Fabric Architecture Specifier's Guide 2021 - 2

FIRST WORD

Pandemic drives new
shade opportunities

very year, we plan this publication with an eye toward what architects, designers
and fabricators want to know about industry developments. Over the past 14
months, the coronavirus pandemic has obviously eclipsed business as usual,
but it has also brought to light new opportunities. IFAI member companies and
the textile industry at large have always known that the purpose of fabrics is to offer
protection-health-related and otherwise-to humans. This purpose has been put to the
test with the pandemic, and the industry has delivered!
Keeping one's business doors open has been a challenge for
the last 14 months as the pandemic spread through communities
and government-ordered shutdowns impacted every aspect of
the economy. Eventually, however, a transformation started
happening in 2020 as homeowners and businesses found new
ways to define what their new " hybrid " existences would look like.
Fairly early in the pandemic, shade fabric manufacturers and
Rebecca Post
Editorial Director
fabricators reported that homeowners wanted to improve their
+1 651 225 6960
residential outdoor spaces. People were stuck at home and wanted
bjpost@ifai.com
to create ways to extend their living spaces to the outdoors. They
also wanted to extend the outdoor season. That meant installing new shade options like
awnings or shade sails.
As the months passed in 2020, commercial shade work picked up also. Restaurants
and bars needed canopies, retractable awning systems and shade sails to move their
businesses out in the open air, where many patrons felt safer for public dining. Schools,
family entertainment venues and other public gathering settings soon followed suit,
seeking shade options from fabricators who understood both safety codes and aesthetics.
Writer and architect Bruce N. Wright, FAIA, showcases beautiful examples of how
the shade industry helped homeowners, businesses and schools adapt to the new need
for open air options. These fabrications do more than prevent the spread of COVID-19
infections-they help businesses carry on and allow people to once again engage with
their friends and family members.
This issue also gives readers a closer look at how digital automation has changed
industry approaches to shade production. Wright brings to life the technology
and ingenuity of the tools of automation-like CNC, digital pattern and precision
cutting-that have transformed how designers and fabricators work.
Enjoy this issue, and make sure you are signed up for our monthly e-newsletter
available at www.fabricarchitecturemag.com/e-newsletter.

IFAI PRESIDENT/CEO

Steve Schiffman | saschiffman@ifai.com

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND SALES

Amy Collins | amcollins@ifai.com

EDITORIAL

www.FabricArchitectureMag.com/contact
Editorial Director Rebecca Post
Production Editor Michelle Cook
Contributing Writer Bruce N. Wright, AIA
Special Thanks To Members of the boards of the
Fabric Structures Association and the Professional
Awning Manufacturers Association

DESIGN
Creative Manager Cathleen Rose
Senior Graphic Designer Kari Pederson
Graphic Designer Megan Shircel

ADVERTISING

www.ifai.com/advertise/
Integrated Media Sales
Brenda Olson, Melissa Reese,
Angie West, Kathy Wollum| 800 436 2408
Sales Coordinator Lisa Batdorf | lmbatdorf@ifai.com

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

www.ifai.com/fabric-architecture-magazine-subscription/

CIRCULATION SPECIALIST
Jill Poirier | subscriptions@ifai.com
Fabric Architecture Advisory Committee
Sam Armijos, AIA, Fabric Architect LLC
Brett Baird, Trivantage
Gary Barnes, Tropical J's Inc.
Roy Chism, The Chism Company
Brian Dentinger, Birdair Inc.
Raymie Echols, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC
Steve Fredrickson, Sattler Corp.
Nicholas Goldsmith, FAIA, LEED AP, FTL
Mar Ricketts, GuildWorks LLC
Marc Shellshear, Value Vinyls Inc.
Bruce N. Wright, FAIA
Fabric Architecture is published by the Industrial Fabrics
Association International (IFAI). IFAI is a memberowned, member-driven trade association representing
the global specialty fabrics and technical textiles industry.

+1 651 222 2508 | 800 225 4324 | www.ifai.com
Printed in USA.
Publications Mail Agreement #40027027.
©2021 by the Industrial Fabrics Association
International. All rights reserved.
Statement of facts and opinions are made on the
responsibility of the author alone and do not
necessarily imply the opinion of the magazine, its
advisory committee, its editors, or the association.
Fabric Architecture reserves the right to refuse any
and all advertising and disclaims all responsibility
for claims made by advertisers. Materials may not be
reproduced without written permission.

www.FabricArchitectureMag.com

http://www.FabricArchitectureMag.com/contact http://www.ifai.com/advertise/ http://www.ifai.com/fabric-architecture-magazine-subscription/ http://www.ifai.com http://www.fabricarchitecturemag.com/e-newsletter http://www.FabricArchitectureMag.com

Fabric Architecture Specifier's Guide 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fabric Architecture Specifier's Guide 2021