Fabrics take the stage at ISPA Expo 2022
ORLANDO, Fla. — The softer side of bedding came out in full force during the International Sleep Products Assn.’s Expo held here for the first time more than two years, with mattress fabrics trending toward more color and bold new textures.
Following multiple seasons of many shades of gray, the pendulum is making a slow shift back toward steely blues, rich teal and sea glass green. Peppered in between are hints of elegance with shimmery yarns such as Lurex woven throughout to lend touches of elegance and a wealth of texture to add interest and depth.
In addition to the color and texture, cooling technologies and antiviral treatments remain a staple in bedding textiles.
Fabric suppliers showing at the Expo also delivered strong sustainability and eco-friendly product offerings in line with other component suppliers, such as Leggett & Platt, Latexco, Hickory Springs Mfg. and others that delivered on goods that offer an environmentally friendly story.
CT Nassau introduced a line of ticking fabrics crafted from old blue jeans that have been recycled and repurpose. The Jeans Selection is made from recycled, eco-friendly denim yarn. The company says more than 80 billion clothing items are produced each year generating more than 16 million tons of textile waste.
The company is repurposing the fibers to create materials for mattress borders and panels.
At Innofa, a myriad of blue shades filled the spaces wall. Melissa McCourtie, design and product development manager, said mattress manufacturers were gravitating toward the variety of blues that ranged from sea glass to indigo and navy.
“We’re seeing a lot of pops of blue,” she said, adding that blues with hints of turquoise and back to nature looks were driving conversations. “We’ve also had strong interest in crisp, clean whites and simple geometric shapes.”
The industry has been a sea of gray over the past several years, and those colorations remain strong, McCourtie said, pointing toward groupings of charcoal, dove and other warm gray hues.
The natural story at Innofa was its focus on GOTS-certified cotton that offers consumers a clean, eco-friendly story that continues to resonate at retail.
At Culp Home Fashions, Jeff Veach, vice president of sales and marketing, pointed toward its selection of eco-friendly designs that include plant-based fibers like DuPont’s Sorona and Repreve, Unifi’s fiber spun from recycled plastic bottles.
In addition to its eco-friendly push, Culp was pushing the envelope with rich jewel tones including teal, amethyst and sapphire in its market color wheel.
Global Textiles Alliance delivered on its luxury story with strands of rose gold Lurex woven throughout its new products. Susan Anne Hedgecock, creative director-bedding for Global Textiles Alliance, said the subtle touches offer some “refinement to the designs with just a dusting of glimmer.”
“We’re responding to a sophisticated movement in a quiet manner, and we’re pairing it with dark, saturated neutrals,” she said. “There’s complexity and color throughout, and it delivers drama and surface interest.”
