and exhibition […]
A common thread
July 1st, 2019
Diamond Brand Gear is leading a regional effort to revive the art of sewing through education and collaboration. By Holly Eamon With roots extending to 1881, Diamond Brand Gear in Fletcher, N.C., continually works to build upon its legacy. The outdoor and military gear manufacturer is revitalizing not only its brand but also the industry’s […]