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Updated regularly, the Trivantage Market Corner Blog spotlights new products, industry updates, and growth opportunities for you and your business.
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We’re all pressed for time, and that is certainly the case when it comes to running a business. The days are often as long as the deadlines are short. Time is money, which is why at Trivantage®, we’re committed to providing our customers with the tools they need to succeed and build their business.
Case in point: Fast Fabric Adhesives, a collection of new products that allow for onsite rafter band and reinforcement installation.
Fast Fabric Adhesives are premium-quality adhesives, specifically engineered for awning fabrics, with bond strengths that are comparable to sewing or welding. Available only from Trivantage, these products offer unparalleled ease of application. With a quick cure time, they’re great for use at installation sites and perfect for field repairs — a real time-saver compared to other attachment methods.
Available in two formulas, Fast Fabric Adhesives can be used on common awning materials, such as laminated vinyl and canvas, enabling precise installation of rafter bands and reinforcements. These products have applicators that are specially designed for easy use and are available in reusable cartridges that help minimize waste. Compared to traditional methods, they significantly reduce the time, money, and muscle required to complete the job.
To get the job done right with Fast Fabric Adhesives, shop online, contact your sales representative, or call us at 800-786-1876.
Though the calendar just turned to summer, it’s time to begin planning for Advanced Textiles Expo 2024 on Sept. 24-26 in Anaheim, California. We look forward to seeing you at Booth #1426, and when you register, be sure to secure a free floor pass and conference discounts from Trivantage®.
To register, go to AdvancedTextilesExpo.com/Register and click the Individual Attendee button. Once you have logged into your Advanced Textiles Association account, click on the Registration Details page and select Show Floor Registration. Then on the Shopping Cart page, enter code EX24VIPTRI and your free registration will be applied at check-out. You can also take 10% off the Emerging Technologies Conference registration by entering code EX24TENTR.
The flagship show for the industrial textiles industry will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest exhibit facility on the West Coast, while some activities and conferences will be held at the adject Hilton Anaheim. If you have previously attended an AT Expo (formerly IFAI Expo), you know the experience includes the latest innovations in technology and textiles and opportunities to connect with hundreds of exhibitors and network with 4,500 textile professionals.
While at the Expo, we invite you to visit the Trivantage booth and experience firsthand our marine, shade, and upholstery offerings, including:
We’ll also share the latest on Trivantage Plus™, a one-of-a-kind customer membership program custom built for you. It’s loaded with exclusive benefits you can’t afford to miss, including flat-rate parcel shipping, select company offerings, and product discounts you won’t find anywhere else. Of course, don’t wait until September to learn how our membership program can strategically support your business: join or renew Trivantage Plus today!
We have so much more planned for the Expo, so be sure to register today and keep an eye on this space in the months ahead for additional details from your primary provider for new and exclusive products and services. In the meantime, click on Advanced Textiles Expo for the latest on accommodations, schedules, educational offerings, conferences, and workshops designed with members like you in mind.
See you at Booth #1426 in Anaheim!
Independence Day is a time to reflect on the founding of our country. The ratification of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 reminds us of how far the United States has come since it became its own nation and how, 248 years later, the day still pulls at the heartstrings of Americans.
As we collectively celebrate the red, white, and blue this Fourth of July, we wanted to take a moment and update you on a variety of fabrics and threads designated by our suppliers as Made in the USA, covering a wide range of applications and uses. Whether your next project is fabricating an awning or boat cover, or reupholstering outdoor furniture, count on Trivantage® to have the American-made brands to help complete the job. Shop names like Sunbrella® and Phifertex®, or consider our other offering to help complete the job:
Contact your Trivantage sales representative for more information on these products and to discuss how we can assist you with your next project. You can also shop online or call us at 800-786-1876.
We wish you and your families and colleagues a safe and relaxing Fourth of July!
RF welding, also known as Radio Frequency welding or High-Frequency welding, was introduced as a commercial permanent material bonding technology in the early 1940s. Over 80 years later, though still ideal for large or high volume projects, new methods for repairs, small projects, and rafter band applications are hitting the market.
RF welding involves the use of electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency range - usually 13.56 MHz, 27.12 MHz, or 40.68 MHz - to generate heat and create a bond between materials.
