Market: Tender Is the Might

Karen D. Singh, Alexia Brue, Sheila Kim-Jamet, and Mark McMenamin -- Interior Design, 10/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

If you'd like to toast the 15th anniversary of Crypton, make it red wine. Or India ink. Or any of the dozens of stain-inducing substances the fabric so famously resists. Invented by textile vets Craig and Randy Rubin in the basement of their Michigan home, Crypton quickly became a health-care favorite for its antimicrobial and odor-resistant qualities. Hospitality clients, beginning with McDonald's, were smitten with the impermeable moisture barrier that deflects stains and water. Residential customers welcomed high-performance fabrics that were breathable and soft, thanks to Crypton's patented weaving process that eliminates the need for stiffening post-production treatment.

More than 60 million installed yards later, here's another winning quality to throw on the pile: A fiber packing this kind of punch actually doesn't degrade the ecosystem. The recyclable, no-VOC, ultra-low-emission fabrics are manufactured without using water. Crypton's plant in West Bloomfield, Michigan, purchases renewable energy credits and uses air scrubbers to reduce pollution, and with the 2006 introduction of Crypton Green, the company joined the ranks of the eco-elite. Woven of highly sustainable fibers such as recycled polyester or heavy-metal-free wool, and produced under more stringent emissions requirements, the line is now SCS Indoor Advantage Gold-certified, and MBDC Cradle to Cradle Silver-certified. Plus, extreme durability obviously means a longer, greener life cycle. So bring on the rain, rhinoviruses, and ravioli—the Rubins are ready. 800-279-7866; cryptonfabric.com. circle 412