Interpreting the interior of a conch shell, the SeaShell from The Originators Design was a custom design and on-site build for an air freshener pop-up store. The structure utilized air-brushed stretch fabric and a lot of highly contorted PVC frame. Photo: SC Johnson & Son. Fabric graphics have become a marketing and branding [...]

“Magma”garment designed by Katharina Sjördstrand, student at ESMOD Berlin. Photo: ©ESMODBerlin. To mark the 2014–2016 European Space Agency (ESA) mission to the International Space Station, European fashion schools from the astronauts’ home countries explored the future of fashion and all its technical possibilities. “Couture in Orbit” was a project of ESA and the [...]

Model 70TT Model 25TT The 70TT is a butane-powered handle that burns for approximately 30 minutes on mid-setting and is refillable; it comes with a hole-burning tip that works on synthetic materials and is useful for trimming close threads. Eight additional attachments are available. Slightly smaller, Model 25TT burns about 20 [...]

The House of Canvas manufactures and installs residential and commercial window awnings, patio awnings, shade screens, roll curtains and retractable awnings. Photo: The House of Canvas Inc. Debbie Lacy, general manager of The House of Canvas Inc., Glendale, Ariz., takes pride in her family owned and operated custom awning business. From residential and [...]

The Rosebud Stretcher Frame System is designed to fix the extreme hour-glassing and puckering often encountered with scrims, bobbinettes, vinyl, projection screens and muslin backdrops. Hour-glassing naturally occurs when fabrics stretch vertically, causing the sides to pull in, and in some cases, puckering occurs. Key features of the frame include fast and easy attachment to [...]

John Bland revolutionizes marine fabrication by applying 3-D CAD principles to the design process. Photos by Christopher Ison. Look at the motor industry—you wouldn’t be happy driving a car that was spec’d 20 years ago,” says John Bland, managing director of Tecsew Ltd., Gosport, Hampshire, U.K. “It’s the same in the textile industry. [...]

Free Your Feet is the newest iteration of the Kitesock, which was inspired by the needs of kite surfers who required protection against hidden sharp objects while still being able to stay in sync with their boards. Photo: Swiss Barefoot Company. People who enjoy board sports like body boarding and surfing, or other [...]

Eight new Ultimate PremiumPlus Gloss Effects colors have been introduced: Daytona Blue, Thundercloud Metallic, Hornet Metallic, Gunmetal Metallic, Bronze Metallic, White Metallic, Black Metallic and Metal Gear Blue. Line features superior gloss retention upon stretch, improved repositionability during installation and guaranteed conformability into deep channels. Arlon’s Low Profile X-Scape Technology allows for easier repositionability and [...]

Someone recently asked me: “What value do we (ATA and the specialty fabrics industry) bring to the larger community?” It caught me by surprise. I have a deep and personal interest in the success of our industry. ATA staff and volunteers work every day to advance, promote and protect it. I believe that the companies [...]

Maintenance-free mesh provides transparency and safety for the glass curtainwall stair tower at the UCLA School of Medicine. Photo: Banker Wire. The UCLA School of Medicine’s South Tower building is undergoing a major renovation to convert nine of the former hospital’s 12 floors into a research lab. Known as the South Tower Seismic [...]