July 1, 2026
This open-air play area is located on a third-floor terrace at the KIPP charter school in New York City’s Bronx, Kingsbridge Heights neighborhood. Its grounding is defined by the six-story brick buildings that surround this space and the virtually transparent mesh overhead. The building is used as both an elementary and middle school with shared …
July 1, 2026
Last year, we were wondering how tariffs would affect the U.S. economy and the domestic portion of the global textile industry, as the rates seemed to change daily at the time the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) annual industry survey was being conducted in the spring. Inflation thus wound up being No. 1 on people’s lists …
July 1, 2026
A canopy roughly the size of a blue whale’s torso is part of an apparatus in Newport Beach, Calif., helping to protect marine wildlife. The equipment is a trash interceptor, moored in San Diego Creek, where it removes trash and debris from the riverbed before it enters an environmentally sensitive preserve, the harbor and bay, and …
July 1, 2026
Chaos can often be mistaken for capability. The ability to pivot quickly, solve problems on the fly and “make it work” under pressure is what many of us built our businesses on. For years, I believed that the more chaotic my life was, the more successful I must be. That the more flexible I could …
July 1, 2026
Textiles have typically been an industry with high energy consumption. In some circumstances, it can be highly labor-intensive, depending on the level of modernization. A February 2026 report from the European Environment Agency notes that textile consumption in 2020 in the European Union had the third highest impact on water usage and fifth highest use …
July 1, 2026
When Berlin, Germany-based artist Tomislav Topic needed a fast, on-budget solution for a large art installation at a festival in 2014, inspiration came during a trip to the hardware store. A couple of years prior, he’d become fascinated with the moiré effect that occurs when grids hang behind each other and created an installation with …
June 1, 2026
Major sports clothing company Under Armour recently recreated its world headquarters in Baltimore, Md., by putting its connection to the environment and community on display. Besides using a mass timber structural frame and having an overall commitment to reducing embodied carbon, the new building features a sleek facade of single-layer ETFE. The lead design architect, …
June 1, 2026
More than 100 professionals from across the U.S. textile industry gathered in Asheville, N.C., March 30–April 1 for the eighth annual Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) Women in Textiles Summit, a dynamic, multiday event focused on leadership, mentorship and advancing women in a traditionally male-dominated industry. The summit combined keynote presentations, panel discussions, hands-on learning and …
June 1, 2026
Instead of spending spring break on a beach, textiles students from North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles and West Virginia University participated in the inaugural Spring Break Textiles Trek, visiting nearby companies for tours and networking—and seeing textile manufacturing on a real-world scale. The idea and sponsorship for the event came from Amy Bircher …
June 1, 2026
“I can’t fire them—they’re family” can be a dangerous phrase in a family business. This deep-seated loyalty can create complications in the business if loyalty over performance is prioritized. Among the many excuses for not parting ways with family are: “It’s not a good time”; “This will end my relationship with them”; or “It will cause …
April 1, 2026
Last summer, performing arts circus school Circus Juventas in St. Paul, Minn., looked into improving its building’s efficiency, including better insulation to reduce energy use and to address condensation concerns. Although the building’s “big top,” a tensioned dome roof constructed with Shelter-Rite® fabric membrane, continued to perform well, the organization decided to replace it at …
February 1, 2026
Taiwanese architect Cheng-Tsung FENG took inspiration from traditional oil-paper umbrellas to create an airy park pavilion that has a pocket garden and benches for people to gather and relax inside. The structure takes an umbrella’s design and turns it on its head—well, more literally on its side. The shape appears as if three giant umbrellas …
February 1, 2026
“The Organic Tree” was created to make a fan experience at the Australian Open more comfortable. VDM Group and Pattons implemented a detailed breakdown of the design, engineering, fabrication and installation process and spent the first week planning. Although this used up a week of its 12-week timeline, it resulted in thorough project management. They …
January 1, 2026
Fabritecture was tasked with improving the aesthetics and functionality of the existing parking garage at the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. The architect’s concept included replacing the existing rectangular facade panels with a more geometrical design and layout. Fabritecture carefully refined the transformation, ensuring not only structural integrity but also a seamless integration with the existing …
December 1, 2025
The Miami Carnaval project comprises six zones, known as bays, divided into over 120 panels, and spans a total area of 8,420 square meters. The project involved the installation of more than 31,000 screws and approximately 6,000 linear meters of a sophisticated clamping system. The selected material, PTFE B18039 Versaideg, was chosen for its exceptional …
November 1, 2025
When a major credit union moved its corporate headquarters to the center of downtown Jacksonville, Fla., it wisely made a commitment to renovate several buildings along the primary pedestrian throughway that fronts its new property. VyStar Credit Union serves more than 825,000 military service members across the country, and as one of the largest financial …
October 1, 2025
On the wind-swept plains of Aurora, Colo., a monumental tensile structure gives the appearance of a giant winged bird alighting atop a performance stage. The site is part of a planned development for multiple parks for Aurora Highlands east of the Rockies of western Colorado. Measuring approximately 50 by 120 feet, this venue is a …
September 1, 2025