Like any manufacturing process, RF welding has its advantages, disadvantages, and certain applications that are more ideal than others for this technology:
RF welding creates strong, uniform bonds that are often as strong as the original material, providing excellent durability and reliability. The method is also best for creating airtight and watertight seals required for applications like inflatable products, medical bags, waterproof clothing, or food packaging.
Not all materials are suitable for RF welding. Fabrics and materials made from polyethylene and polypropylene are more challenging to weld with RF. Canvas fabrics and certain coated fabrics cannot be bonded with RF welding without additional adhesives or tapes and are often unreliable for outdoor applications.
The process allows for precise control over the welding parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and time, resulting in consistent and high-quality welds. RF welding is also a relatively quick process, making it ideal for high-volume production environments.
RF welding equipment can be expensive, with high initial investment costs for the machinery and tooling. The equipment also requires regular maintenance and calibration to ensure consistent performance and to avoid issues such as arcing and breakdowns.
If you are searching for a fabric bonding method comparable to the strength of RF welding without the hefty investment and large machinery, look no further than Fast Fabric Adhesives exclusively available at Trivantage®.
This collection of new products allows for on-site repairs, rafter band installation, canopy reinforcements, and so much more. Compared to traditional methods, these products significantly reduce the time, money, and muscle required to complete the job and come in two formulations:
If you want to create a beautiful and long-lasting outdoor space, the quality and type of outdoor fabric you choose will play a major role in accomplishing your goals. Durable fabrics are essential for patios, pool areas, or any outdoor living space, as they can withstand the elements, maintain their aesthetic appeal, and remain comfortable over time.
Trivantage offers an impressive range of outdoor fabric materials and material blends to suit diverse application needs and customer styles:
Acrylic upholstery fabrics offer many benefits to outdoor furniture and maintaining any exterior decor. Generally, you can expect the following from acrylic materials:
Vinyl upholstery fabric is an exceptionally versatile material commonly used in marine applications, outdoor furniture, automotive, and other moisture-prone seating found at bars, restaurants, and salons.
PVC coated polyester fabric is a long-trusted, versatile, and weather-resistant material ideal for outdoor furniture, cording, upholstery fringe, and more. It is also a cost-effective option, offering a balance between performance and affordability.
Olefin and Olefin blends are an excellent option for sling furniture that requires the perfect blend of strength, softness, and weather-resistance.
It is crucial to choose the appropriate outdoor fabric, but understanding the factors that can affect its lifespan is even more important for maximizing your investment. Here's a deeper look:
It’s important to note that overall durability can vary greatly based on specific fabric types, uses, finishes, climate, and other factors. Need help deciding which fabric works best for your next project? Contact Trivantage today to speak with a professional.
At Trivantage, we pride ourselves on our wide selection of high-quality outdoor fabrics. Take a look at our collection and discover the perfect fabrics to elevate outdoor spaces from mundane to stunning.
Your outdoor seats should be comfy, durable, and beautiful. We’re here to help you find the perfect outdoor furniture upholstery that’ll make your neighbors jealous. Choose from our extensive collection of breathable acrylics, stain-resistant olefins, and versatile blends in a wide array of textures and colors to suit your tastes and needs.
Browse our Upholstery Fabric collection
Dickson is a name you can trust. Building on more than 200 years of expertise, the brand is an established player in the woven fabric market and recognized around the world for the quality of its canvases, which are composed of millions of interwoven and intertwined threads. Dickson makes innovation a keystone of its philosophy and one that sets the standards for technical textiles.
Case in point: The Dickson North American Collection.
Dickson North American is a collection of awning fabric that includes a vast selection of water-repellent, mildew-resistant fabrics. Its special finish delays the formation and accumulation of dirt, making it easy to maintain. The fabric—available in trendy solids and more contemporary stripes—is also as colorfast as it is durable. It is woven with 100% solution-dyed acrylic, making it robust and heat sealable.
As you consider awning fabric for your next project, the Dickson North American Collection is perfect for fixed awnings, window awnings, patio shade, pergolas, and other outdoor canopies. It also excels for awning fabric replacement or new structures. The collection is available in a spectrum of popular color options, comes with a 10-year fabric warranty, and is sold by the yard.
With the Dickson North American Collection, Trivantage® has you covered. For more information, contact your sales representative or call us at 800-786-1876.
