SPARTANBURG, S.C. — March 5, 2018 — The Specialty Interiors group of Milliken & Company, recently hosted a Love Good Color workshop to expand the way the team thinks about and approaches color. Led by Laura Guido-Clark, Love Good Color founder and creative director, this intensive workshop focused on providing Milliken team members with a new, more emotionally-driven way of thinking of and approaching color to help design and build the best fabric options for customers and consumers alike.

Begun in 2017, Love Good Color is an immersive training workshop and intuitive color navigational tool that helps tap into the emotional power of color. It is for anyone who wants to design, communicate and express himself/herself through color more easily, fluently and effectively. This workshop uses a proprietary system based on the spectral and emotive response of color and then provides a toolkit to help attendees pair, layer and navigate intentional palettes. While many textile designs begin with a consideration of the purpose of the material then reflect colors based on trends, the Love Good Color system flips the model to address the emotive power of color. It directs key desired attributes such as cutting-edge or traditional, energetic or serene, productive or relaxing, etc. through a primary consideration of color.

“Applying color to products and environments requires boldness, vision and the ability to execute on the right strategy with the right tools,” said Guido-Clark. “Smart suppliers like Milliken recognize this and go to great lengths to educate themselves to deliver greater value to their customers.”

The system also lines up well with Milliken’s strategy of purposeful and intentional design and efforts to work smarter to eliminate waste and enhance sustainability by choosing more targeted colors and patterns. “While many fabric manufacturers produce a large array of samples and see what sells, Milliken is committed to eliminating waste by offering a more limited selection of carefully chosen products and colors,” noted LeAnne Flack, marketing manager, Milliken Specialty Interiors.

When reflecting on the workshop, Milliken Specialty Interiors director of design and development, Dana Claire Larson added: “The LGC system has made us smarter in terms of focusing on outcomes rather than chasing trends, and it has also given our team a huge advantage. By harnessing the emotive and expressive qualities of color, Milliken associates are better able to layer in new dimensionality to our innovations and create more meaningful designs.”

Posted March 1, 2018

Source: Milliken & Company

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — February 16, 2018 — Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) is proud to announce a pilot advanced functional fabric (AFF) curricula development project with the Greater Lawrence Technical School (GLTS), the MIT Edgerton Center and the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Studio Education Foundation.

Over the past few decades, the U.S. has lost many of its manufacturing capabilities in fiber and textiles. Recent breakthroughs in fiber materials and manufacturing processes have allowed design and production of advanced functional fabrics that see, hear, sense, communicate, store and convert energy, regulate temperature, monitor health and change color. These technologies are positioned to create high-value added products which can revitalize domestic textile manufacturing and generate high quality jobs. However, manufacturing fabrics with advanced capabilities requires a workforce with a new combination of skill sets, which this program is designed to stimulate.

“We are excited about the AFF educational collaboration, not only because it will help prepare students for innovative skill building opportunities and careers, but also because it is an important milestone for all of us in our mission to catalyze a domestic, manufacturing-based, revolution of the textile industry into a value-added, high-tech industry by transforming traditional fibers, yarns, and textiles into highly sophisticated devices,” said AFFOA CEO, Yoel Fink.

The collaboration between AFFOA, GLTS, the MIT Edgerton Center and the STEAM Studio Education Foundation aims to develop the next generation of multi-skilled  workers by exposing students to a myriad of technical skills in the context of manufacturing advanced functional fabrics. The AFF curricula will integrate skills learned at AFFOA High Tech Fabric Discovery Center into an introductory-level curriculum that encompasses Fiber Design, Textile Design and Product Design of Advanced Functional Fabrics and will be piloted at GLTS.

“AFF offers students far more than an opportunity to pursue a career, it allows them to be part of a potential industry that will hopefully impact  the quality of people’s lives,” said John Lavoie, Superintendent, Greater Lawrence Technical School. “Students will be inspired and excited to be the first entrepreneurs to design and produce high tech clothes of the future,” he added.

The curricula will have two interwoven learning pathways that support the student’s ability to build a multi-skilled and multi-faceted framework: Machining, Manufacturing aimed at students interested in AFF production and Engineering Design aimed at students interested in AFF design. Together these pathways are expected to position the students for multiple degree programs and career opportunities in advanced manufacturing, functional fabrics and beyond. This program will also help AFFOA develop a model for scaling alike programs throughout the Commonwealth, in other states and Fabric Discovery Centers, as well as developing a standard for making program materials widely available.

“We have 20 years of experience working with middle and high school students on project-based engineering,” said Forbes Director of the Edgerton Center and Dean for Undergraduate Research, Prof. J. Kim Vandiver. “As part of the collaboration, we are excited to advance education in functional fabrics and to move the needle in workforce development in the textile industry and US manufacturing.”

Posted March 5, 2018

Source:  Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA)

GLEN RAVEN, N.C. — March 1, 2018 — Sunbrella® received fourPlatinum awards in this year’s ADEX awards competition, an industry recognition of design excellence and product innovation. The honor was awarded for the Bali and Fiji patterns by Arc|Com, Dickson® Woven Flooring, and the Pendleton® and Makers Collections.

“We are dedicated to introducing innovations that go beyond traditional design,” says Greg Voorhis, executive design director for Sunbrella. “All four of these fabric offerings bring something unique to our customers. We are honored to receive the highest award for each, and we will continue pushing the design and performance envelope with new and exciting fabric designs.”

Arc|Com channels the spirit of two of the world’s most beautiful islands through patterns Bali and Fiji. Engineered using Sunbrella solution-dyed fibers, both patterns are designed specifically for indoor and outdoor use.

