Tigressa SoftStyle Carpet From Shaw At Carpet One, Flooring America

Shaw Floors and CCA Global have just launched a new carpet product together.  It's called Tigressa SoftStyle, consists of a collection of 31 carpet styles and is available at Carpet One Floor and Home and Flooring America.

New Carpet Style Introduced Via Bloggers

What's particularly unusual with this carpet style introduction - beyond its "exceptional strength and ultimate softness" is that it involves bloggers, a first for the flooring and carpet industry.

That's right, on May 19th and 20th, 2010, Shaw and CCA Global invited bloggers to participate in a two day event, starting at Barnsley Gardens with an inspiring presentation from Amy Devers, HGTV's DIY to the Rescue and the next day at Shaw in Dalton, GA, with a visit tour of the Shaw Design Center and mini-manufacturing process, the creation of trend boards, and firsthand Tigressa demonstrations.

Here's who participated - a veritable who's who in the interiors and home furnishings industry each projecting strong voices in design, color, decor and green living:

• Carrie Malatesta from Building My Green Life, about living, working and building sustainably.
• Timothy Dahl from Charles & Hudson, an independent resource for do-it-yourself enthusiasts seeking the latest in home improvement tips and techniques as well as the finest tools and hottest news in the home building industry.
• Maria Killam from Colour Me Happy which exudes her fresh take on contemporary and her love of color.
• Danny Seo from Daily Danny, about green living expert Danny Seo's eco-friendly and crafty ideas for everyday living
• Creede Fitch from Grassroots Modern
• Jill Seidner from Material Girls which offers design inspiration from coast to coast. 
• Jocelyn Hagan and Kim Fauth from One Project Closer,filled with tips, advice, experiences, products, reviews, giveaways, finances, how-tos, tools and more that help us build better homes, communities and lives.
• Carmet Natschke from The Decorating Diva
• Amy Bleier-Long from Traditional Home Blogs

Preston Koerner from Jetson Green, a daily-updated web magazine blog obsessed with Green Living, wasn't able to attend. He did, though, describe in A Durable Soft New Carpet Tigressa the Tigressa materials he received.

Attending from the flooring trade media were Woman In Flooring Kim Gavin from Floor Covering Weekly [see CCA & Shaw launch Tigressa via bloggers] and Emily Hooper from Floor Covering News [see CCA launches Tigressa, markets via bloggers - note: registration required].

I was invited to participate and, unfortunately, couldn't attend. My friend and former colleague, Bruce Conlon -- we both called on CCA Global, he for Shaw and I for Solutia/Wear-Dated -- graciously sent me information so I could share it with you.

What The Event Was Like

To give you a feel for the event, I thought I would share with you posts written by the blogging attendees. [Kim and Jocie from One Project Closer Tweeted the event. I wish I had a transcript :(...] Here's their summary: New Tigressa SoftStyle Carpet Line By Shaw - Rolling Out this Weekend.

I love the detailed and visual overview that Material Girls' Jill Seidner shares in Tigressa SoftStyle carpet event from Shaw Floors.

Colour Me Happy's Maria Killam offers a marvelous visual description of the entire event in Tigressa SoftStyle; 4 Steps to Removing Stains from your Carpet. I love the photos of the trend boards!

There's The Decorating Diva's Carmen Natschke summary: Shaw Floors' Tigressa SoftStyle Carpets Debuts. And in Traditional Home Blogs, Amy Bleier-Long describes eye on the tiger - behind the scenes at shaw.

What makes Tigressa Softstyle carpet different?

According to FloorDaily,Tigressa is a "line of soft nylon carpets with fibers half the width of human hair... More fibers yield better color saturation within the carpet as well as greater durability and wear resistance since it spreads wear out across more individual threads."

DailyDanny's post Introducing Shaw Floors Tigressa does a great job of explaining what makes Tigressa unique as does Charles & Hudson's Timothy Dahl in Tigressa Softstyle Carpet From Shaw Floors.

