Our companies are TEF Braids and Tensengral. We use programmable braiding machines with a patterning technology we invented to create functional fabrics and products.

Our environmental responsibility is built around low impact manufacturing solutions for products that use unbound, unified filament networks, instead of assembled fabric pieces, to make garments.

We practice the art with heritage jacquard circular lace braiding machines that have been updated with CAD and electronic controls. 

Braiding enables virtually waste-free, efficient manufacture for many different products using scalable, somewhat easy to learn processes.

We can manufacture the fabric sized correctly, in one efficient, zero waste step using virtually any thread or yarn combination.

Just as valuable as the machines that make the fabric is the way the yarns of the fabric are oriented, meaning how and when they link and interlace.

We've described these interlacements in patents that expand the scope and definition of both a braid and lace.

Plexus of filaments with linked members

Patterned plexus of filaments and articles made from patterned filaments.

Our patented fabrics unifiy groups of spiraling filaments through links that, when locked out, naturally and magically shape-shift to distribute tensions of motion.

The fabric provides a fluid hold with it's textural woven surface. This fluid hold is what makes the fabric so good. No slipping, buckling or rubbing.

On-body, the yarns self-organize to become more ‘dense’ in covering/disguising underlying breast tissue for modesty, more open in torso zones where
ventilation is desirable.

"Almost invisible and quietly supportive"
"The mesh material stays with you and magically adjusts with your movements.

On-body under tension, the braided structure actually becomes more firm/less extensible for increased support in key zones.

We think there's a micro-massage effect, due to the rolling of the fibers as they adjust to distribute tensions -- a really nice thing for underwear.

Artisan-designed and individually crafted in upstate New York, USA

Decades ago we began this braiding innovation when un-successfully seeking a stable, unbound mesh material that was impact resistant and conformal, for a sport product called Birdball. 

We never would have guessed that a good bit of our life would be spent developing these fabrics, conceiving of products wherein they would be useful and learning the "ins and outs" of these century old machines - crazy indeed!

You never know who else might be looking for this sort of material or who we might inspire to think outside the box for apparel design.

Let's find exciting ways to work together and explore the vast potential of this new textile art.