Now, though, they are available in soft, fashionable fabrics "that are more acceptable in the residential market, " she says.

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Workshops that teach the basics of sewing and quilting, as well as an introduction to the use of soft circuits and conductive fabrics that are increasingly used in projects (see eTextile expert Lynne Bruning profile late last year).

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"Caress" is a word that comes easily to Mr. Ackermann, who relies almost exclusively on sensual fabrics with a soft touch, like silk and leather.

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But where Gurung was about modern take-charge urban warriors, Adam Lippes of Adam showed a crowd-pleasing delicately feminine collection of light airy dresses in sheer pastel fabrics or in soft silks in shades of pink or ivory.

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Rogers says "soft" commodities like grains, oilseeds and fabrics, which have generally not shared in the boom, are likely to outperform.

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That enabled them to place the focus squarely on the beautiful fabrics, not only rich and soft but also mind-bendingly complex in their construction, to hear the designers describe it.

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