What's the story behind the name "Tigressa"?

The Tigressa introduction includes a strong commitment to saving wild tigers in Asia, where they are on the brink of extinction.

"For all Tigressá sales made between May 16 and August 20, 2010, we’ll donate a portion of the proceeds to the National Fish and Wildlife Federation’s Save the Tiger Fund (STF). STF sponsors effective efforts to stop the killing of wild tigers, enabling them to recover and flourish, and empowers local people to live in balance with natural resources, providing tangible benefits to them whenever possible."

Accordingly, the Tigressa SoftStyle carpet introduction includes a Tigressa sweepstakes:

"One grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to India to see the tigers, a $12,000 value! Three first prize winners will receive a $1,500 gift card for Tigressá carpet, and five second prize winners will receive a Nikon COOLPIX camera. Enter now for your chance to win! 

Increase your odds of winning by sharing on both Facebook and Twitter. For every entry on Twitter, we will donate a dollar to the Save the Tiger Fund to help support the efforts to save this regal creature from extinction*."

The sweepstakes lasts until August 20th.

When you register for the sweepstakes, you have the opportunity to share on Facebook and on Twitter.  For every #Tigressa tweet sent out [you have 3 to choose from]:

• Just donated a dollar to the Save The Tiger Fund and entered to win a trip for two to India thanks to #Tigressa! http://bit.ly/tigressa
• Donated a dollar to the Save the Tiger Fund, entered to win great prizes, and learned about new #Tigressa carpet! http://bit.ly/tigressa
•  Found the perfect new carpet for my home and entered to win great prizes, including a trip to India! http://bit.ly/tigressa #tigressa

Shaw and CCA will donate $1 to the Save the Tiger Fund.  Note: you must issue the tweet from the sweepstakes registration page.

Here is Materials Girls' post about Save The Tiger: Tigressa Carpet & Save The Tigers.

The Tigressa SoftStyle Carpet Product

Now onto the Tigressa carpet product itself.

From the samples Bruce and Empower MediaMarketing sent me, Tigressa feels lush, thick and soft. The brochures describes it as "luxurious and durable" with "ultra protective color and microfiber technology, supreme, silky softness, stronger than ordinary carpet, richer stronger color."

In terms of nitty gritty details, Tigressa is made from type 6 nylon which can be repeatedly recycled into new nylon. For that reason, it is categorized as a Green Select product at Flooring America and Carpet One. 

Building My Green Life's Carrie Malatesta describes what she learned about carpet sustainability in Shaw Floors: Tigressa Carpet Launch.

That, then, is the lowdown of Tigressa SoftStyle Carpet from Shaw based on the accounts of the bloggers I've listed above.  Look for it at Carpet One and Flooring America and then, please, let me know what you think.

Note: Photos Courtesy of Shaw Floors.

World Cup Extends To Grass Carpet

Yes, the amazing 2010 FIFA World Cup TM soccer or football [depending on where in the world you are :)] competition is underway in more ways than one. That's right, it extends to grass carpet!

According to Artificial grass woven into real turf at World Cup, Desso Sports Systems has created the Desso GrassMaster which ensures that the World Cup stadiums offer the best possible grass carpet for the teams playing.

It's a grass turf solution that has been used in the United States for the National Football League's Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles as well as in Europe for rugby (a.o. Vodacom Stormers-Newlands Stadium). 

Here's what I found fascinating about this product: it blends natural grass with artificial grass! Check out this information from the Desso GrassMaster website:


"Desso GrassMaster is a sports field of 100% natural grass reinforced with Desso synthetic grass fibres. The unique element of this patented reinforced natural grass system is the 20 million artificial grass fibres injected 20 cm deep into the pitch. During the growing process, the roots of the natural grass entwine with the synthetic grass fibres and anchor the turf into a stable and even field. In this way the natural grass fibres are well protected against tackles and sliding. Moreover, it ensures better drainage of the pitch. Despite the fact that 3% of the pitch is made up of synthetic grass fibres, Desso GrassMaster gives players the feeling of playing on a 100% natural grass pitch."

