11.6.14 | New York, NY | In 1994, Designtex introduced Hardwear, an innovative extreme performance wallcovering. Developed in collaboration with textile designer Nancy Giesberger, Hardwear employed PVC-coated polyester yarns in the weft, which were derived from a yarn type originally used in geotextiles to mitigate erosion in road beds. The resulting fabric offered excellent durability along with a sophisticated aesthetic.

Five years later, Designtex and Giesberger teamed up again to develop Sportswear, the industry’s first extreme performance woven textile developed specifically for indoor and outdoor stadium seating. Sportswear’s robustness is due to its unique construction, which utilizes PVC-coated polyester yarns for both the warp and the weft in a dense weave that is ideally suited to upholstery. Famously, the fabric’s resilience was demonstrated by testing to 600,000 double rubs with a wire screen abradant.

In this new generation of Hardwear and Sportswear fabrics—once again designed in collaboration with Giesberger—the PVC-coated yarns have been re-engineered to clear them of phthalates (pronounced “thal-ates”), chemicals which act as endocrine disruptors and are typically found in the softening agents used in the manufacturing of PVC. In the new yarns, these chemicals have been removed and replaced with an FDA-approved softening agent that is used in the production of children’s toys, allowing the products to comply with the phthalates restrictions of State of California Prop 65. The new yarns have also been redesigned to create finer threads, allowing for greater subtleties in the weave construction. In addition, the inclusion of pearlized yarn in the fill direction introduces a wider range of color and sheen effects into the collection.

The new Hardwear wallcovering (Armour) and four new Sportswear upholsteries (Bit, Bolt, Rivet, and Rivet Pearl) utilize a variety of weave techniques to create subtle and sophisticated patterns. Complementing these refined constructions, the straightforward and robust color palette has been selected to reflect the performance qualities of the yarn. While they offer excellent bleach cleanability and outstanding performance in challenging outdoor environments, the look of these styles translates easily into the hospitality, healthcare, contract, and transportation markets.

As designer Nancy Giesberger states: “This special yarn has been vastly improved since the first generation of Hardwear and Sportswear was introduced. The particular features of the yarn presented challenging design restrictions and complicated manufacturing considerations; the resulting product reflects the efforts of many people. We are so pleased to present this great looking, hard wearing collection.”

Susan Lyons, President of Designtex, adds: “At Designtex we are dedicated to developing products that respond equally to the demands of aesthetics and of utility, creating a seamless synthesis between the two. This new generation of Hardwear and Sportswear fabrics is the perfect embodiment of this core principle.”

Hardwear Wallcovering

Armour
6620
Armour employs an end-on-end warp with alternating light and dark threads to create a delicately heathered surface that from a distance appears as a solid. The range of neutral colorways offers a true wallcovering palette that is ideal for vertical installation.
Colors 13
Use Wallcovering
Content 85% Vinyl (without Phthalates), 15% Polyester
Backing Acrylic
Cleaning Water-based/Solvent (WS), Bleach Cleanable (10:1)
Weight 15 ounces/linear yard
Width 54 inches
Hanging Method Straight Random
Flammability ASTM E 84 Adhered Class A
Optimized Chemistry No Harmful Phthalates
Sustainable Logistics Ships Carbon Neutral
Price $42.00/yard
Warranty 10 years
Origin USA

Sportswear Upholstery

Bit
3576
Bit showcases the finer denier of the new PVC-coated yarns, utilizing a pick-and-pick fill combination in four tones to create the overall effect of a stippled and soft-edged color field. The subtlety of the resulting palettes in each colorway speaks to the wide applications for this new generation of extreme performance textiles beyond the rough and tumble of indoor and outdoor stadium seating.
Colors 12
Use Upholstery
Content 86% Vinyl (without Phthalates), 14% Polyester
Cleaning Water-based/Solvent (WS),
Bleach Cleanable (10:1)
Weight 21.87 ounces/linear yard
Width 54 inches
Flammability CA TB 117 E
Abrasion 1 million Wyzenbeek double rubs (CD)
Lightfastness 1200 hours
Indoor/Outdoor Suitable for Outdoor Use
ACT d e f g i *
Optimized Chemistry No Harmful Phthalates
Sustainable Logistics Ships Carbon Neutral
Price $38.00/yard
Warranty 10 years
Origin USA

