PRODUCTS & S ER V ICES
ooking down on traffic from
several thousand feet might
give business jet passengers
a sense of superiority. But even if those
cars down there are stuck in a traffic jam,
they can teach the aviation industry a
thing or two about innovation for
interiors, says Tapis. “The newest fabrics
we are seeing emerge in high-end cars
offer a new benchmark in luxury, comfort
and sustainability,” says Jason
Estes, vice president of global
sales and marketing at Tapis.
By way of example,
Estes notes that Acura’s
new-generation RDX
SUV offers an A-Spec
upgrade package, with
options for a sporty red or
black leather interior with
black Ultrasuede inserts.
RAW TALENT
Ultrasuede is a partially plant-based
product where 30% of the polyester used
in its creation comes from molasses, a
waste product of sugar refining. “This
sustainable raw material is processed to
create polymers indistinguishable from
those made using petrochemicals,” says
Estes. “The environmental benefits are
substantial, however, with about 1kg (2.2
lb) of greenhouse gas emissions saved
for every 1kg of Ultrasuede produced, a
saving of about 0.47 litres of crude oil for
every 1m2 (10.76ft2) of material.”
Ultrasuede is well known in aviation;
Estes says for its luxurious hand, ease
of cleaning and durability. “Its
sustainability is another reason to use
this high-performance material,” he adds.
Another member of the same family,
Ultrasuede nu, is featured in the Mazda
Vision Coupe concept car. According to
Mazda, in the Vision Coupe, “the word
‘elegance’ implies a beauty that is subtle
businessjetinteriorsinternational.com
062 APRIL 2020
The aviation world could benefit from new sustainable fabrics
emerging in the automotive industry, believes Tapis
L
RACING GREEN
Ultrasuede nu,
designed to have
the look of leather,
stars in Mazda’s
Vision Coupe
concept car
functionality and offers a wide variety of
creative design possibilities,” says Estes.
“The texture and colours have a richness
that makes the material seem to change
in different lighting conditions.”
Available to the aviation industry
through Tapis, Ultrasuede was introduced
in 1970. “Over the past 45 years, this
product has earned a high reputation for
its luxurious texture and advanced
functionality,” says Estes. “It has become
widely recognised as a premium-quality
material not only for fashion items and
accessories but also for uses in interior
decoration, automotive upholstery and
industrial material applications.
“While the automotive industry might
be leading the way with innovative uses
for Ultrasuede and Ultrasuede nu, expect
to see these high-performance materials
in more business jet interiors as they
contribute to setting a new standard for
luxury and sustainability.”
and restrained yet rich
and abundant.” Mazda goes
on to explain that “Japanese
aesthetics call for a delicate sense of
balance rather than a show of
ostentation. For this reason, nextgeneration
design aims to breathe life
into cars with a ‘less is more’ aesthetic.”
Ultrasuede nu fits perfectly into this
design concept and extends beyond the
conventional leather categories of grain
leather, suede and nubuck. “It maintains
the functional qualities of the
conventional Ultrasuede, such as high
breathability, comfortable stretch and
easy-care handling,” says Estes.
In the Mazda Vision Coupe, the
material was used along the instrument
panel, seat centres and door panels.
BEAUTY AND BRAINS
Winner at the 2018 Première Vision
Paris PV Awards for the most creative
responsible fabric, Ultrasuede nu is a
non-woven material created using
ultra-fine fibres to have the appearance
of genuine grain leather. “It features a
luxurious texture with advanced
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