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Adjusting the focus in smart materials for the military
September 9th, 2016
The nature of military warfare has undergone a seismic change over the past twenty years with the result that theaters of engagement and the demands they make on military personnel are now more diverse and complex than ever before. Traditional procurement policies of buying in bulk to ensure standardization and cost efficiency are being questioned […]
The State of the Industry 2016
March 18th, 2016
Advanced textiles markets are discussed in IFAI’s annual report. As consumer confidence slowly increases, buoyed by improvements in the U.S. economy and employment figures, respondents in 10 of the 11 markets surveyed by IFAI predict single-digit increases in sales in 2016. Innovation in products and processes will help manufacturers anticipate customer needs and stay competitive […]
Specialty Fabrics Showcase 2016: Call for submissions
January 25th, 2016
The April and May 2016 issues of Specialty Fabrics Review magazine will include our special annual showcase of our contributors’ latest high-performance fabrics, for end products ranging from awnings, canopies and tents to medical, military and aerospace products. If you’re an end-product manufacturer, watch for this special feature in our spring 2016 issues! If you’re […]
Reebok introduces ZigKick footwear
December 9th, 2015
Warson Brands has introduced the Reebok ZigKick Tactical line of 8-inch and 6-inch boots and Reebok ZigKick Work line of 6-inch and oxford safety-toe footwear for men and women. Built to meet the demands of law-enforcement professionals, the Tactical line is engineered for performance, comfort and durability, while the work boot wears like an athletic […]
The challenge of supplying the U.S. military
November 20th, 2015
In enacting the Defense Production Act of 1950, Congress listed eight findings to support its “statement of policy.” The last one states that “the inability of industries in the United States, especially smaller subcontractors and suppliers, to provide vital parts and components and other materials that would impair the ability to sustain the Armed Forces […]
MUST program connects suppliers and DOD
November 20th, 2015
In July, Industrial Fabrics Association International president Mary Hennessy announced an initiative to create a searchable database for the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify industrial fabrics companies and products under the Military Uniform System Technology (MUST) program funded by the Defense Logistics Agency. Maureen MacGillivray, a professor of apparel merchandising and design at Central […]
Success in smart textiles —now and in the future
October 9th, 2015
IFAI’s market research manager Jeff Rasmussen says that the worldwide smart fabrics market is growing at an annual rate of about 18 percent from about $984 million in 2011 to a projected $1.9 billion in 2015. Rasmussen spoke on “Current Developments in the Smart and Interactive Fabrics Market” Oct. 7 at IFAI’s Advanced Textiles Conference […]
The chain link
October 6th, 2015
Attending IFAI Expo, as well as serving as a moderator in the Advanced Textiles Program, Cheryl Gomes, project manager for the Core Research Facility at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, is working on a consortium under the label Fibers and Textiles Revolution. The goal is to create a sustainable supply chain in the textile industry […]
Product, then procurement: MUST
July 24th, 2015
Mary Hennessy, president of Industrial Fabrics Association International, has provided this guest editorial. Something very exciting and potentially game-changing is occurring in the military market: IFAI members will soon have the opportunity to get into the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) supply pipeline before contracts and specifications are issued. It’s called MUST—Military Uniform System Technology. The […]
The State of the Industry, Part II
February 20th, 2015
IFAI’s 2015 State of the Industry report discusses key markets, issues and trends in the U.S. and global specialty fabrics marketplace. Part II focuses on six markets, primarily in the U.S.: advanced technical products, military markets, narrow fabrics, geosynthetics, truck covers and tarpaulins, and industrial fabric equipment. This article will cover advanced technical products, military […]