Business news : Polartec Re-enters Upholstery Business

Polartec, LLC has leveraged high-performance fabrics engineered for the outdoor industry to re-enter the contract upholstery business. The company said it has partnered with C.F. Stinson, Inc. of Rochester Hills, MI, which will launch the "Fit by Polartec" collection at NeoCon, North America’s largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiors, in Chicago June 10-12, 2013.

"Two years ago Polartec launched a revolutionary new waterproof breathable technology for mountaineers and athletes called Polartec NeoShell,” said Allison Spahr, VP of global design at Polartec. “We have optimized and adapted the performance of this technology for upholstery, namely incredible moisture barrier technology and durability in a breathable, highly comfortable seating material. We are able to achieve an incredibly soft, drapeable textile without harsh chemical treatments. In fabrics we produce for other industries, our knit air channels are designed to manage comfort and breathability. Now, Fit by Polartec brings these award-winning Polartec technologies to contract furniture applications."

Polartec, in partnership with Patagonia, revolutionized cold weather apparel with its invention of modern synthetic fleece in the early 1980’s. The technology used to create these fabrics evolved from the know-how of Polartec’s engineers running the upholstery knitting machines. Fast-forward to today and the exact opposite is happening. Polartec is applying knowledge and technology from outdoor apparel textiles to create new, high performance contract upholstery fabrics for interior design. The partnership with C.F. Stinson marks Polartec’s first major foray into upholstery since the company shifted resources to focus on performance fabrics for outdoor apparel.

C.F. Stinson’s Fit by Polartec collection is the culmination of

collaboration between innovation leaders serving two different industries to bring a new standard of performance and comfort to commercial textiles.

"It's not entirely clear which is the harsher environment, the top of Mt. Everest or seating in a medical waiting room, but we have worked closely with Polartec to bring their advanced textile science and valued brand to the commercial interiors and furniture markets,” says John Rowan, director of sales and product development for CF Stinson. “”We believe designers will be inspired by the compelling aesthetic of these durable and comfortable knit fabrics. In keeping with C.F. Stinson’s mission to bring industry leading innovation and performance to commercial interiors, Fit by Polartec once again raises the bar for contract furniture textiles.””

Rowan said all of the styles in the Fit collection are produced in the U.S.A. at Polartec's bluesign certified manufacturing facility in Lawrence, Mass.

Source Polartec through SportsOneSource