by Company also seeks to grow residential business through the durability story it offers in its commercial-grade products
HIGH POINT — As a resource for both commercial- and residential-grade fabrics whose quality story crosses over into each segment, New York-based Nassimi has made a commitment to sustainability that the company says dates back more than 20 years.
According to a timeline in its first sustainability report published in 2022, this began with the introduction of a PVC-free faux leather product. Then about eight years later, it upgraded its operating systems to become a paperless company and several years after that removed phthalates from a thermoplastic known as PVC. And in 2015 it started data tracking for GHG emissions, energy and water consumption.
It also says it has been PFAS free since 2020 with the introduction of Supreen, a PFC/PFAS-free liquid barrier material used in upholstery. Other initiatives have included the removal of antimicrobial, antibacterial and flame retardant chemicals from all products in 2017 and the removal of all PFAS chemicals from its products two years ago.
Vegan leathers featuring animal-free products made with polyurethane and silicone are also part of its mix, as are fabrics made with recycled wools.
Because of their durability and comfort, these products have done well on both the commercial and hospitality side of the company’s business, which represents about 85% of revenues, with the balance being in residential. Although occupying a smaller percentage of the business, residential represents the segment with the highest growth opportunity, said Iwan Nassimi, executive vice president.
“Residential is smaller but growing. We are seeing demand in true performance fabric,” Nassimi told Home News Now at the recently concluded Interwoven show, describing the company’s intensive testing process for fabrics.
It also stocks PFAS-free fabrics, including the launch of its Supreen fabric line as well as its stain-resistant polyurethane and medical-grade silicone covers.
While comfort levels of the fabrics have been a key selling feature for the commercial and hospitality side of the business, Nassimi noted that the durability of the fabrics combined with comfort, also will help grow business in residential.
“Everything we do holds up in a commercial setting, but we also want it to be soft and supple,” he said, of one of three core tenets of the business that he believes will help grow volume in residential.
Secondly, for the company to succeed in the residential sector, he said, the fabrics and leathers also have to be on trend from a fashion and color perspective.
Third, he noted, they also should have a sustainable and environmentally friendly nature, free of phthalates, flame retardants and also PFAS chemicals. As part of its sustainability story, the company’s manufacturing facilities also use solar panels and have reduced energy and water consumption between 50% and 60%, Nassimi noted.
The company also has a domestic warehouse program with a main facility in New York and two smaller ones in California and North Carolina. These operations allow customers to buy in smaller quantities and also receive them within days of the order.
“We do a lot of direct shipments, but we also can service things quickly here,” Nassimi said of the ability to quickly ship anything from samples to larger orders. “Speed to market is becoming more critical.”
This market the company launched several new fabrics and several new vegan leathers, a fairly light introduction in terms of the actual patterns. However, the selection runs deep with 20-25 colorways in fabrics and 25 in leather that aim to broaden the commercial appeal in the marketplace. Fabrics range from $7 to $10 per yard while vegan leathers range from $4 to the high teens.
For more information on the company and its products and sustainability story, visit www.nassimi.com.
