Specialty Fabrics Review March 2021 - 8

[ FIRST IMPRESSIONS ]

What just happened?
And where are we headed?

hen I think back on the second week of March 2020, I laugh at
how naïve I was. Or rather, I would laugh, if it wasn't all so devastating. Even after major events started cancelling, and my kids'
school shifted to distance learning, and IFAI staff were directed
to work from home, I could only imagine this lasting for a few weeks.
We'd " flatten the curve " and everything would return to normal.
Then a few weeks turned into months, and the months turned into
a full year, with no clear end in sight.
So much is still unknown about 2021 and beyond.
But we're no longer naïve as to what a pandemic means
to our businesses, the industrial textile industry, our
families, our communities and the global economy.
The losses for some textile market segments, such
as tent and event rental, are staggering. Other markets
have experienced a surge in demand, but companies
in these segments still struggle to manage day-to-day
operations because of supply chain disruptions and
labor challenges. Stories of these struggles-along with
the agility and resilience that industry members have
harnessed to overcome them-weave a thread through
Jill C. Lafferty, Senior Editor
this special issue of Specialty Fabrics Review.
But we're not just focused on the past. We're also
looking
ahead. Now that we know what a pandemic
STAY IN TOUCH
means,
what
are we going to do differently?
We want to know
In a December 2020 Atlantic article, " Where Year
what you're loving in this
issue and what you'd like
Two of the Pandemic Will Take Us, " Drexel University
to see more of.
disaster historian Scott Knowles notes that the influenza
Stay in touch by emailing
pandemic that began in 1918 " disappeared from public
jclafferty@ifai.com.
consciousness, " after it receded, sandwiched as it was
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SpecialtyFabricsReview.com
The same article warned that COVID-19 won't be
for additional content.
the last pandemic, or even the worst. The lessons we
remember and the changes we institute today will determine how well we are prepared for the next one. What does preparedness
mean-especially if the next crisis is different? The good news: Industry
association leaders see a path to legislatively shore up PPE stockpiles and
U.S. manufacturing capabilities. Automation looks better than ever for managing labor fluctuations. Companies are reimaging how they do business.
Let's not wish to get back to normal, forgetting about this past year in
the process. Instead, let's envision something better-and get prepared.

6 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / March 2021

[

CALENDAR OF EVENTS ]

March 2021
Marine Fabricators Association
(MFA) Virtual Series
MAR. 18 / Online two-hour education
session. Free to members.

www.ifai.com/event/mfa-virtual-series-2021

April 2021
Outlook Conference 2021
APR. 25-27 / Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront
Resort, Hilton Head, S.C. USA.

www.ifai.com/event/outlook-conference-2021

June 2021
OFPANZ 2021 Conference
JUNE 24-26 / Parnell Hotel and Conference
Centre, Auckland, NZ.

www.ofpanz.co.nz

November 2021
Oct. 1-4, 2019
Orlando, FL

Orange County Convention Center

SAVE THE DATE
Nov. 2-4, 2021 | Education: Nov. 1-4
Music City Center | Nashville, TN USA
www.ifaiexpo.com

January 2022
Marine Fabricators Conference
JAN. 13-15 / Wild Dunes, Charleston's
Island Resort, Isle of Palms, S.C.

www.ifai.com/event/marine-fabricatorsconference-2022
Tent Expo
JAN. 18-20 / ONE DAYTONA,
Daytona Beach, Fla.

www.ifai.com/event/tent-expo-2022

All calendar events are subject to change.
Please check event websites for the latest information.

http://www.ifai.com/event/mfa-virtual-series-2021 http://www.ifai.com/event/outlook-conference-2021 http://www.ofpanz.co.nz http://www.ifaiexpo.com http://www.SpecialtyFabricsReview.com http://www.ifai.com/event/marine-fabricators http://www.ifai.com/event/tent-expo-2022

Specialty Fabrics Review March 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Specialty Fabrics Review March 2021