Much like a chameleon can adapt to its environment, Dickson Woven Flooring changes in perception as the tiles are turned and reflect light differently, projecting ever-changing color compositions within a space. This striking effect is produced by reflected light on bicolor fabric threads and is further intensified through the texture and placement of patterns on the covering. This material effect allows for the ability to create customized spaces and distinctive environments by mixing tiles of different sizes and colors.

Born from the idea of bringing two heritage brands together, the Pendleton by Sunbrella collection combines Pendleton Woolen Mills’ distinct jacquard and plaid patterns and the enduring performance qualities of Sunbrella fabrics—fade resistance, durability and easy care. The Pendleton collection is comprised of 53 fabrics and is grounded by five hero patterns: Lahaina Wave, Eagle Rock, Canyon Lands, Zapotec and Mountain Majesty. The hero patterns are supported by a range of textural solids and coordinating patterns.

Fabrics in the Makers Collection incorporate the performance qualities of Sunbrella with authentic designs tied to generations of makers. This collection portrays the importance of preserving the conventional element of craft while advancing technologically. By combining new, experimental techniques with traditional style, the artisan fabrics are perfectly suited for both indoor and outdoor upholstery.

Posted March 1, 2018

Source: Glen Raven Inc.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — March 1, 2018 — Homes become soft and sustainable retreats with the addition of Grund America’s new Savannah collection of organic cotton sateen sheets and Sea Pines throw blankets.  The items round out Grund’s home and bath collection which includes plush and absorbent organic bathroom rugs and towels.

The Matthews, N.C.-based company will uncover its new collection at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show held March 10-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago (booth #N6466). The throws and 300 thread count sheets provide true southern comfort, and are available in ivory, white, driftwood and slate grey, reflecting the colors of the earth after which the company is named. The collection is color-coordinated with the Grund® organic cotton bath rug, towel, and throw blanket collections.

All Grund products are made of 100-percent certified organic cotton, and their manufacturing is certified to the strict Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) which prohibits the use of toxic pesticides, dyes and finishing agents (with the exception of the Namo™ rugs which have non-slip rubber backing certified to Oeko-Tex®).

“From the field to your dreams, Grund America’s goal is to create an organic safe haven,” says Grund America Vice President Michael Twer. “Consumers can feel good knowing that each Grund item is responsibly made to the absolute highest social and environmental standards and the organic cotton used can be traced to the very community of cultivation.”

The interest in, and demand for, organic fiber products is only growing. Organic fiber sales in the U.S. reached another record in 2016, hitting $1.4 billion and posting a 9.2 percent increase from 2015, according to the 2017 Organic Industry Survey from the Organic Trade Association. The organic fiber and textiles category continues to rank as the largest non-food organic category in the $43.3 billion U.S. market. Organic fiber sales now account for almost 40 percent of the total $3.9 billion in organic non-food sales in 2016.

Growing conventional cotton requires the use of enormous amounts of pesticides, which has a large environmental impact and presents health risks for those working around it. Conventional cotton may cost less, but organic cotton has less impact on the land, farm workers, the planet and thus your well-being. Addressing the processing of cotton is also vital, given the use and discharge of toxic chemicals during conventional textile production.

Posted March 1, 2018

Source: Grund America

GREENVILLE, S.C. — March 1, 2018 — The exhibitor slate for the upcoming Home Furnishings Manufacturing Solutions Expo in July offers a wide variety of companies, including a number of exhibitors returning from last year’s event.

The show, July 18-19 at the TD Convention Center in Greenville is specifically designed for American producers of furniture and home furnishings products looking for the latest in manufacturing technology and services. It is the second annual event for the show and represents the first time it will be held in the Carolinas, convenient to the industry manufacturing centers.

At the initial Expo last year, attendees saw a number of companies focused on upholstery furniture production and automated cutting machinery, in addition to other technologies for domestic production. Show-goers were impressed. “We wanted to come and talk to the people we do business with here as well as see if there are other people we should be doing business with,” said a representative for the Woodhaven Furniture division of Aaron’s. “This is a positive market and one that’s needed since the others like it have gone away.”

One of the Expo exhibitors this year is Global Systems Group, which makes upholstery furniture and mattress machinery, according to David Eidson, vice president of sales for the Midwest and Southwest. The company is returning to the show for a second time based on the results of the first show. This year it will show new fiber processing equipment as well as filling equipment.

Another returning exhibitor is Clarity Web Solutions, which produces cloud-based solutions for sales, marketing and customer management for home furnishings manufacturers. Doug Cottrell, president, said the company’s decision to come back to the show was based on customer feedback. “We hear from our clients that they have needed a single event to meet with their vendors and explore new connections,” he said. “We feel this event is necessary, and will only contribute to benefiting the entire industry by bringing customers and vendors together.”

Among the introductions Clarity will be bringing to the Expo this year is an Interactive 3-D Visualization system for design-it-yourself custom furniture products, he said. Also there will be new features to the company’s Pricing Configurator. Clarity’s products, he added, “launch quickly, reduce upfront expenses and offer the convenience of off-the-shelf software with the ‘perfect fit’ of custom software.” Cottrell said he has seen an increase in furniture and home furnishings manufacturing activity in the U.S. and expects it to continue in 2018 and 2019?” Being located in Hickory, N.C., we see first-hand the resurgence of manufacturing activity at our clients and in the industry, as evidenced by the current shortage of skilled labor and the efforts by manufacturers to offer training to a new generation of craftsmen.”

Eidson of Global Systems Group said he is encouraged by what he’s seen in the industry so far this year: “This year has started out promising based on the economy growth.”  Cottrell of Clarity agreed, saying he was “bullish” about business this year. “With the current economy and the growing number of people needing to furnish their new homes and apartments, I believe 2018 will be a great year,” he said.

Posted March 1, 2018

Source: Exposition Development Company