Bess forges alliance for Fossfill

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/9/2002 2:01:00 PM

Philadelphia — Fossfill, a synthetic, down-like fiber that has already been used in the medical and hospitality industries, is now available as decorative pillow inserts through a licensing agreement with Bess Mfg.

A patented fiber from Denmark, Fossfill has been in the U.S. market for 10 years, said Gary Romanik, ceo and president, Murtex Fiber Systems, Pico Rivera, CA, which has the license for the product in the U.S. and has forged the alliance with Bess. Europeans have used the fiber for such items as high-end seat cushions, he added.

"It has the same properties of feather and down, but it outlives and outperforms feather and down," Romanik said. And, similar to down, it supports the body but doesn't push back, he added. Its pricing is higher than other synthetics, he said, though it is significantly less expensive when compared to high-quality down.

"It fits in nicely with our line," said Tom Klenert, president, Bess. "It's a step above down — with better performance." He estimated that a decorative pillow with a Fossfill insert would cost about $1 more than one with down — which, he noted, would typically consist of only 5 percent down and 95 percent feather. Fossfill is available in any of Bess' products, though not the low-end, where price sensitivity is an issue, he said.

The products will target the specialty and department stores, Klenert added, and will include a separate, informational Fossfill hang tag.