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ITA Member Story - Ultrasuede
Ultrasuede Adds a New Chapter to Its Sustainability Story
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SHOWROOM: Not Exhibiting at November 2021 Show
CONTACT: 212.922.3774 / www.ultrasuede.us
Developed during the 1970s and made famous by fashion designer Halston and furniture designer Vladimir Kagan, Toray Industries’ Ultrasuede has a long history of providing the softness and sophistication of suede with durable performance.
And now, the company adds a new facet to that legacy— sustainability. It all began in 2015, when Toray began commercial production of plant-based polyester, which uses recycled resources derived from plants as part of its raw materials.
The biomaterials used to create this fabric help contribute to a nonoil-dependent economy, offer a secure supply and stable quality, and allow Toray to help build a healthier environment. And the company plans to expand the use of those biomaterials going forward, creating an even larger positive impact on the environment.
“Currently, Ultrasuede HP is made up of approximately 14 percent plant-based components,” says Helen Brier, sales and marketing manager, Ultrasuede. “Further development of the material construction utilizing 30 percent plant-based components is now complete and will launch next year. In the near future, we are targeting 100 percent plant-based components.”
This season, look for:
Ultrasuede introduces its mélange collection, also known as heathered fabric. Mélange is traditionally made of dyed and un-dyed fibers woven together inconsistently, resulting in a unique, eyecatching pattern, popular in both fashion and interiors. To create the luxe look of mélange for Ultrasuede HP, a special screen printing process is employed, with the screens allowing for a consistent pattern from lot to lot.
Also new this season is twill, a geometric pattern most often seen in cotton or wool fabrications. Ultrasuede HP’s small-scale twill pattern is created with a dye print using rotary screens. Available in five colorways, the pattern is evocative of a classic “zig zag” textile weave used in the production of denim garments, suiting or the iconic wool overcoats produced in Scotland.
