Polyester, the chemically produced fabric generally treated with disdain by fashion critics and environmentalists alike, may have a new identity. New York-based Designtex, a textile division of Steelcase, has designed a new environmentally safe polyester fabric that’s also recyclable.
Designtex created with new polyester blend with a group of chemists and fabric experts known as the “Polyester Coalition.” They utilized a model of sustainability they call Cradle to Cradle, which ensures that the manufacturing processes and elements (fibers, dyes, chemicals, and energy sources) are as ecologically safe as the end product. The resulting Climatex Lifecycle fabric collection is, according to the company, the only 100-percent biodegradable fabrics on the market today.
According to researchers at the University of Tennessee, polyester accounts for about half of the total non-wovens market share in the United States and ranks number one among all kind of fiber supplies. Its uses range from clothing to carpeting to furniture. Designtex is a leading supplier of upholstery textiles, wall coverings, textile coverings for office systems, and draperies. More information about Designtex products can be found on the company’s Web site.