Although when grouped around a central building, the 12 freestanding structures may appear massive, the delicacy and transparency of the mesh fabric that encloses all 12 dramatically reduces the overall visual weightiness. Located in León, Mexico, the Environmental Education Center is inspired by the wings of a dragonfly, its rhomboid-like geometry clad with mesh fabric …
August 1, 2025
It appears as if it is unfinished, but the design goal for this multifunctional building is to be as flexible as possible to contain and support “diverse human activities [that] can be deployed under the cloud, which can be expanded as needed,” according to PFEIFER Spatial Structures, the engineering and fabrication company responsible for the …
July 1, 2025
A most unlikely location of placemaking can be found spanning a busy transit corridor in Redmond, Wash., with 20 lanes of freeway and two tracks of light rail speeding beneath a bridge. The Redmond Technology Station Bridge, designed by Silman’s Lightweight Structures Group of TYLin (formerly FTL), stretches 1,100 feet, connecting two Microsoft campuses. “Microsoft and …
May 13, 2026
Registration is open for Advanced Textiles Expo® 2026. The show returns Nov. 3–5, 2026, in Orlando, Fla., at the Orange County Convention Center (West Building). Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) expects 4,000+ attendees and 300+ exhibitors. Exhibit booths are still open as well. Expo programming Attendees can look forward to show floor education with hands-on learning, …
May 1, 2025
Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) is excited to announce that registration is now open for Advanced Textiles Expo® 2025, taking place November 5–7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. As the industry’s leading trade show for specialty fabrics, advanced textiles, and shade and weather protection, the Expo draws thousands of professionals for three days …
March 11, 2025
We are pleased to announce that Site & Stay has been selected as the official housing partner for Advanced Textiles Expo® 2025, taking place Nov. 5–7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. Hotel booking is now open, offering attendees and exhibitors exclusive access to discounted rates at our official host hotels—all conveniently located …
February 1, 2025
Advanced Textiles Association invites industry leaders, innovators and experts to present at Advanced Textiles Expo® 2025 and Emerging Technologies Conference (ETC). Advanced Textiles Expo and the ETC allow textile industry participants to showcase their knowledge and innovations, inspire other industry professionals, and engage with peers and thought leaders in a dynamic, collaborative environment. Presentation applications …
October 17, 2024
Advanced Textiles Expo® 2024, the largest event of Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA), concluded with resounding success Sept. 24–26 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Once again held in conjunction with Sun Shading Expo North America—organized by Messe Stuttgart, founders of R + T and the world’s largest trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun shading …
August 14, 2024
The Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) has renegotiated its General Services Contractor contract for the 2025–2027 Advanced Textiles Expo® shows. By selecting Freeman through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, we have secured rates that significantly lower the cost burden on our exhibitors. RFP process Key achievements This successful negotiation translates directly to cost savings for …
December 20, 2021
The Industrial Fabrics Association International is now accepting proposals for presentations at IFAI Expo 2022. IFAI Expo will take place Oct. 12-14, 2022, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., with education Oct. 11-14. IFAI is accepting proposals for 50-minute classroom sessions in several categories: Advanced Textiles Shade & Weather Protection Specialty Fabrics Marine …
July 6, 2021
Messe Stuttgart announced that its new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more. IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place …
May 10, 2021
Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021. IFAI Expo celebrates the 100th anniversary of the show this November, and you won’t want to miss it! After a long hiatus of in-person events, this year’s show is the perfect place to reconnect with your industry. Register now to get the Early Bird rate! Early Bird rates end …
December 1, 2020
With today’s digital printing options, there’s no reason for an awning client to be limited to colors and patterns in a book or traditional customization methods, according to Andrew Medley, regional sales manager for Trivantage. “Digital printing offers unlimited capabilities, and it is a solution to providing the customer exactly what they want—personalized messaging, the …
July 1, 2026
This open-air play area is located on a third-floor terrace at the KIPP charter school in New York City’s Bronx, Kingsbridge Heights neighborhood. Its grounding is defined by the six-story brick buildings that surround this space and the virtually transparent mesh overhead. The building is used as both an elementary and middle school with shared …
July 1, 2026
Last year, we were wondering how tariffs would affect the U.S. economy and the domestic portion of the global textile industry, as the rates seemed to change daily at the time the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) annual industry survey was being conducted in the spring. Inflation thus wound up being No. 1 on people’s lists …
July 1, 2026
A canopy roughly the size of a blue whale’s torso is part of an apparatus in Newport Beach, Calif., helping to protect marine wildlife. The equipment is a trash interceptor, moored in San Diego Creek, where it removes trash and debris from the riverbed before it enters an environmentally sensitive preserve, the harbor and bay, and …
June 1, 2026
Major sports clothing company Under Armour recently recreated its world headquarters in Baltimore, Md., by putting its connection to the environment and community on display. Besides using a mass timber structural frame and having an overall commitment to reducing embodied carbon, the new building features a sleek facade of single-layer ETFE. The lead design architect, …
