Sta-Kleen Silicone Digital Prints

The Mitchell Group has introduced its latest offering in silicone upholstery fabrics, Silicone Digital Prints. The collection offers the same performance qualities as the original silicone line, and now includes seven digitally printed fabrics that have been designed for healthcare, hospitality, and contract markets.

From the ability to withstand harsh chemicals to inherent stain resistance, silicone is an ideal material for commercial applications. The Mitchell Group team spent more than a year perfecting their material to exceed industry standards. “It took a long time to develop our silicone, about 18 months. We had to play with it a little bit because it tends to be difficult to work with. We didn’t add any enhancers that would have compromised the overall integrity of the product,” said Bill Fisch, president, Mitchell Group.

Launched in 2018, the first silicone fabrics were well-received because of their versatility, which Fisch noted was a selling point for his own team. “We were attracted to silicone because it performed in so many ways for us, and we brought it out to great success.”

At the height of the pandemic, there was a 20% drop in the company’s hospitality business while requests for materials suitable for healthcare environments tripled. “Everybody was looking for coated textiles because of the amount of cleanings necessary in hospitals or assisted living facilities. And we found that silicone doesn’t break down or need a special finish. It holds up.”

While most silicones are functional, they tend to be basic, with limited color or print options to choose from. Fisch noted that when they introduced silicones they were all solids, and they didn’t plan on expanding the line right away. They chose instead to focus on selling the core pieces that were perennial favorites. “We really did not get into digital printing until 2019, and it was a two-year period of trial and error. We were also juggling other things that were in the queue at that point. And then of course COVID hit and it slowed everything down.”

Yet Fisch was sure that more could be done, and soon, he was ready to go back to the drawing board to take Sta-Kleen materials to the next level. Adding more sophisticated prints and graphics had always been complicated, especially with silicone. “It’s flat, with very little grain. It just wants to be a solid color. We knew that going forward this was going to be a big category for us, and that we had to be able to decorate our silicones in unique ways.”

He looked to fashion for inspiration, and realized that he could utilize the same technology for upholstery fabric. “I saw what they were doing with apparel and I began to investigate. When the wide-format machinery became available, it was apparent to me that we had something here.”

Just as with producing the first iteration of silicones, creating these prints brought a new set of challenges. There were new specifications that had to be met, and tweaks to traditional formulations waiting to be tried  — often with mixed results. “It was another long process of research and development as we explored digital printing again. We had to adjust the polymers so that they would read clearer instead of being too milky when they are coated.”

After testing various methods, Fisch said their technique ensures that the fabric retains color and design over time, even after extended wear or contact with solvents. “We decided to print on the textile first, and then encapsulate it with three coatings. The digital print is captured for the life of the product.”

Once the particulars of printing were in place, they turned to a frequent collaborator, Géraldine Blanchot Fortier, to envision styles and set the tone for the line. Blanchot Fortier is the founder of design studio Limn + Loom, and for the past three years she has partnered with Mitchell Group on various projects. She designed most of the prints for the collection, taking a less-is-more approach. “The strategy was to have a multifaceted grouping that targeted all of the markets. We did a limited amount of designs, so It was very intentional to include prints with crossover appeal.”

Having a broader reach entailed incorporating a natural, more earthy palette — with hues like gray taupes that resonate in every single sector. Because silicone is flat, it is sometimes perceived as less desirable. With a decade of mill experience, Foriter not only deftly employs color, she can also mimic the look of textured fabrics in her designs for sleek materials.

“I developed these textures digitally to make them look like wool or linen, using a platform that simulates wovens. By injecting tactility, and then adding the right color and design, all of it comes together to create interest,” Blanchot Fortier noted.

Clients find the sustainability story just as compelling as the prints. The state-of-production facility where the silicone is produced was intentionally constructed near an electric power plant to reuse this particular plant’s non-pollutant steam as its main power source. The steam is recaptured and turned into power for the entire manufacturing operation, while releasing zero waste into the atmosphere. Without polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plasticizers, phthalates, or heavy metals, the fabrics themselves are also environmentally friendly — an added bonus that is a must-have for specifiers.

As manufacturing and printing continue to evolve, so too do each of the Mitchell Group’s collections. “The future for us is going to be in the digital arena because of the quality and the endless number of designs we can come up with. There are no limitations,” Fisch said.