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Irish Linen plus Lycra, Leather with Lycra and Avantige plus Lycra

Three new high tech fabrics showcased at Heimtextil 2003

At the Heimtextil home upholstery show in Frankfurt (January 8-12 2003) DuPont Textiles and Interiors’ Home and Industrial Textiles (HIT) stand was the European showcase for three new designer and consumer-friendly upholstery products : Irish Linen plus Lycra, Leather with Lycra and Avantige plus Lycra. These three new high tech fabrics demonstrate the ability of DIT to bring the technology and brand power of Lycra to answer European market demand for functional yet rich and natural upholstery materials. Teflon fabric protector for easy care textiles was also displayed on DTI’s Heimtextil 2003 stand.

Irish Linen plus Lycra: a modern way to use the most natural of fabrics Two icons of quality and fashion - the Irish Linen and Lycra brands - have teamed up to produce a fabric that combines the natural and breathable qualities of Irish Linen with the elasticity of Lycra to produce a fabric that can be shaped to fit your furniture. The resultant technological breakthrough means that pure Irish Linen can now be used in upholstery, offering a very comfortable stretch and recovery, reduced creasing and still maintain its original ‘linen look’. Cathy Martin of the Irish Linen Guild said: “The partnership involved in developing Irish Linen plus Lycra has resulted in a fabric with remarkable qualities of durability, strength and now stretch that will open up new upholstery possibilities for Irish Linen.” This new high tech fabric is designed for modern living, where comfort and performance are as important as great looks, both in clothing and lifestyle products.

Leather with Lycra: the time-honoured qualities of leather combined with the performance benefits of Lycra DuPont Textiles and Interiors (DTI) has worked with tanneries around the world to develop a new process for adding Lycra to animal hides to create leather which stretches and moulds to the lines and curves of modern design: Leather with Lycra. Originally introduced for the apparel and footwear industries, Leather with Lycra is now being launched for the home textile industry. John Gorcyca, global segment manager for upholstery, said, “Leather with Lycra offers new design possibilities, new ergonomics/aesthetics and new fit and performance in upholstery. Whereas pure leather often bags after continuous use, the flexibility and recovery of Lycra enables it to retain its shape and visual appeal longer.”

Avantige plus Lycra: high-value, technical laminates/coatings that exhibit outstanding recoverable stretch, breathability and water resistance. Avantige plus Lycra is the most recent high-tech development of the three new Lycra products and is the fruit of a development partnership between DTI, Neutron Technologies of the UK and Arteca a very well-known Italian company who have finally further developed the product to several end-uses and various design criteria. Avantige plus Lycra fabrics are also being marketed by DTI partners Cipatex, a Brazilian company for the North/South American markets, respectively. In addition to the stretch and recovery of Lycra, Avantige plus Lycra fabrics also offer breathability and water resistance, which are very important benefits for certain end-use applications such as footwear and apparel. Constantino Karazissis, managing director of Arteca in Verona, Italy, said: “Avantige plus Lycra offers two major benefits that we feel are very important in the upholstery market: good abrasion resistance and water resistance. This means Avantige plus Lycra used in upholstery is multifunctional and easy to care for; it is also machine washable and do not need ironing.”

Teflon fabric protector: the brand for easy care home textiles. Today’s consumers are looking for upholstery fabrics that are easy to care for - machine washable and needing no ironing. Teflon forms a protective shield around each fibre so that coffee spills and fruit splatters blot up quickly and can be whisked away by merely wiping the surface clean. Even if they are allowed to dry, most stains can be cleaned easily. Yet incredibly, despite these easy care benefits, Teflon fabric protector does not affect the way home fabrics look, feel or breath - and enables upholstery fabrics to look newer, longer. The fabric protector can be used with wools, cottons, microfibres, silks, rayons and blends. Visitors to the DTI/HIT stand at Heimtextil 2003 were able to admire an example of Leather with Lycra in upholstery - a sofa and two arm chairs, by French designer Alain de Louise, now on sale from Visionnaire Home Philosophy showroom in Milan. A piece from the well-known Italian firm “Bassetti” featuring Teflon fabric protection will also be on show. Finally, concept cinema seats using Avantige + Lycra, plus a whole selection of commercial fabrics, including Leather with Lycra can also be seen on the stand.

John Gorcyca continued : “These new Lycra-infused upholsteries are perfect examples of how the recent formation of DuPont Textiles and Interiors enables us to bring to market even more exciting products. We look forward to working with our industry partners, as we have done with the Irish Linen Guild and various tanneries worldwide, to continue our technological advances.” On January 1, 2003 DuPont Textiles and Interiors (DTI) became the world’s largest integrated textiles and interiors company - with annual global sales for 2001 of US$ 6.5 billion. In addition to Lycra, DTI’s strong portfolio of consumer brands include Stainmaster, Teflon, Coolmax, Thermolite, Supplex, Antron, Cordura, Tactel and Solarmax.