You don’t know what you don’t know

October 26, 2026  |  My Take

In past blog posts, I’ve talked about how little I knew about the advanced textiles world when I first took an assignment at what was then the Industrial Fabrics Association International. I had been a newspaper and radio journalist, so many things about the work were familiar to me. That is, I ha…
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Trade and tariffs, 101

September 14, 2026  |  My Take

Just because I’m curious, I thought I’d ask AI this: What are tariffs and how do they really work? Not surprisingly, my computer’s default AI generated a standard answer that most high school kids who pay attention in class would be able to give: “Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on…
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But will they wear it?

August 10, 2026  |  My Take

The world of the most technologically advanced textile products is populated with incredibly smart and talented scientists, researchers, designers and entrepreneurs. Soon after e-textiles, specifically, and smart fabrics in general, appeared on the advanced textiles scene, it became evident that tex…
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It is the details

July 13, 2026  |  My Take

I spent a good portion of my life directing theater. I frequently told my cast (and crew), “It is the details, it is the details, it is the details.” The wrong shoes with a period suit spoils the illusion. So does rushing a pause or a late entrance. But a perfectly timed laugh line or visual jok…
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Natural is back

June 8, 2026  |  My Take

There was a time—and it wasn’t that long ago, historically speaking—when what we call “natural” fibers were the only fibers. Wool, cotton, flax, silk, for the most part. These were (and still are) amazing fibers for covering a range of textile demands.
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Smarter and bigger – much bigger

May 12, 2026  |  My Take

When smart textiles (originally, just “e-textiles”) first emerged, the focus was, understandably, on small applications, especially what we came to call “wearables.” All that meant was that a conductive element had been incorporated into the textile in some fashion, which allowed for sensing…
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Truly groundbreaking

April 27, 2026  |  My Take

When I started as an editor for ATA, my focus was fabric graphics. When I started working on our flagship print, Specialty Fabrics Review, I got to know the full range of markets and applications in the industrial (or functional) fabrics industry. Increasingly, I was drawn to the high-tech end of th…
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Immediate needs 

March 9, 2026  |  My Take

In the time between starting to write this blog post and completing it, the U.S. went to war. The events that certain protective textiles markets prepare for are underway, and the textile products used in supporting this effort are now engaged in performing as planned.
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