Fiama Textiles Is Developing Fabric With Copper Twisted Yarns, Said to Repel Bacteria
March 21, 2020
Leonardo Novik, director of Fiama Textiles
NEW YORK—Fiama Textiles Inc. is developing a line of residential fabrics woven with copper twisted yarns that will reportedly repel and kill bacteria once it touches the fabric.
The copper twisted yarn is being spun in combination with linen, polyester and/or cotton, according to Leonardo Novik, director of this South American mill with mills in Campinas and Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile.
Novik expects to have the new line by June. Diversified Laboratories will provide the certification for the bacteria repelling properties, he says.
Right now, it is working with a Chilean yarn supplier. Chile is one of the world’s leading producers of copper, which has antibacterial properties.
“Chile has 60 percent of the world’s copper resources,” he says.
Eventually, he expects to have the copper twisted yarns available in Sao Paulo.
“During these times, it is more than ever important to develop new products,” Novik explains.
“Beyond April, we’re having a hard time determining how our business will be," he says. "We’re finishing up some custom projects now for mid-April but we need to find out what the new lows for order quantity might be.”
Fiama has been selling direct since 2015. Prior to that Fiama says it was selling to other jobbers/distributors.
“We stopped doing that in order to go to the customer direct," says Thiago Omati, CEO of Fiama Textiles.
“Fiama has offices and a 6,000-square-foot warehouse in Greensboro, North Carolina," Omati says. "In addition to direct customers Arhaus and Crate & Barrel, it is now selling to Rooms to Go and Ethan Allen."
The copper twisted yarn is being spun in combination with linen, polyester and/or cotton, according to Leonardo Novik, director of this South American mill with mills in Campinas and Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile.
Novik expects to have the new line by June. Diversified Laboratories will provide the certification for the bacteria repelling properties, he says.
Right now, it is working with a Chilean yarn supplier. Chile is one of the world’s leading producers of copper, which has antibacterial properties.
“Chile has 60 percent of the world’s copper resources,” he says.
Eventually, he expects to have the copper twisted yarns available in Sao Paulo.
“During these times, it is more than ever important to develop new products,” Novik explains.
“Beyond April, we’re having a hard time determining how our business will be," he says. "We’re finishing up some custom projects now for mid-April but we need to find out what the new lows for order quantity might be.”
Fiama has been selling direct since 2015. Prior to that Fiama says it was selling to other jobbers/distributors.
“We stopped doing that in order to go to the customer direct," says Thiago Omati, CEO of Fiama Textiles.
“Fiama has offices and a 6,000-square-foot warehouse in Greensboro, North Carolina," Omati says. "In addition to direct customers Arhaus and Crate & Barrel, it is now selling to Rooms to Go and Ethan Allen."
