Humans have used textiles for millions of years in pretty much the same manner. They have become more vibrant and hard working, but they haven't seen the same technological changes as other things. Until now. Designers like Nicole Casey are beginning to use technology to change the way textiles respond, which will make them healthier for the user.
Casey has integrated Celliant, a product that contains infrared-emitting ceramic particles that penetrate muscle and tissue to promote a temporary increase in local blood flow, into textiles for use in the contract furnishings industry.
“Fabrics woven using this innovative, FDA-designated technology will absorb energy (heat) emitted by the body and recycle it back into the body, increasing strength, giving you more energy while you work,” said Bob McKinnon, president of Decorative Fabrics of America. “We believe this will create an entirely new dimension in textiles as a meaningful part of everyday life, and we are incredibly excited about introducing the product to the contract and home furnishings marketplaces. We know that health is everything. If you're not feeling good, nothing else matters.”
Decorative Fabrics of America has entered into a strategic licensing agreement with Hologenix, makers of Celliant. Casey designed the fabric, which will be used in a line for CF Stinson. She worked on development of the high-tech fabric for more than seven years, creating a product that will bring energy to those who use it.
Figuring out how to make a fabric that gives users a pick-me-up wasn't easy. “You could say I have lived it and am truly excited that it has hit the market,” she said. “As a new performance material, it elevates the bar and changes the way we think about materials. I am finding that it is very important to educate the industry on the differentiating factors because the first response from the end user is 'What does it do?' and 'Really?' and 'How do you measure it?' ”
Her vision was to create woven products that benefit the end user. As a designer, Casey said she believes it is her responsibility to attempt to extend the current limits of performance; to innovate or go beyond commonly accepted boundaries, thereby creating new performance criteria that benefits the end user.
“We have worked long and hard to get this ready for contract,” McKinnon said. “Although it may sound like the stuff of science fiction, the technology is here and clinically tested. (Casey) collaborated with Hologenix and DFA over the course of several years to introduce the concept and to bring the product to market. Nicole Casey has been the leader in making this possible. She was instrumental in developing the warp construction for us to do the weaving.”
He added the designer, product developer and educator has subsequently joined DFA in sales and design. Under the agreement, Decorative Fabrics of America will have the exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute woven Celliant for the contract and home furnishings fabric markets in North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Casey said the technology has been used in veterinary devices — wraps for the legs of animals — and some socks and ankle braces. The fabric was good for short-term use, but Casey found it did not have the strength and durability to work in the contract market. That's where Casey spent years to perfect the fabric — and where all the years of design work came in.
Casey pitched the idea to many people in the commercial fabric industry. “They said it was nice, but they didn't want to be first out of the gate,” she said. “This is a product that took a lot of true research and development.”
She's careful about saying what the product can and cannot do because of its designation as a healthful product. Simply put, the fabric helps increase blood flow where the user is in contact with the product. That gives the user more energy while they work and helps speed and improve recovery time. It does this by absorbing heat and recycling it back into the body. The effect of the product generally increases the longer it is used, which means it can provide a recharge in the workplace and the home.
“This was my answer to the whole 'sitting is the new smoking' argument,” Casey said. “It is a woven textile that is designed to lessen fatigue.”
Produced using a patented blend of thermo-reactive minerals, Celliant is infused into the core of the fiber. The first of its kind collection recycles human energy to help promote wellness at work. Celliant is used in a diverse range of health and performance-enhancing products around the world and now upholstery fabric for commercial interiors. It is the first technology of its kind to be designated by the FDA as a medical device. It is also GREENGUARD gold certified and made in the U.S. Celliant is not a topical finish or treatment and will remain effective for the life of the product. It will not wash out or break down overtime.
Casey has always been passionate about textiles, so it's no surprise she helped bring the technology to industry. From an early age, she loved weaving. “My mom still has the first samples I made in elementary school — crazy strips of bright yellow, pink and purple yarns,” she said.
With encouragement from her parents to explore a career in business, Casey jumped into a job within the corporate orbit but quickly realized something was missing. She moved to Europe where she landed a position at a respected fabric company. While overseas, she rediscovered her passion for design and fabrics. Within weeks she was immersed in several projects, working with new printing and material-weaving techniques. While her salary had been halved, her creative fulfillment had doubled. In Europe she continued her design education at numerous textile, weaving and design schools in Reutlingen and Sindelfingen.
After three years abroad, she returned to New York City to pursue a career at the renowned Jack Lenor Larsen studio. During her tenure at JLL, she was involved in all aspects of developing and sourcing materials for the Larsen collection. She continued to broaden her knowledge and skills at the Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute where she received a master's degree in design management. With her background in creative design, ongoing partnerships with clients and her enthusiasm for scouting and touring mills, Casey said she was inspired by the search for the next emerging trend, texture and color.
Throughout her career, she has thrived on creative alliances between manufacturers and designers while maintaining strong relationships with her clients. In addition to her own textile designs she consults for manufacturers in positioning and merchandising product for the commercial and residential market. “My work is a direct representation of my life, and I'm continually inspired by everything around me,” she said.
After the birth of twins in 2009, it was often challenging to balance personal and professional demands. Now with her boys happily occupied in activities, she can focus on the next creative chapters of Casey Design — developing textiles and products for interiors.
Casey said being a parent has informed and directed the latest evolution of her design business. “It's amazing how your pursuits can change when you have kids,” she said. “Improving wellness through interiors became a really important concept that I wanted to explore.”
CF Stinson was the first to bring Celliant to the commercial fabric market. Casey said it believed in developing the product. Keeping the cost down, though, was one of the development challenges. She said it is in the “sweet spot” of pricing: It's bleachable, cleanable and health enhancing, but doesn't break the bank.
“It is an exciting time,” Casey said of technology entering the fabric industry. “That's what intrigued me with the technology — how to take it and make it usable for our industry. Everybody is really concerned about health and wellness.”