A new look and advertising campaign for Rowley Co., Gastonia, N.C., got a second look from judges at the May International Window Coverings Expo (IWCE) Vision ’09 conference. The decorating supply manufacturer won the Best Advertising Campaign award for 2008-2009. Rowley’s magazine ads, online banners and revamped website show off not only the company’s products, [...]

A 150-page report, Aircraft Textiles: Interior Fabrics and Air Cabin Design, gives a timely overview of the aircraft textiles industry, including the latest developments in products and safety standards. Published by Textile Media Services, Keighley, U.K., the report contains profiles of 25 global aircraft fabric and carpet suppliers, as well as news about: Key trends [...]

An Australian government innovation budget for the textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry is drawing fire from the Footwear Manufacturers’ Association of Australia, Technical Textile and Nonwoven Association (TTNA) and Carpet Institute of Australia. The budget excluded the technical textile sector from a Building Innovative Capacity (BIC) fund, even though it was identified in an [...]

The U.S. Department of Commerce confirmed that imports of textiles and apparel decreased by 9.7 percent from April 2008 to April 2009, and import value declined by $5.8 billion, reflecting the depressed worldwide economy. Three countries holding their own in a down market are China, with a 15 percent increase in imports over the previous [...]

When Tata Consultancy Services, a worldwide firm providing IT, business solutions and outsourcing services, set up a development center in Hangzhou, China, Indian workers asked for—and got—an Indian vegetarian restaurant. Historically, China and India have disputed over the common border, but are moving into a new phase as both lose U.S. and European market share. [...]

SK Capital Partners , an investment firm based in New York City and Boca Raton, Fla., has added Solutia Inc.’s integrated nylon chemical, plastic and fiber business to its portfolio. The business has been re-named Ascend Performance Materials, and will be led by former American Standard chairman and CEO Frederic Poses. Solutia/Ascend had $1.8 billion [...]

A survey by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) shows that textile machinery manufacturers recorded declines of between 3-66 percent in shipments in 2008. The ITMF report covers spinning, texturing, weaving, large circular knitting, flat knitting and finishing machinery. Investment in textile machinery boomed between 2003 and 2007, but the faltering world economy and the [...]

TenCate™ Industrial Fabrics has appointed Lancer Textiles, Elkin Park, Pa., as master distributor of its products to customers seeking small quantities, infrequent orders or special converting, such as slitting or re-rolling. Customers unable to meet the minimum order quantity now have access to the same first-quality products, allowing TenCate to expand its market. Lancer Textiles [...]

Smooth, impermeable swimsuits broke onto the international scene at the Beijing Olympics, worn by gold medal winner Michael Phelps in setting one record after another. In a move to eliminate this technological advantage from swimming competition, the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), international swimming’s governing body, plans to ban all nontextile swimwear. FINA established a [...]

Each year, Designjournalmag.com, a trade resource for architects and designers, announces the Awards for Design Excellence (ADEX), and Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, High Point, N.C., had a day in the sun. Sunbrella® fabrics received four ADEX awards: The Caroline Seabreeze Collection of furniture fabrics took the Platinum; the Ginza Collection of awning fabrics and Sunbrella [...]