Compiled by Juli Case I have a client asking for a fabric I’ve never heard of before: Recacril. What is it and where can I get it? Recacril is a woven, solution-dyed acrylic fabric that originates in Europe. It’s used in awnings, casual furniture, and marine applications. SOURCE Recasens USA, Bala Cynwyd, Pa., U.S.A., +1 [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I need some plastic-coated bungee hooks in a 3/8-inch size. The hook portion has to be long enough to hold bungee cord. Do you have any suppliers? We found a couple of sources for the bungee hooks in the size you need: SOURCE Fasnap Corp., Elkhart, Ind., U.S.A., +1 574 264 [...]

Compiled by Juli Case We’ve had an architect quote a fabric called Alnet for a shade structure. Where can we purchase this material? Alnet is the fabric manufacturer; they have a family of shade fabrics, including Cooltone and Sunblock. The materials are knit high-density polyethylene. We contacted the company, which is located in South Africa, [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I bought an Omega sewing machine at an auction and need to get a manual for it. Do you know who makes it? The Omega appears to be primarily a home sewing machine and comes out of Italy. The manufacturer is a company by the name of Necchi. A U.S. representative [...]

Compiled by Juli Case My client wants to know if my product is certified to be green. How do I go about doing that? With the rising concerns regarding sustainability and green design, a great deal of emphasis is being placed on how ‘green’ a product is. Interest in the topic isn’t exactly new, but [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I’m installing a 40 x 120 foot tent, and my client is not allowing me to use stakes. If I use cement barrels, how many will I need? This is a tricky question, and as you’re probably already aware, is fraught with liability issues. What you’re describing is called “ballasting” and [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I have a customer specifying Nyco fabric. What is it? NYCO is an abbreviation for a fabric that is a blend of nylon and cotton. The nylon adds strength and abrasion resistance, while the cotton adds breathability and moisture absorption. To date, it’s being used for military uniforms and high-performance sportswear. [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I’m in the U.S. and am exporting some product to Canada. Where do I get a NAFTA Certificate of Origin? The North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico that eliminates duties and eliminates or reduces tariffs on certain products. Under NAFTA, [...]

Compiled by Juli Case We’re going to be conducting some laundry tests to see how well our product holds up to home washing. What detergent should we use? You’re probably not going to want to buy a detergent from the grocery store, especially since most tests are intended to be both consistent and replicable. According [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I usually do boat upholstery, but have the opportunity to reupholster the seats on two buses. I need help finding the fabric, though. It’s woven velvet with a very colorful pattern. Can you help me find it? Although both are upholstery applications, the materials used in buses and boats have a [...]