Compositions comprising maleinized imide polymer and .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic, the polymer selected from the group consisting of butadiene homopolymer, butadiene copolymers, isoprene homopolymer, isoprene copolymers. and poly(maleic anhydride-co-alkenyl benzenes), are disclosed. Maleinized imide resin, optionally in solution and optionally comprising metallic salt of .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, is used to treat fabric and thereby improve fabric to rubber adhesion. The resultant treated fabric and fabric-rubber composite are also disclosed.