by Ann Withanee — June 27, 2011—Peel away the layers to find the inner beauty, says InterfaceFLOR. This is what designer David Oakey has done in his latest collaboration with InterfaceFLOR. Raw, a pattern evoking the compelling aesthetic that aging often can yield, was shown along with other introductions at NeoCon 2011, in the company’s Chicago Merchandise Mart showroom. Raw is the latest of InterfaceFLOR’s many i2 styles, offering nondirectional installation and mergeable dye lots.
The inspiration for this new modular carpet tile design was organic deconstruction. “I’ve long been captivated by how aging and wear can evolve into an aesthetic treat, such as the nuances of patina and the character of distressing,” said Oakey. “Strip away layers, and beneath lies unexpected beauty. Think of eroding concrete, peeling paint or aged velvet, which, over time, expose a layering that’s artful and dynamic.”
InterfaceFLOR with today’s technology once again brought Oakey’s vision and imagination to life. Raw is a pattern of visual intrigue, with a strong variance in coloration and mottled tonal effects. It also features an exceptionally plush hand that translates into “irresistible luxury,” says the company. To achieve these combined qualities, InterfaceFLOR engaged its game-changing Tapestry technology, a proprietary system that delivers bold patterning; crisp, saturated colors; and more sculptural dimension imitative of woven broadloom.
InterfaceFLOR says the beauty of Raw goes beyond “skin-deep” because it is produced from the groundbreaking 100 percent non-virgin yarn that combines reclaimed carpet fiber with—surprisingly—salvaged fishing nets. Aquafil, one of InterfaceFLOR’s global partners in supplying yarn, developed a way to process recycled commercial fishnets, plus yarn harvested from old carpets through InterfaceFLOR’s ReEntry 2.0 process, together with other recycled materials, to produce a 100 percent non-virgin yarn. When combined with InterfaceFLOR’s GlasBac RE non-virgin PVC backing, Raw contains 29 percent post-consumer recycled content and a total of 79 percent recycled content.
InterfaceFLOR reports that it has made significant progress toward its Mission Zero pledge to return more waste yarns to the supply chain and to reach a zero footprint by 2020.
For more information visit the InterfaceFLOR Web site.
