Carpets and textiles serve a range of purposes from wrapping acoustical panels to covering the floors on which we tread. This week, we’re showcasing the latest in that product category from a colorful, wool-like wallcovering to a carpet-tile backing made from up-cycled chalk.
Sportswear, Designtex
Designtex is reviving its high-performance Sportswear collection, which it first developed in 1999 with textile designer Nancy Giesberger for use in stadium seating. The PVC-coated polyester yarns create a dense weave that tests to 600,000 double-rubs with a wire screen. The original line comes back with four new upholsteries, including Bolt (shown), in a variety of weave types and hues.
Elevation, Milliken
The monolithic Elevation collection of resilient modular carpet tiles from Milliken features a subtle striated pattern that is meant to evoke the movement of water. Made from Nylon Type 6.6 fibers in 36 colorways, the floor covering carries Environmental and Health Product declarations and is certified under the International Living Future Institute’s Declare label. Offered with a PVC-free cushion backing that has 31% pre-consumer recycled content.
Pivot, KnollTextiles
Made from polyester but meant to look like wool, Pivot is an acoustical panel- and wallcovering whose 16-color palette gives designers an array of options from steely grays to vibrant yellows and blues. The non-woven and anti-static textile is a part of the company’s fall 2014 Zest Collection.
Jubilee Collection, Sina Pearson Textiles
From New York–based designer Sina Pearson’s new Jubilee Collection comes Confetti, which is made of solution-dyed and polyester Sunbrella Contract yarns and suited for both indoor and outdoor use. The woven line tests to 86,000 double-rubs on the Wyzenbeek scale and is rated silver on the Association for Contract Textiles’ Facts rating system for the triple-bottom-line impact across its life cycle. The geometric motif is offered in eight colorways.
EcoBase, Desso
Dutch carpet maker Desso collaborated with water companies in the Netherlands on a novel process to re-use calcium carbonate from water treatment in the production of its Cradle to Cradle Silver certified EcoBase backing, which will contain approximately 50% recycled content as a result. Among the products offered with the new backing is the new Transitions collection (shown), whose gradient pattern is designed to facilitate zoning in open-plan contract interiors. The company was recently acquired by Tarkett, with the transaction expected to close at the end of this year.