Interface Fabrics adds to Terratex

'Green' brand experiments with new fiber source

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 6/25/2001 12:00:00 AM

CHICAGO —

The newest member of Terratex's environmental brand of fabrics was debuted by Interface Fabrics Group (IFG) at Neocon here last week.

Corn is the bio-based fiber used to make the fabrics. The corn is converted into starch and, through several processes, to polyactide polymers and then into fiber form, Paul Bennotti, director of strategic marketing for IFG, explained. Bio-based refers to high-performance fibers from organic, annually renewable resources, he added.

The fabrics (shown at right), in dobbies in naturals and colors, are being developed for the panel cloth segment of the contract field "perform in fiber form at the high levels of synthetics, and now are being tested as fabrics," Bennotti reported. The fabric development is being done in conjunction with Herman Miller and Designtex. Market production of the fabrics is expected in the second quarter of 2002, when fiber producer Cargill Dow's plant is up and running in Nebraska, Bennotti added.

IFG has long been a leader in the development and production of environmental and renewable fabrics. Terratex fabrics are designed to use materials and processes that reduce waste, emissions, energy and water usage and are made of recycled or compostable materials. These materials include post-industrial polyester products that are derived from waste generated by an industrial process; post-consumer products made from used soda and water bottles, for example; and reclaimed wool that uses rewoven apparel wool fibers.