The societal changes that have and will result from the Covid-19 pandemic have been many, including an enhanced desire for protective materials and increased focus on home goods.
Microban
An expanded exclusive partnership between Microban International, a specialist in antimicrobial technologies, and textile manufacturer Manchester Mills answers the call by providing antimicrobial-treated textiles to the hospitality industry.
The Protect 360 collection will be sold directly to customers, as well as through Manchester Mills and its distributor network in the United States, Canada, the U.K. and European Union. This builds on a December 2020 deal to sell these products to the healthcare industry.
“Our partnership with Microban combines our textile engineering expertise and industry insights with the leading antimicrobial technology to provide products that meet consumers increased expectations for cleanliness and safety,” said Elizabeth McNulty, senior vice president and general manager at Manchester Mills. “Manchester Mills is focused on finding innovative solutions to instill guest confidence and support our hotelier customers businesses during these challenging times.”
Key offerings of the Protect360 product line include mattress encasements and pillow protectors that are treated with Microban antimicrobial product protection and inhibit the growth of product-damaging bacteria. Protect360 products are also waterproof and feature patent-pending bed bug protection. Additionally, the fabric has passed third-party testing for Viral Penetration Protection, providing a barrier against viruses.
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The partnership between Manchester Mills and Microban also includes the development of textiles with built-in antimicrobial technology for the hospitality industry for towels, sheets, utility bedding, bath mats, comforters, pillow shells, blankets, spreads, mattress pads and pillows.
“Not surprisingly, we have learned that the majority of consumers staying in a hotel room expect high levels of cleanliness, a concern that has greatly increased over the course of the past several months,” Brian Aylward, senior director of global textiles for Microban, said. “Through this new partnership with Manchester Mills, we have the opportunity to educate consumers and hoteliers about the benefits of antimicrobials in hotel textiles to provide greater peace of mind.”
Microban brand and technologies are featured on thousands of products worldwide. The company is headquartered in North Carolina with operations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
Mango
The push for more choices in home goods prompted Mango to launch its first line specializing in homeware textiles and goods. Mango Casa will be available starting in the second quarter of this year via Mango’s e-commerce site in some 20 European countries. The products can also be purchased in the company’s stores through the use of tablets by store personnel.
The collection will feature products for various rooms, including the bedroom, living room, bathroom, kitchen and dining room. Mango said it created the new line to extend the brand’s presence to the homes of its customers and beyond their wardrobes. This will allow the fashion firm to enlarge its product range and offer its customers an improved service by allowing them to purchase complementary products.
The company will initially launch a capsule collection focusing solely on textile products, including bed linen and textiles for the bathroom and the kitchen. Mango expects to gradually increase the line with new product categories such as tableware–glassware, crockery, bowls and cups–which are planned for the second half of the year.
“Our customers are asking us for products for their homes,” Toni Ruiz, Mango CEO, said. “They want the same comfort and style they look for in clothes to decorate the rooms of their homes. For this reason, for some months at Mango we have been working to launch this new line in order to respond to this demand and bring our Mediterranean style to the homes of our customers.”
The aesthetic of this new collection is based on clean and refined Mediterranean style, through a contemporary design that combines neutral colors. Quality and attention to detail are the two key elements of each product, the company said. In addition, the entire line of textile products will be sustainable and 80 percent of the items will be produced locally, reinforcing Mango’s commitment to sustainability.
The line will expand to additional markets outside of Europe in the future.
Delos
Rug and carpet maker Delos has launched the Shiny Objects Collection of custom rugs that ship in four weeks and are ideal for intimate spaces such as stairs, closets, boats and private planes.
The series of 10 on-trend textures are made from eco-friendly New Zealand wool that has been infused with shimmering details and metallic accents made using Econyl regenerated nylon.
Delos said it is committed to respecting the planet and partnered with Aquafil USA to offer its Econyl yarn exclusively for custom rugs in the US. Econyl is a 100 percent regenerated nylon manufactured using spent fishing nets and reclaimed carpets.
Delos is a U.S. manufacturer and importer of custom hospitality and residential area rugs and private aircraft carpets, selling primarily for wholesale distribution. Aquafil USA, and its Italian-based parent company Aquafil SpA, are committed to improving the environment by pioneering sustainability initiatives to ensure a brighter future.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Separately in home news, Bed Bath & Beyond (BBB) said on Tuesday that it has completed the sale of Cost Plus World Market to Los Angeles-based private equity firm Kingswood Capital Management. According to BBB, both firms have also entered into a transition services agreement to help with maintaining business continuity.
“The completion of this transaction marks the conclusion of our work to streamline our portfolio. These efforts will help fund our transformation and put us in the position to start fiscal 2021 with a more cohesive set of core businesses in Home, Baby, Beauty & Wellness. We remain committed to driving sales and margin growth, generating cash and investing in our business plan to drive shareholder value,” Mark Tritton, BBB’s CEO, said.
Additional reporting by Vicki M. Young