Specialty Fabrics Review September 2021 - 6

[ FIRST IMPRESSIONS ]
[ CALENDAR OF EVENTS ]
Strength in numbers
T
he year 2021 marks the second year in the COVID-19 pandemic.
While that may seem like a gloomy opening line, to me, it signifies
a year of phenomenal, life-saving work conducted by a strong,
capable and responsive textile industry. Fabricators, welders,
sewers, suppliers, warehouse/shipping workers and distributors came
together to meet the demands for PPE from around the world to help
combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Never before was the textile industry called
Amy Collins,
Director of Marketing
and Sales
upon with such a dire need for the products IFAI
members make. From masks and gowns to textiles
used in respirators, members are literally responsible
for saving countless lives around the globe. And
when life-saving work wasn't being done, fabricators
responded to high demands for new canopies and
awnings so restaurants could serve socially distanced
patrons, beautified boats for socially distanced
activities on the water, and provided screens and
textiles to separate people from exposure.
It's also been more than a year of new challenges
STAY IN TOUCH
We want to know
what you're loving in this
issue and what you'd like
to see more of.
Stay in touch by emailing
jclafferty@ifai.com.
Follow us on Facebook
and Twitter, and visit
SpecialtyFabricsReview.com
for additional content.
and struggles as we all have worked to keep our
employees, partners and customers safe and healthy.
The textile industry came together with strength
and perseverance at one of the world's most
difficult times.
And now, with rising vaccinations rates, we are
seeing the world get back to business. We've all
missed those opportunities to see our friends, our
family and, yes, our professional brethren. Even as
we've become experts in Zoom and other virtual
platforms, we know that nothing replaces those
in-person opportunities to learn and network
with other professionals.
This year's IFAI Expo, Nov. 1-4 in Nashville, marks the 100th year
of in-person IFAI shows. It's the place where thousands of industry
leaders gather to learn from each other, grow their businesses and
discover what the next 100 years could be. Find more about IFAI Expo
2021 on page 41.
It's time to come back together in person to connect with industry
experts and peers, discover new products and applications, and advance
your business with insights on market trends and expectations.
Get back to business, get reconnected with the industry.
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
GeoNashville
NOV. 4-5 / Music City Center, Nashville, Tenn.
https://geosyntheticsconference.com
January 2022
Marine Fabricators Conference
JAN. 13-15 / Wild Dunes, Charleston's
Island Resort, Isle of Palms, S.C.
https://marine.ifai.com/marine-fabricatorsconference/
Tent
Expo
JAN. 18-20 / ONE DAYTONA
Daytona Beach, Fla.
www.ifai.com/tentexpo
February 2022
Women in Textiles Summit
FEB. 16-18 / Chateau Elan, Braselton, Ga.
www.ifai.com/women
March 2022
Smart Fabrics Summit
MARCH 28-29 / Talley Student Union, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.
www.smartfabricssummit.com
April 2022
Outlook Conference 2022
APRIL 24-26 / The Omni Homestead Resort,
Hot Springs, Va.
www.ifai.com/event/outlook-conference-2022
All calendar events are subject to change.
Please check event websites for the latest information.
6 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / September 2021

http://www.ifaiexpo.com https://www.geosyntheticsconference.com https://marine.ifai.com/marine-fabricators http://www.ifai.com/tentexpo http://www.ifai.com/women http://www.SpecialtyFabricsReview.com http://www.smartfabricssummit.com http://www.ifai.com/event/outlook-conference-2022

Specialty Fabrics Review September 2021

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