AF&...evelops acrylic-like yarn
Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, January 6, 2003
Chapel Hill, N.C. — American Fibers & Yarns has developed an olefin yarn designed to look and feel like acrylic.
According to the company, the new Marquesa Plush yarn combines the aesthetics of higher-priced acrylic with the performance of traditional olefin, offering a 25% yield advantage over acrylic in chenille and velvet fabrics.
Several mills exhibiting at Showtime in High Point this week have sampled the yarn, and American will soon announce the names of producers who will use the yarn in their fabric lines, said Jim Morelli, vice president of sales and marketing.
"The Marquesa Plush yarn is truly an AF&Y textile masterpiece, marking unrivaled softness, aesthetics, color and design for both residential and contract fabrics," said Michael Apperson, chief executive officer.
"Based on customer feedback," he said, "we realized there was a need in the marketplace for a yarn with the durable characteristics of traditional olefins, while maintaining the hand, luster and look of an acrylic — in other words, a high-performance acrylic replacement."
Apperson said the yarn's performance characteristics include colorfastness, stain resistance, bleach compatibility, pill resistance, durability, ease of care and resistance to fading.
Nikki Rainey, product market manager, said the company expects the Marquesa Plush yarn to increase its business in applications such as top-of-the-bed and window coverings, as well as upholstery fabric for residential and contract furniture, theater and stadium seating, and woven wall coverings.
