Enhanced appearances and time saved. Carnegie has expanded the aesthetic possibilities of Xorel®, its environmentally sound textile solution for commercial interiors, with the new Details collection. Xorel Details offers textural relief through the use of bulkier yarns and denser weave structures. Metallic color blends combined with surface texture give vertical spaces increased impact. Six styles [...]

Enhanced appearances and time saved. Interlam Pro™ pressure-sensitive laminating films from Drytac® are designed for direct application to UV printed output. The multipurpose overlaminates have a pressure-sensitive aqueous acrylic adhesive and UV stabilizers to prevent discoloration and degradation of both the film and adhesive. Available in several finishes, including 3-mil glossy, lustre and matte, as [...]

Visitors who meet at the U.S. and Canadian border to see the awesome power of Niagara Falls, which has the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, expect to emerge from the experience inspired, wind-blown and mist-dampened. After visiting the falls, nothing could be more natural than visiting Canada’s largest open-air outlet mall, [...]

Retractable fabric systems are poised to transform outdoor spaces. So you thought retractable fabric structures were a late 20th century phenomenon sheltering sports stadia, outdoor shopping malls, and en plein air cafes? Think again. Forms of retractable fabric roof systems date to Roman times. The Coliseum’s vast seating area, the cavea, was covered with a [...]

Eco-friendly, practical boots fold up for easy packing and stowing. ‘Sardines,’ by designer Estel Acaraz, are foldable rain boots that can be folded up, secured with a flexible strap and stowed away or packed for travel. Made of injection-molded thermoplastic polyurethane—a highly elastic, recyclable plastic—the boots squash down to just a fifth of their original [...]

High-performance fabrics and finishes stretch the capabilities of athletes and recreational sports enthusiasts. Once upon a time, recreational sports were pretty tame: croquet, badminton, golf, rowing. But as humans eyed what new technology afforded them in the way of action, they began pushing the physical limits. When ESPN launched the X Games in 1995, it [...]

Today’s tents and fabric structures aren’t just safe shelter; they’ve become key contributors to memorable events and are providing semi-permanent and permanent structural solutions. “Give me something different.” It’s a request event planners have been fielding much more often. Although it’s always been desirable that tents should make a good first impression—after all, an aesthetically [...]

Overall trends in the once-again growing specialty fabrics industry. After years of struggles, there’s optimism in the U.S. textile industry. The recent recession took its toll, but growth was already flagging from increased off-shore production and a shrinking skilled workforce, among other things. While the textile industry is many faceted and complex, it’s safe to [...]

There are some not-so-obvious benefits to attending industry events. You already know why your upcoming convention and trade show is important: it’s a chance to discover new products and new suppliers, discuss emerging industry trends and best practices, and learn from the people who make up your industry, as they learn from you. New products, [...]

New textile sheets boost yields in seaweed farming. Seaweed, it is believed, is an important but under-exploited resource for food and feed ingredients, biochemicals and the production of biofuels. However, it has been difficult to harvest efficiently on a large scale. The European Union-funded AT~SEA project is addressing this challenge and has developed advanced textiles [...]