For the past 30 years, Carnegie Fabrics, a home and commercial interior textile company, has been manufacturing fabric called Xorel. No, it’s not a photocopying machine. It’s an environmentally conscious alternative to vinyl. It’s woven from polyethylene, is very safe in manufacture, use, and disposal, incredibly durable, and easy to clean. Sounds good, right?
The sturdy textile is used for wall coverings, upholstery, and panels. Some interesting tidbits include:
- Dyeing/ Colorfastness: the yarns are solution dyed and virtually fade proof
- Durability: no wear after one million double rubs
- Stain Resistance: common stains can be completely removed
- Hospital Use: does not support fungi or bacteria
- Dimensional Stability: remains stable in high humidity
- Safety: passes strict fire codes
- Disposable: when ready, it can be disposed of without emitting hazardous gases
Over all, this fabric has a lot to offer interior design professionals. It’s innovative, a better choice in terms of environmental impact, and, to be honest, quite aesthetically pleasing. Now, how to work it into the apparel market…???