But gear can fail. And that is a whole other issue. Where to buy gear. Yes, you can buy fabric from a fabric store and it is cheaper, but it isn’t rated for what we do. I purchase all my fabric from a site that TESTS their fabrics. They have a rated value, meaning they are expected to hold at that weight (2,200 pounds at my purchase option) with a saftey factor on top of it. This means that we KNOW that our equipment is rated for what we expect and has an extra “just in case” saftey factor. As a neurotic studio owner, this gives me peace of mind that my students will be safe.