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MicroSuede launched at Showtime

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 7/16/2001 12:00:00 AM

HIGH POINT, NC —

Microfibres is bringing a suede-like fabric to market for both home furnishings and furniture that uses DuPont's Xtra Life nylon fiber.

MicroSuede, which has been designed to emulate the hand and feel of suede but offer the additional high-performance characteristics of man-made fibers, was launched at Showtime here last week.

MicroSuede's introduction comes as the European market counts suede as a best-selling fabric category, with about 30 percent of the upholstery fabric market, about the same size as leather, and the American market is seeing a growth in suede at the upper end of the market. The MicroSuede fabric has been engineered to resemble leather in look and hand in addition to being wrinkle resistant, color-fast and easy-care and is covered by the DuPont Xtra Life five-year warranty for fiber abrasion and pilling.

The MicroSuede fabrics are being offered in the home furnishings market for a variety of applications, said Maureen Owen, director of business development, specialty products division.

The initial collection offers four plains in about 15 colors each at $4.50 to $4.95 per yard from the basic plain to a pigskin effect and a fine grain effect.

In 2002, Microfibres and DuPont will launch a major consumer marketing program.

In addition, the specialty products division has introduced a number of new constructions specifically for home furnishings. One is a rayon flock on a cotton substrate in six designs — a leaf, checkerboard, small squares, 1-inch stripe, reverse squares and an all-over — that come in 54-inch and 60-inch widths at $.00 to $5.50 dyed, and $4.00 to $4.50 natural.

A second collection of 60-inch prints uses a drip substrate for transfer prints at $3.95.

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