Bolt
3577
In Bolt, grouped yarns running in each direction produce a basket-weave construction in two tones. Pearlized yarns in the weft direction intensify the pop of color against the neutral tones used in the warp.
Colors 7
Use Upholstery
Content 87% Vinyl (without Phthalates), 13% Polyester
Cleaning Water-based/Solvent (WS),
Bleach Cleanable (10:1)
Weight 24.60 ounces/linear yard
Width 54 inches
Flammability CA TB 117 E
Abrasion 1 million Wyzenbeek double rubs (CD)
Lightfastness 1200 hours
Indoor/Outdoor Suitable for Outdoor Use
ACT d e f g i *
Optimized Chemistry No Harmful Phthalates
Sustainable Logistics Ships Carbon Neutral
Price $42.00/yard
Warranty 10 years
Origin USA

Rivet
3555
In Rivet the focus is on strength and simplicity: the design is based on a chevron pattern drawn in black lines against a singlecolor background, but the overall effect is textural.
Colors 14
Use Upholstery
Content 85% Vinyl (without Phthalates), 15% Polyester
Cleaning Water-based/Solvent (WS),
Bleach Cleanable (10:1)
Weight 24.625 ounces/linear yard
Width 54 inches
Flammability CA TB 117 E
Abrasion 1 million Wyzenbeek double rubs (CD)
Lightfastness 1200 hours
Indoor/Outdoor Suitable for Outdoor Use
ACT d e f g i *
Optimized Chemistry No Harmful Phthalates
Sustainable Logistics Ships Carbon Neutral
Price $38.00/yard
Warranty 10 years
Origin USA

Rivet Pearl
3554
In Rivet Pearl the chevron pattern is executed in pearlized yarns, enhancing the design with metallic effects.
Colors 5
Use Upholstery
Content 87% Vinyl (without Phthalates), 13% Polyester
Cleaning Water-based/Solvent (WS),
Bleach Cleanable (10:1)
Weight 22.35 ounces/linear yard
Width 54 inches
Flammability CA TB 117 E
Abrasion 1 million Wyzenbeek double rubs (CD)
Lightfastness 1200 hours
Indoor/Outdoor Suitable for Outdoor Use
ACT d e f g i *
Optimized Chemistry No Harmful Phthalates
Sustainable Logistics Ships Carbon Neutral
Price $38.00/yard
Warranty 10 years
Origin USA

Sportswear: Stadium Installations
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL (2014)
Hinkle Fieldhouse, Butler University (2014)
Quebec City Arena (2014)
US Cellular Arena, Milwaukee (2014)
Marriott Center, Brigham Young University (2013)
Sioux Falls Event Center (2013)
Pinnacle Arena, University of Nebraska (2013)
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City (2013)
Tullio Arena (Erie Insurance Arena), Erie, PA (2013)
Robins Center, University of Virginia (2013)
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY (2012)
Greensboro Coliseum, NC (2012)
First Niagra Center, Buffalo Sabres (2012)
Madison Square Garden, New York (2011-2012)
Staples Center, Los Angeles (2011)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome (formerly Louisiana
Superdome), New Orleans, LA (2011)
Ford Center, Evansville, IN (2011)
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia (2010)
TD Garden, Boston (2010)
Augusta National (2010)
Duluth Arena (2010)
Crisler Arena, University of Michigan (2010)
Ontario Arena, Ontario, CA (2009)
Auburn Arena (2009)
Orlando Arena (2009)
Louisville Arena (2009)
InTrust Arena, Wichita, KS (2009)
MetraPark Arena, Billings, MT (2008)
Charleston Civic Center (2008)
Glen Falls Civic Center, Glen Falls, NY (2007)
Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO (2007)
The O2 Arena, London (2006)
University of Virginia Arena (2006)
Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, NC (2006)
Century 2 Convention Center, Wichita, KS (2004)
Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, University
of Washington, Seattle (2002)
Ryder Center, Miami Hurricanes (2002)
Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS (2001)
America West Arena (now US Airways Center), Phoenix Suns
(2001)
Staples Arena, LA Lakers/Clippers (1999)
Louisiana Civic Center (1998)
Verizon Center, Washington Wizards (1997)