Can you tell that I'm in awe!

GrassMaster truly goes beyond Cushioning Play with Astro Turf Carpet.  How marvelous to see it being put through its paces at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, don't you think?

And, to put all of this competition - grass carpet and football or soccer - into perspective, have you watched this Nike Football video?

[Subscribers, click on Nike Football Write The Future for the link to YouTube.]


May the best team and grass carpet win the World Cup!

How To Care For Shag Carpet

This post about How To Care For Shag Carpet is dedicated to my friend Izzy who, in Isabelle Garland's First Smoke Rise Encounter, referred to an extraordinary sight: the raking a shag carpet.  Raking with a pilator as CRI's Bethany Richmond so elegantly demonstrates in this photo, constitutes a best practice in caring for shag carpet.

In my Wear-Dated days, with the expert guidance of Annette Smith, I proudly put together a Shag Carpet Maintenance document. I discovered, in looking for shag raking ammunition for Izzy, that the document was no longer available.  However, I'm able here to recreate most of the content and offer you expert advice on how you should care for your shag carpet.

Here goes...

Shag carpet is back. It’s thick, plush, luxurious and comfortable. It makes fantastic conversation piece area rugs and scrumptious wall-to-wall carpet.  For that reason, we share with you important information on how to care for and maintain your shag carpet.

General Shag Carpet Care:

Carpet generally wants to be vacuumed frequently, ideally twice a week and more often in high traffic areas. Shag carpet is no different. However, one major difference does exist between shag and other carpets, and it has to do with beater bars…

Vacuuming Shag Carpet:

The best way to care for your shag carpet is to vacuum it with a suction-only vacuum. If your vacuum has a beater bar, be sure to disengage it when vacuuming your shag carpet. When disengaged, the brushes on the beater bar should not come in contact with or abrade the fibers as you vacuum. The reason? Using a beater bar or brush may cause the yarns to “feather out” or lose their twist, resulting in pilling or fuzzing. That means your shag carpet would no longer look they way it did when you fell in love with it;. It would lose its unique character.

If you have a particularly thick shag carpet, you might consider using a pilator [see close up in photo] or grooming rake to keep your carpet looking well-groomed and carefully coiffed.

Caring for your shag carpet with frequent and suction-only vacuuming will ensure that your shag carpet provides you with the Beauty, Comfort and Durability you expect from it.

Something else to consider. Your vacuum… Have you checked whether it is certified through the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval/Green Label Vacuum Cleaner Program? The program has established industry standards on vacuum cleaner performance. Visit www.carpet-rug.org for details and listings.

Additional Shag Carpet Care:

For additional carpet care and maintenance guidelines, definitely speak with your carpet retailer.

For those of you with shag carpet, would you add anything to this post on how to care for shag carpet?

Shag Carpet & Pilator Image credits:

Thank you, Jenn Mendez and Bethany Richmond from the Carpet and Rug Institute, for capturing the shag pilator in action!  Check out the Carpet and Rug Institute Blog for many great carpet related resources.

Mannington's tx:style Design Challenge

Do you remember reading about Mannington Commercial Carpet Design Competition - tx:style? I first wrote about it in December 2008.

Well, I have news for 2010! According to Carly Jayne Rullman, account coordinator for ScoutBrand in Birmingham, AL, Mannington's tx:style Design Challenge is even Bigger and Better!

I invited Carly to tell us more.

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Last year, The Carpetology Blog introduced Mannington Commercial’s tx: style Design Challenge, an online competition among young, aspiring designers to have their design made into a full carpet collection.

And because the competition was so popular among its 6,000+ registrants, Mannington Commercial re-launched the website this year.

