Carnegie has launched the Hygeia Collection, a new high-performance sustainable textile series featuring upholstery and window drapery solutions emphasizing health and wellness. The seven patterns in the collection are suitable for a range of healthcare projects, while naturally extending into education, hospitality, and corporate environments.
We continue to see the crossover of styles in every segment, with performance, durability, and cleanability are key drivers. “Since the pandemic, designers want to create these spaces that people feel safe and comfortable in, whether it is a healthcare environment or a hospitality setting. They want to be able to mix materials that work for all areas, so this collection was created to be all-encompassing,” said Mary Holt, Carnegie’s chief design strategist.
As we grapple with a variety of issues, from climate change to conservation of ever-limited resources, there continues to be a shift both in thinking and action. Specifiers are using a holistic lens when selecting all products, and wellness includes care for people and the planet. “Everybody’s interested in healthy interiors now,” Holt noted. They don’t want to put products in that are going to affect the air quality or change the natural lighting. All of these things that have been a part of Carnegie’s thought process are now becoming mainstream.”
Yet even with the company’s continued focus on sustainability, advancements take time. As Holt explained, some of the upholstery fabrics in the Hygeia weren’t conceivable until recently. Page Turner, a favorite at NeoCon, is a bleach-cleanable material made entirely from 96 previously consumed PET bottles. Even though it sounds simple, this textile is a significant addition to Carnegie’s complete range. “Three years ago it was not possible to have a recycled content fabric that can be cleaned with bleach,” she said. “And now we have the opportunity to put a product in our line that’s post-consumer recycled that is still very much a luxury product.”
Reinterpreting the enduring appeal of leather, the Mustang fabric is part of Carnegie’s Elements collection, with all fabrics priced under $45 per yard. Formulated for longevity and cleanability, this material contains very low volatile organic compounds. The company is able to offer this more affordable option because of efficient production. “We are using a new manufacturing technique that uses 50 percent less energy and 50 percent less water. So not only is it better for the environment, but we can produce it and sell it for less. It’s a high-performance basic,” Holt said.
Putting it all together is a team effort, and Holt explained that it is always a challenge to pare down when they have generated so many ideas. So how do they decide what is a good fit? While look and feel are important, fabrics that are necessities are prioritized. “We’ve been editing down our launches to make sure that when we bring something out it has a purpose. Even our basics have to have a reason for being,” she added.
Coated fabrics in particular continue to be strong sellers, with healthcare customers requesting more elevated designs, while still being easy to clean and suitable for high-traffic areas. “Coated fabrics are a necessity right now, and of course there are requirements for healthcare, but designers still want their space to look like hospitality environments. We develop a woven and then translate it to a coated fabric, versus just designing a printed fabric. With that approach, the fabrics are really a marriage of the best from each sector,” Holt noted. The Helix Print silicone hybrid upholstery, for example, has the appearance of a textural woven stripe, while the Juno print mimics the look of a luxury wool that is highlighted with a novelty slub yarn.
The collection also includes the U.S.’s first 100 percent recycled Trevira CS polyester window drapery from longtime partner, Création Baumann. In 2021, they solidified their affiliation when Carnegie was named as the exclusive distributor of all Création Baumann products in the United States. It continues to be an ideal match because both companies champion responsible innovation.
For Holt, the two curtain fabrics are the perfect complement to the rest of the Hygeia textiles. “We really wanted to include the draperies for the environmental story, but also because having a beautiful drapery pulls in that hospitality feeling,” Holt said. “It is part of the whole package and helps to pull it all together.”
While the Carnegie team works on more collections, they are going to continue to stay ahead of the curve. “We don’t know what’s coming around the corner next year, but we are not going to be complacent. We are always going to try to lead, and that is about relationship building, being out there in the world, and seeing what is happening in other industries,” Holt added.
