Alcantara

Alcantara, the company that makes the suede-like material of the same name, has increasingly turned away new business as it struggles to meet demand. In fact, demand for the material in automobiles has surged 15 percent over the last seven years. The company simply can't make enough of the material, Motor Trend reported last Friday, but it's not just the auto industry that craves Alcantara—the technology sector and even the yacht industry have also boarded the bandwagon. With the shortage, Alcantara CEO Andrea Boragno said he's turned away 20 percent of new business because the company...