Who wouldn’t want to pack their bags for a week-long trip for two to France? How about if travel accommodations were covered and a tour of a high-tech global textile manufacturing facility was included? In honor of the debut of a new custom anniversary color for Serge Ferrari’s best-selling exterior solar protection fabric, Soltis Proof 502, Trivantage® is partnering with them on a special contest to make that happen.
To celebrate 25 years of Soltis Proof 502, Serge Ferrari created a Revival Blue colorway, and the results we’ve seen since have been nothing short of outstanding. Be sure to submit your project featuring the new color for your chance to spend a week in France and tour the Serge Ferrari corporate headquarters near Lyon, the third largest city in France and home of one of Europe’s largest public squares.
The color contest is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Contest entrants must be at least 21 years old and the owner or employee of a U.S.-based company whose primary business is solar protection or awning fabrication. To be considered, entrants must complete a fabric structure or awning project for a client project at their company using the Serge Ferrari Soltis Proof 502 product in the Revival Blue color.
To enter, complete an entry form, upload up five photographs of the completed project, and provide an essay up to 500 words describing how the color inspired the project, how it added value to the project, and other details about how Revival Blue brought the project to life. The grand-prize winner will receive a trip for two to France including round-trip, coach-class airfare from a major airport within the 48 contiguous states; seven nights hotel accommodations at a hotel of the contest sponsor’s choice; round trip transfers to/from destination airport and hotel; and a tour of the Serge Ferrari corporate headquarters.
If you have yet to complete a project using the color, not to worry as the contest runs through September 1. For more information on contest entry and official rules, visit www.soltis502contest.com.
As a reminder, Soltis Proof 502 is a waterproof, durable, lightweight, and easy-to-clean fabric that delivers superior flexibility and strength to allow creative freedom of shape and size for various outdoor applications. This cutting-edge fabric is ideal for awnings, pergolas, shade sails, light structures, and fixed shading systems. Trivantage is the exclusive provider of Revival Blue, and Soltis Proof 502 is backed by a 10-year warranty from Serge Ferrari.
Click here for more information on Soltis Proof 502. You also can contact your Trivantage sales representative or call us at 800-786-1876.
In the last issue of Market Corner, which coincided with Earth Week, we shared how Trivantage is committed to sustainability best practices through Recycle My Sunbrella, a program designed to prevent Sunbrella®, FIRESIST®, Dickson® Collection, Exceed™, and select Hydrofend® fabrics from entering landfills. This month, we take a broader look at the sustainability goals of our parent company, Glen Raven.
Each year, Glen Raven updates its Sustainability Report, and the 2023 report details our progress and outlines a path forward over the long term. Glen Raven has always believed that respectful stewardship of the environment isn’t just a choice; it’s a responsibility. With a global footprint, our parent company understands the impact its operations can have on the planet. That’s why the company and its subsidiaries, including Trivantage, is increasing the use of renewable energy in order to reduce its carbon footprint. By purchasing renewable electricity certificates from sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, we’re collectively reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and avoiding the related environmental impacts.
Overall, Glen Raven is using renewable electricity for over 50% of its global needs, and its manufacturing facilities in France and China have gone even further by using 100% renewable electricity. At Trivantage, 100% of the electricity for our facilities is renewable electricity, and the same is true at Glen Raven Logistics.
We encourage you to read the report and learn how Trivantage and Glen Raven are proud to lead on this issue in the communities we call home.
Mold and mildew are both types of fungi that can have a major impact on how your fabrics look and how usable they are, each in their own way. While they have similar characteristics, it should be noted that they aren’t the same. As such, understanding the differences between the two is absolutely crucial for effective fabric care and maintenance.
These types of fungi thrive best in environments that are moist for extended periods of time. That could include anywhere from a poorly ventilated garage or bathrooms, to boat upholstery and outdoor furniture. However, they can differ significantly in their appearance, growth, and impact on health and materials they grow on.
For the most part, mold is much more invasive than mildew. As such, mold growth can deeply penetrate the surfaces it grows on. This is especially true in damp and dirty areas. Mold spores are airborne. That means that an infestation can start in new areas just by settling in dampness and growing unnoticed in the early stages. Depending on the type of mold and the conditions, it can appear in various forms.
On the other hand, mildew (another kind of fungus) typically presents as a white powdery or fluffy mildew growth. Generally, it stays on the surface and can usually be found on damp fabrics, moisture-prone nooks & crannies, and on items stored in poorly ventilated or conditioned locations.
