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Industry advocacy efforts keep textile business in the U.S.

May 1st, 2024

These coyote brown shelters used in U.S. Marine Corp deployments worldwide were made by U.S. manufacturer UTS Systems of PVC coated polyester made in America by Seaman Corp. Image: Seaman/UTS Systems The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and other government agencies use many products made from specialty fabrics. They include military uniforms, straps, netting, tents […]

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Market watch: The specialty fabrics industry responds to COVID-19

May 1st, 2020

By Elisa Bernick, Sammi Jones, Jill C. Lafferty,  Galynn Nordstrom, Rebecca J. Post and Janet Preus The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, with the textile industry playing a key role. Suppliers and end product manufacturers have pivoted at lightning speed to produce much-needed PPE for front-line medical workers. IFAI members are reaching […]

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Narrow fabrics’ widening reach

December 1st, 2017

Corporate administrators tend to base management decisions on the Pareto Principle (80 percent of business comes from 20 percent of the clientele). Textile engineer Connie Huffa argues that can be a shortsighted way of thinking. “Opportunities lie in the 20 percent—the business we all would have turned down 10 to 20 years ago,” says the […]

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Marketing in the digital age

November 1st, 2016

Technology has changed things,  but customer relationships are still paramount. Not long ago, business managers realized that the Internet would change everything,  especially marketing. With the click of a mouse, millions of potential customers could be reached. Although that revolution has come to pass and online platforms have matured, the takeaway for business owners is this: […]

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