Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Milliken Launches Line of Sustainable Performance Fabrics
February 1,
2017 by Larry Thomas in Designer Weekly, Green, Industry 
Textile producer Milliken & Company has launched a collection of sustainable performance fabrics that are produced with natural or recycled fibers made from plastic bottles and a plant-based water repellant.
Called Breathe by Milliken, the company said the new collection repels everyday stains and cleans easily without compromising the fabric’s look or soft feel. Milliken officials said it is the industry’s first fluorine-free performance fabric.
The new upholstery fabrics have been extensively tested by certified third parties and meet or exceed industry standards including flammability, water repellency, soil release, spot cleaning, colorfastness, abrasion resistance and pilling. The company said the Breathe fabrics meet these standards without adding fluorine, formaldehyde, fire retardants or other similar chemicals.
“Today’s consumers are better informed and more concerned about product content than ever before – who makes it, what it is made of and how it is made,” said David Smith, vice president for engineered performance products at Milliken & Company. “Every aspect of this product was designed to address this concern. Consumers can breathe easy knowing their beautiful furniture is protected from stains and wear in a much more sustainable way.”
He said all Breathe by Milliken fabrics have also achieved Greenguard Gold certification, which gives assurance that products designed for use in indoor spaces meet strict chemical emissions limits, contributing to the creation of healthier interiors.