Under the telling and auspicious moniker of  "black, white, and green," textile manufacturer Chilewich is announcing a couple of innovations this summer. The first is the new aesthetic palette: "infinite variations by weaving with only black and white yarn." The second is a welcome switch to vegetable-based plasticizers. And the third is the continued expansion and improvement of a sustainable tile-backing system.

Contemporary Allure with Recycled Content

There are, or course, as many variations of black and white as there are colors of the rainbow-so the new collection proves as compelling as the entire visible spectrum. Chilewich offers four distinct weaves in this basic palette: Basketweave, Mini Basketweave, Boucl©, and Lounge, for applications including wall-to-wall flooring, wall textiles, upholstery, window coverings, and tile flooring.

That last use provides a convenient segue to Chilewich's Biofelt, the much-lauded PVC-free tile backing system containing 82% post-consumer content. Beyond its enhanced sustainability, Biofelt is designed for easy installation-it works seamlessly with the Velcro brand Hook Square system, an adhesive-free modular flooring installation system that not only facilitates easy installs, but also "can be removed without a trace and can even be reused."

Last but definitely not least, Chilewich has elected to go completely petroleum-free with their plasticizers. The new TerraStrand fabric is composed of renewable, vegetable-based compounds, for a phthalate-free product that's not only safer and more sustainable than traditional vinyl, but just as durable and equally easy to clean.

In conjunction with the BioFelt backing system, TerraStrand fabrics provide consumers with a tile that exceeds 55% recycled material-"another strong step we've taken to make our products more sustainable… this innovation builds upon the success of BioFelt to make an already green product even greener."

About the Manufacturer: Chilewich is an innovative textile manufacturing company whose output you might recognize as the lean and lovely fabric wrapped around your iPhone case. Perhaps most famous for their innovations with vinyl in placemats and floormats, Chilewich is also known for their durable and beautiful Chestnut Basketweave Textile, which graces the stage at NY/Group Armani Milan.