Building upon a rich history in upholstery and decades of innovation in performance fabrics, Polartec, LLC is re-entering the contract upholstery business in partnership with industry leader C.F. Stinson, Inc. of Rochester Hills, Michigan.
CF Stinson 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.
Allison Spahr, VP of Global Design at Polartec comments, "Two years ago Polartec launched a revolutionary new waterproof breathable technology for mountaineers and athletes called Polartec NeoShell.
"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.”
According to Mr. Rowan, 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.
The collection of visually stunning and highly durable knit fabrics includes:
Aero offers a long and saturated color line that features an architectural knit structure that displays a luminous glow of color winking through its intricate design. bluesign approved.
Flex is a sporty, structured knit with a mesh face that playfully contrasts a colorful background and luster component to create a stunning modern effect. bluesign approved.
Profile boldly declares a classic wool melton aesthetic in high performance knit polyester technology with a heather effect and finish that enhances a deep color line with edge and style. bluesign approved.
Detail curves and molds around surfaces like a bespoke suit and offers a revolutionary Polartec moisture barrier technology. It achieves detailed perfection through an exquisitely fine, knit diamond motif punctuated with elegant pinpoints of light, and the slightly mottled, matte ground is a complex color that sets off each highlight pinpoint.
Contour is a plush knit velvet material engineered to be unparalleled in comfort and softness that skims effortlessly over furniture and offers a revolutionary Polartec moisture barrier technology.
About CF Stinson
C.F. Stinson, Inc. is an industry leading resource for high performance textiles including seating and vertical surface fabrics, high performance coated fabrics and PVC-free products for the contract, hospitality, education and healthcare markets. C.F. Stinson, Inc. was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan. With an ongoing commitment to technical innovation, unparalleled customer service, and dedication to excellence in design, the company serves designers, architects, specifiers, and furniture manufacturers.
About Polartec, LLC
Polartec, LLC is the developer, manufacturer and marketer of Polartec technical performance fabrics. Since inventing modern synthetic fleece in 1981, the engineers at Polartec have continued to push the limits of fabric technology. Today, Polartec supplies the world with the most advanced fabric innovations. Polartec products range from advanced lightweight wicking fabric, to insulation and weather protection textiles and are utilized by leading apparel brands, the U.S. military and other global militaries, flame resistance and work wear markets.
