Sterling Tents has a wide selection of canvas tents & vinyl tents. Canvas awnings & tents have a more classic look while vinyl can give off more modern appearance. While some prefer the look of vinyl, canvas has many advantages and is easy to work with. Canvas has been used for centuries for sail cloth, cordage, tents, and as a medium for painters and more. The word canvas comes from the Latin cannabis and is historically made from tightly woven hemp. Today most canvas is made from cotton but as the growing of hemp and use increase we may see it again in the manufacture of fabric for tents and awnings.