Compared to mold, mildew is much easier to clean and tends to be less harmful. However, it can cause a musty odor and trigger allergies.
| Characteristics | Mold | Mildew |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Fuzzy or slimy, various colors | Powdery, white or gray |
| Growth | Below the surface | On the surface |
| Health Effects | Can cause health problems & respiratory problems | Can trigger allergic reactions and health issues |
| Smell | Musty smell | Often a milder musty odor |
| Location | Deep into the material, which can affect the surface and what’s beneath it | Typically grows on flat surfaces of fabrics and organic materials |
Both mold and mildew require organic material to grow, which is precisely why fabrics, wood, and areas affected by water damage are perfect environments for their growth.
Here are a few of the most common reasons for mold and mildew growth on fabrics and other organic material:
Prevention costs an ounce, and mildew/mold removal can cost a pound. That said, you can save a lot of money and time by taking the following steps:
In many cases, bleach and typical household cleaners are not equipped for handling fabrics. At Trivantage, we offer several care and cleaning products specifically designed to keep your fabrics clean and protect them from mildew or mold:
Learn more about our sprays and cleaners, including professional cleaners, sprayers, mildew removers, and more.
At Trivantage, we offer an array of excellent resources and products to keep your fabrics clean and protected. These products can help ensure your materials (awnings, marine fabrics, shade sails, upholstery, etc.) remain mold and mildew-free while still retaining their aesthetic appeal and functional qualities, regardless of the environment.
Find more information about keeping your fabrics clean and choosing the right fabrics in our Trivantage Resource Center today.
Fire safety is paramount in countless settings, from homes and workplaces to outdoor and industrial environments. As such, fire-retardant materials and flame-resistant fabrics play a critical role in protecting people and properties by offering much-needed protection in the event of a fire.
Fire-retardant fabrics (FR fabrics) are engineered to slow down or suppress the spread of flames when the material is exposed to a fire source. This method offers a level of fire protection to fabrics that would otherwise burn quickly. Flame-retardant fabrics are often treated with a surface coating and are not inherently resistant to fire.
Standards and Certifications: Common standards for these types of materials include NFPA 701 (National Fire Protection Association) and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). These standards are designed to evaluate fabric ignition resistance, flame spread, and charring behavior.
There are quite a few common uses for flame retardant materials in personal, residential, and commercial settings. They include, but aren’t limited to:
Flame-resistant fabrics are made from fibers that have inherently fire-resistant properties. Unlike flame-retardant fabrics, their fire resistance is permanently baked into the fiber structure. Trivantage offers dozens of inherently FR fabrics for countless application opportunities.
Standards and Certifications: Flame-resistant fabrics will often require CA State Fire Marshal Title 19 certification while also adhering to NFPA 701 and ASTM standards. Some fabrics may meet specific industry certifications based on how they’re used.
You can find fire-resistant fabrics used in many applications that require long-term durability and fire resistance. Some of the most frequent applications include, but are not restricted to:
Although the names are similar and often used interchangeably, there are a few key distinctions between flame-retardant and flame-resistant fabrics. They include:
Selecting the ideal flame-retardant or flame-resistant fabric requires careful consideration of several factors. They include, but aren’t limited to:
Flame-retardant materials can help delay the spread of fire while providing extra time to evacuate or fight the flames. On the other hand, flame-resistant fabrics are designed to self-extinguish when the source of the fire is removed. This can help prevent the fire from spreading.
It's important to note that no fabric is entirely fireproof. However, certain flame-resistant materials can stand up to extremely high temperatures for a long period of time offering critical protection.
Due to their fire-resistant fibers, flame-resistant textiles are often the preferred choice for scenarios requiring long-lasting fire protection.
It’s important to remember that flame-retardant treatments lose their effectiveness due to washing, wear, or environmental exposure. This is why it is important to consider the feasibility of reapplying flame-retardant spray or treatment.
At Trivantage, we understand the importance of fire safety for individuals, businesses, and destinations. Our extensive collection of flame-retardant and flame-resistant fabrics is perfect for various applications, including outdoor spaces, marine settings, and DIY flame-resistant clothing.
Get in touch with our knowledgeable team today to discuss which fire-resistant or retardant fabrics best suit your project’s needs.
