New collections from J.Ennis Fabrics Novelties Exotic Hides are faux hides with an authentic look and feel in four colors: Holstein, Ayrshire, Hereford and Angus. Tough and fire-resistant, they can be used in home and hospitality settings for a unique look in upholstery, especially when paired with complementary Ultraleather™. Both products use environmentally friendly PU [...]

Featuring premium cast vinyl and cast overlaminate film, the new Roland Restyling Solution media supports the manufacturer’s entire line of eco-solvent and solvent inkjets. The cast vinyl prints beautifully and features Avery Dennison Easy Apply RS™ adhesive technology, an advanced repositionable adhesive that simplies installation on even the toughest and most intricate curves, contours and [...]

Two new fabrics from Recasens U.S.A. highlight design flexibility, aesthetics and environmental appeal: Solrec® mesh permits greater air flow and UV protection for use in awnings and window shades. It comes 118 inches wide in 32-yard lengths to minimize waste and reduce seaming. Nine colors are currently available. RecScreen® PVC/polyester shade screen fabric filters UV [...]

Applied directly to the substrate in a matter of seconds, Barta transfer labels have a wide range of industrial applications, including inflatable rafts and boats. As a cost-effective and efficient solution for branding and safety instructions, they can be applied to either a flat or rounded surface, for flexibility in the application process. Once applied, [...]

Problem: The London College of Fashion demands cutting-edge technology for students in clothing design. Solution: The College purchased OptiTex software, including PDS, Marker, 3D Modules and 3D Runway Designer for 25 design stations to give students “a thorough design experience, whilst affording them the ability to explore new innovative digital approaches to producing and displaying [...]

Compiled by Juli Case My client wants to know if the fabric I’ve proposed for their project is extrusion coated. What’s that and how do I find out? Coating is the process of adding a semi-liquid to a fabric base; there are several different methods used. Extrusion coating is a technique in which resin pellets [...]

Compiled by Juli Case We’re making a product that goes inside a factory and will be exposed to temperatures of 400 F. We’ve got the fabric; any suggestions for an FR thread that we can use? FR usually stands for flame retardant, but that may not be what you need here. Sometimes a material will [...]

I’ve heard that the U.S. government is giving incentives to businesses for insulating their buildings. Where can I get more information? Compiled by Juli Case We contacted the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and were informed that there are tax incentives for U.S. business owners who make their operations more energy efficient. We were directed [...]

From seed to store, protecting agricultural products with fabric. By Jamie Swedberg The same elements that make farming possible—the sun, the rain, the wind, the web of life—also make it a challenge. For every gentle rain, there is a pelting hailstorm. For every beneficial microorganism, there is a voracious bird that devours the last berry. [...]

The same trends that are driving development in wovens are expanding applications for nonwovens. By Janet Preus According to Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, supervisor of the nonwovens laboratory at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, the nonwoven industry is worth about $60 billion, most of it in disposables and semidurables. That is changing, however, driven in part [...]