by HIGH POINT — As part of an ongoing commitment to providing environmentally friendly and easy-care products that consumers in the marketplace are seeking, Kuka Home has partnered with Valdese Weavers and Crypton Home to offer a new merchandising program of livable Sustain performance fabrics and Crypton performance fabrics.
These fabrics are being offered on Kuka’s Mexico-produced mix of stationary and motion upholstery, accent chairs and ottomans at the April High Point Market and will be available in multiple color options.
“Research shows consumers prioritize environmentally friendly products, including furnishings, in their shopping decisions,” said Matt Harrison, president of Kuka Home North America. “This offering of sustainable performance fabrics will help our retailers stay on the forefront of trends their shoppers seek.”
The Sustain line of fabrics features upcycled yarn ingredients that the company says helps reduce their carbon footprint by using no water and limited energy in production. The company also noted that they use no added chemicals and have a longevity story that limits waste in landfills.
The Crypton fabrics offer stain repellency and soil release, which the company said makes them easy to clean.
“As consumers increasingly seek healthy products that enhance well-being, these fabrics use no harsh chemicals and resist the growth of odor-causing microbes,” the company said, adding, “The Crypton patented process for stain repellency includes an immersion bath followed by a heat process that seals the technology onto each fiber. Crypton stain and moisture protection lasts for the life of the fabric.”
The company added that the Sustain and Crypton fabrics are stocked in the U.S., meaning they have quicker availability from Mexico than those goods shipped from China. Sustain products also are made in North Carolina and are Greenguard Gold Certified and meet California’s flame-retardant requirements.
“Offering more North American-made finished goods is part of a larger initiative at Kuka Home,” Harrison said. “We are expanding our North American production capacity and localizing our supply chain to shorten lead times and better serve our North American customers.”
Both companies also provide retail training and point-of-purchase materials.
