This is why it’s important for facilities to have materials that can accommodate intense cleaning demands and sanitizing requirements. Many companies in the textile industry, for example, are taking progressive approaches to make their fabrics not only tough and easy to clean, but also eco-friendly.
(Photo: Moody Blues is the first Otratex subcollection to be treated with Pro-Tech Plus, a powerful bleach cleanable, water-based ink and denim protectant. Credit: Fil Doux Textiles)
Fil Doux Textiles is one textile company raising the bar for fabrics and, in turn, improving material maintenance for facility managers. The Brooklyn-based textile manufacturer recently announced that all of its Otratex collections are being treated with Pro-Tech Plus, a powerful bleach-cleanable, water-based ink and denim protectant. The treatment protects from harsh chemicals like bleach that typically erode other textile options, which is critical for not only the performance of the textile but also for meeting rigid standards across the industries.
An Environmentally Smart Material
Otratex, formerly known as VinylLife, first made waves in the textile industry when it was introduced in 2017. Fil Doux Textile’s exclusive material is a degradable vinyl alternative that offers the high-end look and feel of leather, but has increased durability, suppleness and stain-resistance.
Designed for the hospitality, cruise and contract industries, Otratex is made with natural enzymes embedded in the material that enhance degradability. Within 30 years, the material fully decomposes when placed in an anaerobic environment such as a landfill, returning to the natural elements that comprise it. When paired with Pro-Tech Plus, the material can stand up to industrial-grade cleaners, giving assurance to facility managers who are required to frequently clean fabrics.
(Photo: Fil Doux Textiles’ Otratex is made with natural enzymes embedded in the material that creates enhanced degradability. Within 30 years, the material fully decomposes when placed in an anaerobic environment such as a landfill, returning to the natural elements that comprise it. Credit: Fil Doux Textiles)
This includes Moody Blues, Fil Doux Textiles’ new launched Otratex collection that is the first to be treated with Pro-Tech Plus. Like all Otratex products, Moody Blues is made with natural enzymes that create enhanced degradability.
The collection is available in 18 cool color options that draw inspiration from the shades found in nature—scenes like an early spring sky to rich blues found in the ocean.
The Eco-Friendly Process
Moody Blues and all other Otratex products are manufactured in Fil Doux Textiles’ fully vertical, tariff-free mills in Chile and Brazil, which allows for customization and quick lead times. Like all Fil Doux Textiles’ products, the collection is produced using sustainable practices on an industrial scale—dye waters for fabrics are reused, production power is generated by wind and solar panels, and leftover fabrics are repurposed for packaging. Sustainability was also taken into consideration for the Pro-Tech Plus formula.
“Being leaders in sustainable textile design, we wanted to create a more earth-friendly product, so rather than it being an oil base, we worked with our scientists here in South America to create a reliable water-based protectant,” says Novik. “Pro-Tech Plus is applied during the manufacturing process to Otratex without adding to production lead time, and without changing the luxury feel, longevity or the eco-friendly aspects of the material.”
He adds that Fil Doux Textiles is also working hard on further enhancing its Pro-Tech line. The company just received approval of the testing results of its copper-based Pro-Tech 29—a new anti-microbial stain protectant that works continuously and naturally to kill viruses and bacteria on contact.
In the meantime, specifiers can expect to see more Otratex options treated with Pro-Tech Plus in the near future. Fil Doux Textiles has two collections tentatively scheduled to launch later this summer, called Brussels and Chalet. “We are finalizing these now, but both collections will feature bright colorways and are very textured,” he notes. “Brussels offers a unique linen-like feel and is unlike any vinyl-alternative on the market as it truly looks like a fabric. As for Chalet, the collection is boldly patterned, yet offers elegance with a distinctive graphic appeal.”
To further enhance the line’s sustainability, Fil Doux Textiles also partnered with One Tree Planted with a pledge to donate 1,000 trees to Brazilian Rainforests for every 1,000 yards of Otratex purchased. From its durability, cleanability and eco-friendly design, Otratex with Pro-Tech Plus can be an ideal solution for facility managers that require superior quality materials for their next project.
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