Replin by Hainsworth has introduced its latest transport fabric collection for the aviation industry and says it was inspired by the environment and habitats of alpaca and sheep.
The new range comprises seven new fabric themes tailored for vertical and seating surfaces within aircraft cabins. Merino, alpaca and Shetland wool were used throughout.
Key focuses for the collection are comfort, quality, weight optimisation and design versatility. The fabrics, which are made up of structured weaves and textural surfaces, feature boucle and melange yarns. Several have been woven using 100% undyed fibres.
The collection was designed to meet evolving aesthetic, technical and environmental requirements for transport fabrics and woven at the company’s heritage woollen mill in the UK. It follows a growing industry demand for natural colours and textures, as well as reduced environmental impact.
Replin developed the fabrics using an integrated design process. This enables the design team to produce bespoke visuals for client briefs, supporting both design houses and airline teams. The transport interior specialist recently invested in 3D visualisation technology for realistic fabric simulations.
Susan Billett, Design and Product Development Manager at AW Hainsworth and Replin by Hainsworth, said: “I took inspiration from the environment and the habitats of alpaca and sheep for this collection, exploring the colours and textures in the natural landscape that surrounds them.
“I wanted to make sure each fabric was aesthetically appealing and soft to touch, so I worked closely with finishing to make sure the final product was comforting and homely, while being abrasion-resistant and durable for high-traffic seating areas and vertical surfaces.”