This year, the website is even better. In addition to being the website for the Design Challenge, it is an online design community that is up and running year-round. The site presents monthly contests, a mood board where users may upload what inspires them and a product development tab.

The monthly contests have brought many to the online community. Simple in nature, the prizes are big—a trip to Greenbuild, a $500 gift certificate to West Elm and the current contest that will give one lucky winner a trip to NeoCon. And there’s more where these come from.

The "Who wants to go to NeoCon?" contest ends May 27th and the winner will be announced June 1st.

At this point, Mannington Commercial has chosen six design finalists who are in the running for the top honor. You can see their unique designs on the tx:style website, as well as video clips to get to know their personalities and the inspirations behind their work. Be sure to vote for your favorites!

Online voting closes June 14th, but remains open to visitors at NeoCon (June 14-16).

If you can make it to NeoCon this year, the finalists will be in Mannington Commercial’s showroom #1039. An entire section is devoted to tx: style, where the finalists will be showing off their design boards and encouraging online voting. Additionally, there will be awesome giveaways, including fun bags and iPads.

But don’t forget- tx: style online design community will remain active throughout the year, so there is always a chance to interact with other young designers and prizes to win.

-------
Thank you, Carly!

I hope you'll go vote. And, if you are passionate about designing commercial carpet, won't you consider joining the Mannington Commercial tx:style design community?

Surfaces Blog: Source of Carpet Style Trends & More!

Have you had a chance to visit the Surfaces Blog? If you're looking for design inspiration, ideas on carpet style trends and colors, with a dash of carpet - or surfaces - industry practicality thrown in, you will enjoy your visit!

The Surfaces Blog is managed by my friend Chelsie Z. Thornton, conference manager for Hanley Wood Exhibitions' SURFACES | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas. [See Anticipating Surfaces 2011.]

My very favorite contributor is Victoria Redshaw who regularly shares entrancing thoughts and images that send my soul singing because of the combination of colors, patterns, and artistic inspiration.

You may remember Victoria from several previous posts:

+ Design Trends 2010: Carpet, Floors & More
+ Celebrating Carpet: UK's Fun On the Floor With Style

[I'm delighted to say that she is as inspiring in person. You see, I got to meet her and spend time with her at Surfaces 2010...]

In addition to flooring and carpet style trend information, the Surfaces Blog offers flooring business insights. Paul Friederichsen shares perspective on marketing and branding; Warren Tyler on sales; Lew Migliore on how to deal with flooring issues and how best to care for flooring. And others. All experts in their fields.

But, there's no one else like Victoria!

Do read the Surfaces Blog and let me know what you think.

Thanks,

The Wear-Dated Brand & Memory Lane...

Time for a trip down memory lane for the Wear-Dated brand...

I mentioned in Meet C.B. Whittemore that I track mentions of Wear-Dated. Even though I no longer have any association with the brand, I really enjoy capturing these now elusive digital signs of Wear-Dated's earlier days - many of which remind me of my early days at then Monsanto's New York City offices located at 1460 Broadway when I worked on Wear-Dated in the Acrilan acrylic fiber division. I'd visit with my boss, Gary Petersen, and he would regale me with stories of Wear-Dated campaigns and programs...

In these latest mentions to have come through my inbox, do note the logo. The large "A" at the bottom refers to Monsanto's Acrilan acrylic fiber.

These two women in the image on the left appeared in a 1968 advertisement.

You'll love this site with page 16 from the 1971 Sears Catalog: Ladieswear... Be sure to check out each image and read the captions.

Note the third image of two women wearing Acrilan acrylic fiber knit dresses; the Wear-Dated logo barely peaks through at the bottom. Do you recognize the model on the left?

This next image of a man smiling in front of a schoolbus is from 1964. It was listed on eBay as "1964 Wear Dated Co Vintage Ad Smiling Man,School BUS" in January 2010. It's no longer available...

The copy on this ad with bold striped knit shirts reads:

"Wear-Dated stripes are guaranteed. You have nothing to lose but your inhibitions.

