Südewolle’s Südwebs Innovation Hub recently worked with Lenzing and Culp Home Fashions to create a new luxury mattress ticking fabric.
Coming together and contributing expertise towards a shared goal, Germany-based worsted yarn spinner Südewolle Group, Austria-based cellulosic fiber producer Lenzing AG and Stokesdale, N.C.- based Culp Home Fashions (CHF) recently explored new ways to merge functionality and visual appeal in home textiles through Südewolle’s Südwebs Innovation Hub.
This cross-industry collaboration focused on improving sleep comfort while imparting a fresh design and color scheme to mattress fabrics.
The project began with Südewolle’s Oak-port yarn — a 50-percent wool/50-percent TENCEL™ Lyocell blend in a 36/1 Nm yarn count. The yarn is available in Südewolle’s stock program. According to Südewolle, this fiber blend offers practical benefits for home textiles. Wool has natural temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking properties, which is enhanced by the softness and moisture control of Lenzing’s TENCEL Lyocell. The blend also offers breathability and durability, as well as odor management.
Originally established in 1976 as Culp Ticking, CHF is Culp Inc.’s mattress fabric division. For the collaboration, CHF’s design team set to create a fabric that differed from the blue and gray color combinations often used for mattress fabrics. They selected a warm and neutral color palette and went with a vintage-inspired patchwork pattern featuring angular shapes. The fabrics are available exclusively through CHF.
“Lenzing and Südewolle recognized a void for a natural mattress ticking face that brought together the benefits of merino wool and TENCEL™ lyocell fibers,” reported Walter Bridgham, senior business development manager, Lenzing Fibers, TENCEL brand, Americas Home Segment. “Culp was identified and approached as a partner that has a keen sense of design and outstanding production capabilities, and they brought this luxury mattress ticking fabric to reality.”
“The best part of the project was having the opportunity to work with industry-leading fiber and yarn suppliers, said CHF President Tommy Bruno. Collaborating with industry-leading fiber and yarn suppliers on this project has helped create an innovative and foundational fabric that will contribute to future product development. This collaboration allowed us to create a fabric that will ultimately stimulate conversation and inspire future product development with our customers.”
The fabrics made their debut at the recent Heimtextil trade show in Germany.
“Lenzing had the opportunity to show this fabric at the January Heimtextil fair in Frankfurt where we received very positive feedback on the innovative fabric,” Bridgham said. “Since Heimtextil, Lenzing has received interest to bring the fabric to market in the mattress ticking area.”
Reflecting on the collaboration, the companies agreed that a core color palette for the yarn presents future opportunities for elevated design, premium tiered options and enhanced creative possibilities.
“I am really excited on how the collaboration is being perceived after launch!” added Lukas Vogl, marketing specialist, Südewolle. “I think the real benefit that we have put forth for the collaboration between Südwolle Group, Lenzing, and Culp is the exclusive marketing support for this innovation. We want to make sure that we make this development and the relationship very special.”
