The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA), a division of the Advanced Textiles Association, is creating a buzz thanks to its Awnings Today PR campaign, now entering its third year. PAMA was featured in a front-page Washington Post (July 12, 2008) Real Estate section. The article illustrates how awnings are making a comeback, and highlights their [...]

The ancient Chinese goddess Nüwa (pronounced ‘new way’) was said to have mended the earth, following a battle between fire and water gods. A joint venture of fabric mills and specialized dye and finishing plants in China and Taiwan has adopted the goddess’s name to signal commitment to environmental consciousness. At a time when environmental [...]

May 12 changed everything in the Sichuan province of China. Local radio in Sichuan quoted disaster relief officials as saying a third of the buildings in Wenchuan collapsed from the quake and another third were seriously damaged. In addition to taking thousands of lives, the earthquake leveled schools, hospitals and houses. As Chinese [...]

Inspired by the great ‘age of the automobile,’ when design and innovation coupled with a strong sense of optimism, the Motor City Collection of 11 versatile contract fabrics embodies the style, design, durability and exuberance of Detroit’s automotive heritage in the 1950s. Drawn from the classics, the designs are inspired by the past but offer [...]

According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), of the estimated 47 million Americans without health insurance, more than 28 million are small business owners, their employees and dependents. The Small Business Healthcare Options Program (SHOP Act, H.R. 6210) has been introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives. Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wisc.) and Phil [...]

The American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists (AATCC) and [TC]2 are jointly sponsoring “Innovative Textile Printing: Green & Global,” September 17–19 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham, N.C., U.S.A. The conference will highlight fresh approaches to textile printing and provide insight into the development and production of textile prints in the global supply chain. [...]

Sunbrella is made in lush velvet, defying the notion that performance fabrics are stiff and unsophisticated. Photo: Sunbrella Fabrics. Gina Wicker scoffs at the notion that her mother called the place in their house with the sofa the “living” room. “We were never allowed to go in there,” she says. “It was off-limits [...]

When you walk the aisles of a trade show, it’s hard not to be dazzled by all the newest high-end equipment. There are systems available with truly remarkable capabilities: high-ply CAD-driven cutters with vacuum compression tables; room-sized fabric welders; vision-guided robotic sewing machines. But these devices seem to be far removed from the day-to-day reality [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I have a client that wants me to reupholster a 1998 Sea Ray boat. Do you have any idea what type of fabric was used? Typically, the best option is to contact the boat manufacturer and ask. In this case, we were directed to contact a local dealer, but the marine [...]

Compiled by Juli Case We use an old Allen Datagraph vinyl cutter and are in need of some parts. The phone number we have is disconnected; are they still in business? Apparently they are, although it appears they’ve moved since you purchased your equipment. We located Allen Datagraph at: SOURCE Allen Datagraph Systems Inc. Juli [...]