by Brianna Crandall — June 21, 2013—The Mohawk Group introduced carpet application-visualizing software technology as well as several innovative carpeting collections at the NeoCon 2013 contract furnishings show in Chicago June 10-12. Mohawk’s DesignFlex Visualizer took Silver in the Best of NeoCon Competition under the Software Technologies category. Other entries included the Industrial Design Collection under Carpet: Broadloom; the Denim Collection and Street Thread Collection under Carpet: Modular; and Silk Road under Healthcare Flooring.
The Silver-winning DesignFLEX Visualizer, introduced last year to complement Mohawk’s new State of Mind collection, was featured at NeoCon 2013 with enhancements and an expansion of its compatible collections. The interactive tool is designed to give architects and designers the freedom to combine the patterns and colors of Mohawk’s versatile modular collections into an entirely new, total floor aesthetic, and will help FMs visualize the end result when they are making decisions on project components. The software currently supports Mohawk’s State of Mind, State of Mind II and Surface Theory collections, with plans for further expansion.
To further help designers and specifiers, the Mohawk Group has now consolidated its Lees, Bigelow and Karastan brands into Mohawk Group-branded architect folders. The folders provide the Group’s floorcoverings in one convenient location, with large color visuals, product specs, and sustainability information, including LEED eligibility.
Inspired by the resurgence of Mid-Century Modern design, the simple beauty and comfort of the newest woven collection from the Mohawk Group integrates traditional craft into industrial production techniques. Industrial Design brings subtle patterning to life with a classic architectural color palette, forming an ideal surfacing solution for today’s corporate environment. The high-quality broadloom collection is available in a variety of colorways in three patterns: Applied Art and Applied Science are elegantly simple patterns, and the bolder Idlewild was inspired by the sweeping curves of the Idlewild/John F. Kennedy airport, designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen.
The dense face yarns used in Industrial Design deliver “unparalleled” textures and comfort underfoot, says Mohawk, and these woven commercial carpets are reportedly specified for their timeless appeal, exceptional color quality and flexible custom options. The woven construction extends the carpet’s life three times longer than tufted, meaning less waste in the landfill, adds the company. The recyclable collection is CRI Green Label Plus and Gold NSF/ANSI-140 Certified.
Inspired by a timeless wardrobe staple, the Denim Collection (click on “Denim Collection” under Products) takes flooring design to an exceptional level of versatility with its classic-yet-comfortable look. In response to the work culture’s shift towards youthful comfort, Denim’s 10 neutral colorway options can create a relaxed environment or, like a pair of classic jeans, complement any style—from funky to modern to upscale, says Mohawk. From a casual welcome lobby to an upscale executive suite, the modular collection’s three twill patterns—Jean, Hem and Selvedge—can create quiet, concentrated work areas where end users will feel right at home.
All Denim products feature the high-performance Duracolor fiber, which offers inherent and permanent stain resistance, says Mohawk. Duracolor delivers colorfastness to light and atmospheric contaminants, resulting in easy maintenance and the ability to withstand the harshest commercial setting, adds the company. Denim is also equipped with the company’s EcoFlex ICT, an ultra-dense, five-layer backing system containing 35 percent pre-consumer recycled content. With superior strength against delamination and edge ravel, Denim products reportedly stay in use and out of the waste stream longer.
Inspired by the work of leading street artists Aakash Nhihalani, Queen Andrea and others, the Street Thread Collections 1 and 2 (click on “Street Thread Collection 1” or “2” under Products) and reinvigorate commercial settings with authentic representations of today’s urban art movement. The collection utilizes bold motifs, abstract shapes and bright, fun colors, offering a fresh take on inner-city street trends from around the world and giving life to otherwise ordinary spaces. These Off the Wall, Wildstyle and Superfresh carpet tiles demand attention, allowing designers and specifiers an opportunity to reenergize an entire office or highlight creative spaces within an interior.
Manufactured with the latest in sustainable flooring innovation, Street Thread delivers stability and performance from the ultra-dense construction of its EcoFlex ICT premium vinyl modular backing system, which is Gold NSF/ANSI-140 certified. All Street Thread products use the sustainable Duracolor fiber technology. Potential stains reportedly clean easily with just water, making it easy to maintain and able to thrive in the harshest commercial settings.
Inspired by the decorative silks and carpets that traveled across deserts throughout the history of civilization, Silk Road (click on “Silk Road” under Products) is a comprehensive flooring collection designed specifically for healthcare/senior living environments. Its sophisticated patterning and style were created to provide an oasis of comfort underfoot and to enhance users’ living experience. Silk Road offers five running line and nine custom carpet patterns in a variety of coordinated colorways for public space, corridors, borders, memory care, hard surface and rooms.
With sustainability in mind, Silk Road’s broadloom options employ Duracolor fiber technology for high-level colorfastness and built-in stain resistance. In addition, its UniBond Flex backing boasts a Platinum NSF/ANSI-140 certification and reportedly offers durability against edge ravel, delamination, zippering and tuft bind.