These Wonderknit Lord Blair knit shirts are 100% Acrilan acrylic fiber, the richest of wash-and-wear. And they're Wear-Dated: unconditionally guaranteed for one year's normal wear. Replacement or refund by Chemstrand - read the Wear-Dated tag. See them in living color at fine stores everywhere. Long and short sleeves. Styles for boys, from $3.50. For men, from $5.00. Chemstrand, N.Y. 1, a Division of Monsanto Chemical Company, makes Acrilan acrylic fiber. The shirts are by Lord Blair.

Trust the Big Red "A." Buy when you see this tag."

In this next image, note that the Wear-Dated logo features a "C" [I assume for Chemstrand] rather than the "A" featured above. I came across this listing in January 2010, this time on Etsy where the garment is still available for purchase.


Here is a link to the full listing: VINTAGE 1960'S MOD SLEEVELESS TOP NWT SIZE by sewingmachinegirl. "When originally sold the top was Wear Dated- which guaranteed it for one years full normal wear! A wonderful genuine vintage top for this summer ! ..." It is made of nylon fiber.

My last find brings Wear-Dated back to carpet with two 1991 commercials for Wear-Dated carpet with stainblocker...

Per the description, they were aired on a local Los Angeles station KCOP-TV in February 1992.


1991 Wear-Dated Carpet With Stain Blocker Commercials
Uploaded by VSNHeats. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.

That's it for now. I'm all caught up on my Wear-Dated brand historic mentions.

Until next time!

PS: For more on this subject, check out Signs Of Another Brand Trail: Wear Dated, Wear-Dated Brand Evolution and Creation Stories.

The Carpets of Vegas: Floorscapes at the Casino

Have you checked out The New Yorker, and specifically The Talk of The Town? You're in for a treat because the 4/5/10 issue titled At The Casino FLOORSCAPES by Lauren Collins discusses carpet and more specifically 'psychedelic' Casino carpet as interpreted by New York-based photographer named Chris Maluszynski.

In addition to the article, there's a companion Slide Show: The Carpets of Vegas published on March 29, 2010 which offers a glimpse of 8 bold, kaleidescopic patterned casino carpet floorscapes. I suggest you look through them first then return to Lauren's article.

In the slideshow summary as well as the full article, you may notice that I'm quoted...

Collins quotes Christine B. Whittemore, who runs a blog called Carpetology: “A lot of the busyness of the patterns may be about keeping people active, as too much relaxing may not inspire gambling.”

Talk about excited!

I spoke with Lauren Collins on March 22nd. She had noticed several stories covered here in the Carpetology Blog about casino carpet and wanted to further discuss big, bold and busy carpet patterns to put into perspective Maluszynski’s show “Feared and Loathed: The Carpets of Las Vegas” which opened April 1st, 2010, at the 25CPW gallery, on Central Park West in NYC.

Thanks to the annual Surfaces show, I've seen my fair share of casino carpet in Las Vegas. What's more is that I toured the Wynn and the Encore this past February and was able to share some of those insights with Lauren. The carpet photo you see in Carpet Style Trends 2010 is from our starting point for the tour in the Wynn. Its sister in the neighboring Encore featured the same red background but with butterflies.

I love Maluszynski's characterization of three categories of Vegas Casino Carpets:

1. geometric shapes

2. organic shapes

3. themed shapes

Can you think of other categories?

In her article, Collins mentions David G. Schwartz, the director of the Center for Gaming Research, who has posted on his blog the die is cast pictures and an essay on Casino Carpet: The Quest & Conundrum. Definitely check those links out.

Thanks, Lauren, for a really fun conversation and for the opportunity to contribute to your article.

I wonder if I should relaunch A Foot's Perspective with a Casino Carpet angle?

BuildDirect Recommends Gurus To Follow

My friend Rob Jones at BuildDirect has started a wonderful series highlighting Gurus To Follow On Twitter.

