In support of the Seaqual Initiative, Kravet and Valdese Weavers have teamed up on a collaborative effort that creates a performance fabric made from upcycled marine plastic waste, available for the residential market only at Kravet.
To date, Seaqual Initiative, a community of individuals, organizations and companies working together, has cleaned more than 600 tons of waste from our oceans, and more than 200 tons of marine litter has been transformed into reclaimed marine plastic. This growing accomplishment was made possible through the collaborative efforts of more than 60 countries and the partnerships from an increasing number of brands, manufacturers and retail stores worldwide.
“As a member of the fifth generation of my family business, it is my duty to look to the future and understand the importance of building a legacy built on reliability,” says Daniel Kravet, company vice president. “The fact that we have this offering that appeals design-wise to the luxury residential market, but also is durable and sustainable, is what we take pride in.”
InsideOut Performance Fabrics is one of the main partners and is working with Seaqual Initiative to manufacture performance fabrics that are made with the upcycled marine plastic they’ve collected from ocean floors and beaches. These fabrics are the first of their kind, and Kravet officials say the company is “thrilled to be an innovator in this offering to their residential customer.”
After announcing its commitment to sustainability in February 2022, Kravet has continued to make strides in supporting its mission to conduct business with a focus on providing a sustainable future. In partnering with Valdese Weavers — a company that has embraced using recycled plastic water bottles in fabrics for more than 20 years — Kravet is further positioning itself as a leading resource for sustainable, and durable, design solutions.
“Plastic is one of the most commonly used materials because it is lightweight, strong and virtually indestructible, which is why it is an ideal choice for a durable performance fabric,” says Blake Millinor, president and CEO of Valdese Weavers. “Yarns derived from reclaimed polyester-based plastic are resilient, repel liquids, are fade resistant and work well with other types of yarns. For the average household, what makes these fabrics even more appealing is that they are highly cleanable and can stand up to the everyday messes from pets and kids. These fabrics won’t clean themselves, but they are the next best thing.”
True to its name, the InsideOut Sustainable Textures Seaqual Collection isn’t only beneficial to the environment, but is also versatile for use indoors and out. Varied styles include geometrics and chunky chenille textures and are offered in shades of oceanic blue, sandy neutrals and sea glass. The residential collection launched in March and is available throughout Kravet showrooms and on kravet.com.