June 1, 2026
More than 100 professionals from across the U.S. textile industry gathered in Asheville, N.C., March 30–April 1 for the eighth annual Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) Women in Textiles Summit, a dynamic, multiday event focused on leadership, mentorship and advancing women in a traditionally male-dominated industry. The summit combined keynote presentations, panel discussions, hands-on learning and …
June 1, 2026
Instead of spending spring break on a beach, textiles students from North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles and West Virginia University participated in the inaugural Spring Break Textiles Trek, visiting nearby companies for tours and networking—and seeing textile manufacturing on a real-world scale. The idea and sponsorship for the event came from Amy Bircher …
May 1, 2026
It would not be an exaggeration to say that among design firms in recent years, a popular goal is creating immersive environments (IE) that envelop occupants and blend physical, digital and sensorial elements to create deep engagements and emotional connections. In other words, grounding a building to its unique site and engaging with all of …
May 1, 2026
Inspired by their research on inflatable structures as moon habitats, the team at Pneumocell, Austria, is testing a much more grounded prototype—a subterranean geodesic Earth home called Pneumo Planet. At the core of the system is a dual-layer textile membrane weighing less than 1 kilogram per square meter (3 ounces per square foot). The outer layer consists of …
May 1, 2026
Hurricane Milton recovery for the Tampa Bay Rays was expected to be complete for the start of baseball season, ahead of the club’s Home Opener April 6. The new Tropicana Field roof panel installation was completed early, in late November 2025, as announced by the City of St. Petersburg, Fla. Work on the inside of …
April 1, 2026
Last summer, performing arts circus school Circus Juventas in St. Paul, Minn., looked into improving its building’s efficiency, including better insulation to reduce energy use and to address condensation concerns. Although the building’s “big top,” a tensioned dome roof constructed with Shelter-Rite® fabric membrane, continued to perform well, the organization decided to replace it at …
May 6, 2026
The 13th National Membrane Structure Technology Exchange Conference was held in Shenzhen, China, March 27–29, 2026. More than 300 representatives from membrane structure enterprises, universities, research institutes and design and construction units across the country attended the meeting. The conference theme was “Technological Innovation Leads the Way, Green and Low-Carbon Empowers and Industrial Synergy Develops.” …
April 20, 2026
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has developed the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal, which importers and brokers can use to submit refund requests for duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), as authorized by a March 4 Court of International Trade ruling that deemed the duties illegal. The …
January 29, 2026
Renson, based in Carrollton, Texas, has announced the appointment of Michael Ackelbein as president of Renson and Corradi North America. Ackelbein brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in architectural products, building materials and multi-channel distribution. He most recently served as vice president of sales and distribution at Fräsch/Catalyst Acoustic Group. At Renson, Ackelbein …
January 15, 2026
The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) has announced the speakers who will present at the 2026 AATCC Coloration Conference, Feb. 24–25 at the StateView Hotel in Raleigh, N.C. This event will bring together professionals from across the textile and color industries to explore the latest trends and technologies in coloration. Conference presentations …
January 13, 2026
Michelin has announced two acquisitions, including Tex-Tech Industries and Cooley Group. Arlington Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on government-regulated industries, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Tex-Tech Industries to Michelin. As part of the transaction, FMI Industries Inc., which includes two Tex-Tech divisions—Fiber Materials Inc., acquired from Spirit AeroSystems, and the Engineered Composites …
January 9, 2026
Fifteen U.S. state attorneys general have submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), expressing their opposition to a proposed revision to PFAS reporting policy under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The comments were submitted Dec. 22 by attorneys general of Connecticut, Illinois, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, …
January 8, 2026
Several U.S. state laws related to the use of PFAS in products, such as bans and warning label mandates, went into effect Jan. 1. These states include Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota and Vermont. Visit Advanced Textile Association’s PFAS Resource Center for information and updates about other state PFAS laws and regulations. Connecticut Most products (including …
August 13, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Aug. 11 that the tariff on Chinese imports will remain at the same rate—30%—for an additional 90 days. China’s 10% tariff on American imports will also remain unchanged. The announcement was made shortly before the U.S. tariff on Chinese imports was set to increase to 145%. This increase was …
July 29, 2025
The European Union (EU) and the U.S. announced a trade agreement July 27 that sets a 15% tariff on most EU goods, effective Aug. 1. The 15% tariff applies to all EU exports currently subject to reciprocal tariffs, including automobiles and automobile parts, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. It does not apply to the U.S. tariff on …
June 2, 2025
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal District granted the Donald Trump administration’s request to put a temporary hold on the New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade’s May 28 judgment. The judgement ruled in favor of six American-based companies, ruling that President Trump overstepped his authority when he invoked the 1977 International Emergency …
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