The most recent - 14 Gardening and Landscaping Gurus You Should Follow On Twitter - seems particularly relevant given that it's St. Patrick's Day.

There's something about this time of year and the focus on green [see Green Around The World for more green inspiration] that calls attention to the return of Spring and the opportunity to return outdoors...

So, check out Rob's Gardening and Landscaping Gurus - including those listed in the comments.

If the outdoors become too overwhelming, I suggest you recharge indoors with Rob's 12 Interior Design Gurus To Follow and 10 Home Improvement Gurus To Follow.

Thanks, Rob, for the inspiration and the great resources!

If there are others you'd add to these lists, let me or Rob know.

Carpet Style Trends 2010

It's that time of year again... to consider Carpet Style Trends for 2010. More specifically, with a focus on 'upbeat' design and color.

Two recent flooring articles on the subject caught my attention:

• One from Floor Covering News dated January 25/February 1, 2010 titled Color splashes into 2010 styles.

• The other from Floor Covering Weekly dated January 4-18, 2010, titled "Style watch: Surprisingly upbeat designs, colors".

Yes, both articles mention how, in tough times, consumers tend to gravitate toward safe flooring choices. They also both call attention to color, pattern and design to banish the doom and gloom and bring joy, energy and enthusiasm back.

It works for me!

The carpet photos above comes from the Wynn in Las Vegas. I couldn't help admiring it. It filled me with warmth and delight. Isn't that the kind of effect - perhaps not with the same color palette or design scheme - that you'd like to create in your home?

Getting back to the articles and bringing some of that inspiration home:

The Color splashes article refers to "bold colors with dramatic, over-sized patterns... in an almost out of context scale". How better to "break free from the doldrums"?

The Style Watch article details interesting color trends that gravitate around "vintage, reused and recycled material." Brings to my mind the notion of everything old is new again. Even though both "color [and] pattern [are] showing restraint", consumers are nonetheless looking beyond beige and safe. With patterns, they are leaning toward small to medium scale patterns, organic designs, animal prints as well as contemporary, geometric and organic patterns. I see small scale and organic patterns in the image above, don't you?

I love the ending of the article: "...the downturn has caused everyone to look at things in a whole new way... We have a new appreciation for things. The downturn has given us a chance to turn inward and try new things we wouldn't have..."

How are you looking to infuse that new appreciation in the carpet style trends you're considering?

Carpet & Flooring iPhone Apps

Since my last post - Carpet, Flooring, iPhone Apps & Mohawk Me - on the subject of iPhone apps, I got curious. Really curious about what else is out there on the app store that relates to flooring and carpet.

Especially since it isn't necessarily intuitive to discover applications of interest in iTunes.

Here, then, is what I've come across. I welcome your additions.

Carpet & Flooring iPhone Apps

Carpet Games on the iPhone

Flying Carpet - $.99
Carpet Flight - $.99

[reminded me of Magic Flying Carpets]

Carpet eBook on the iPhone

Yes, there's an eBook: The Phoenix & The Carpet - $1.99

Practical Carpet & Flooring iPhone Apps

Carpet Calculator - $.99 [from http://www.4kssoftware.com]

Carpet Shopping Guide - $2.99 [from PTAJ Marketing Inc.]

iLocate Lumber - $.99 [from Brighthouse Labs]
iLocate Carpet & Flooring - $.99

From Bear Creek Lumber, 2 apps: [NOTE: both links below open directly into iTunes]
+ iPhone Board Feet Calculator - free
+ iPhone LumberCalc - $.99

Floor Finder by Lumber Liquidators - free [NOTE: this is a 10mb download]

I - unfortunately - haven't tried any of these, but I am curious if you have.

Are there other Carpet & Flooring iPhone Apps that you've come across? I'd love to hear more.








Image credit: Mashable - 8 Coolest iPhone Apps at iPhoneDevCamp from 7/8/2007]