Screen time

Coulisse

Coulisse has released two new roller blind collections: Signature and Function, designed to meet the needs and trends influencing the Australasian market. 

“Based on years of experience, these well-thought-out collections have been carefully constructed to meet the demands of the residential, commercial and hospitality industries. The Signature collection consists of our best-selling textured fabrics. The Function collection offers high performance fabrics with functional excellence.”

“Our new collections for roller blinds have been ingeniously designed with beauty, performance and sustainability in mind. With intelligent heat and light management features, these strong and durable fabrics in modern neutral color tones help create safe, smart, convenient and energy-efficient spaces for people to live and work.”  

“The Function collection has been created for hot climates to help control heat and light. Ideal for energy saving, which is a hot topic right now. For example, our Screen Naturals 10002, 20003 and 30005, Screen Reflection and SFN2 reflection fabrics have a special aluminum metalized backing that reflects solar energy.” 

“The Signature collection fills the gap in the market for sustainability with its recycled yarns. For example, our Wembley, Prato and Re-Essentials are all made from PET bottles. Wembley and Prato are available in both light filtering and black-out with a white backing for reflection and have a wide width of 3 meters. Re-Essentials is particularly interesting for the contract project as it is flame-resistant and has an openness of 3%, which offers a pleasant view outside with glare control.” 

“Energy saving and sustainability are becoming increasingly important in the current market and climate. Particularly energy saving, as both individuals and companies are trying to find ways to ensure buildings keep the heat out and coolness in to save on energy costs.” 

“In terms of trends, design direcitons now and for 2023 include energy saving, sustainability, surrounding yourself with beauty and smart home. 

“Textile trends now and for 2023 include FSC wood and paper, soft textures, earthy colors,  velvets and opulence with gold, rich, shimmer.”

Coulisse also notes growing interest in sustainably produced screen fabrics.

“This is why we take responsibility for our ecological footprint. We focus on adding well-thought-out products to our collection. We choose materials that can stand the test of time, rather than fast-fashion. These products can either be made from recycled materials, produced in a more responsible way, or both, and will be marked with the Ecoluxury label.

Ecoluxury can be categorised into four different pillars: recycled yarns; eco produced; Oeko-tex; FSC paper and recycled yarns.

“We cannot ignore that there is an excess of trash in the world and that it is littered with plastic. Our textile collection captures the beauty of natural materials and comprises recycled yarns. As recycling is nature’s way to prepare for the future, our textile collection is our way to create sustainable beauty from recycled materials. Ecoluxury highlights all of our sustainable products made from yarns, which inhibit recycled content such as recycled PET. Choosing for Ecoluxury means a step forward towards sustainability.”

Eco produced acknowledges that “we cannot simply continue to produce without thinking about the impact it has on this world. This need for responsibility demands a long-term view and critical look at production processes. 

“We aim to ensure that our products put as little strain on the environment as possible. Our eco produced products are composed in a more sustainable way. From using less water and green energy during production to more efficient logistics and better use of warm and cold water. Eco produced textiles are Oeko-tex certified, which means they contain few harmful substances. For instance, all of our Trevira CS fabrics are eco produced.”

Eco produced textiles contain greener production in comparison to normal/current production; suppliers think about their production process and constantly want to optimise this; optimal/efficient use of the production process is key. 

Oeko-tex is one of the world’s best-known certificate for textiles tested for harmful substances. If a product gets the Oeko-tex certificate, it states that every component of the product has been tested on harmful substances and the product is harmless in human ecological terms. Our Oeko-tex products are classified in the following product classes:

II: Articles with direct contact to the skin, and IV: Home textiles

FSC Paper – Coulisse’s new Nature fabrics inhibit Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. 

“The use of FSC paper contributes towards the protection of our global forests and a healthy living environment for humans and animals worldwide. FSC forest management certification confirms that the forest is being managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring it sustains economic viability.”

Shaw

Mark Lewis, Head of Division, Shaw Performance Fabrics indicates products in the company’s offering highlight two key trends, the environment and the emergence of more sophisticated versions of standard screen fabrics. 

EnviroVision is a non-PVC screen, 3000mm wide in 10 colours, supported by Shaw’s recent publication of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

“We’re noticing an increased demand for products developed with consideration for the environment, particularly in the commercial sector,” says Lewis. “This is reflected in Shaw’s investment with Global Greentag to publish an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)” 

“Shaw presents customers with a screen solution for every installation opportunity,” says Lewis. 

“Duo screen is a 2×1 weave with a 5% openness factor. Aventus is the latest edition to our program, a 2 x 2 basketweave, with a superior view to the outside. The 17 colours are all available in 3%, 5%, and 10% openness factors, providing for all aspects of the building and level of solar control requirements. Our Sheerweave range is manufactured with Ecolibrium a bio-based plastisizer. It is intrinsically treated with Microban, giving effective mould and bacterial protection for the life of the screen.”

Meanwhile Spectre is a decorative fabric that combines the weave of a traditional screen with the natural organic appearance of linen. It is in a range of on trend colours including vivid white and intense black.

Shaw is also tapping into a general trend towards more subtle colouration, Lewis says. “Screen has traditionally always sold at the opposite ends of the spectrum – charcoal and white, however Shaw has added colours which co-ordinate with interior trend colours so a darker shade could have a blue or a red undertone, while on the lighter side Shaw has soft pale greys and warm whites.”

Shaw’s Sunscreens are highly spec’d, with Greenguard and Greenguard Gold Certification and testing to AS1530 Part III as standard attributes. The range also carries a five-year warranty.

“The colour ranges are on trend with contemporary interior design and consider end user motivations to buy including health and well-being. From a financial perspective, screen products assist with reducing energy bills, currently a pressure point for the consumer. The screens, like all Shaw products, are presented in practical, durable presentations. They are supported by the national sales and customer service teams and distributed by Shaw’s national network of distribution centres.”  

He notes that the market for these products continues to be buoyant. “There is a demand for performance products, which consider environmental pressures and aesthetics, particularly in workplace where visual eye comfort is increasingly a topic of discussion.”

Uniline

George Lucas, Fabrics Category Manager for Uniline, confirms the company is set to release new fabric ThermoView 5% in March 2023.

“ThermoView will appeal to those customers who want a dark screen (for view clarity) in a north or western facing window exposed to intense heat and sun.

“We all know that a dark screen will give you the clearest outside view, however the downside is that it transmits very high levels of heat through the window and blind into the interior, resulting in a hotter interior. ThermoView provides significant thermal advantages over a standard charcoal screen as most of the heat is reflected back through the window rather than being absorbed by the fabric and released internally. 

“Metallic backed dark coloured screens have similar properties to ThermoView, but most domestic end users do not want to have a metallic silver facing externally.”

ThermoView 5% offers a number of features and benefits compared to standard charcoal 5% screen:-

• View clarity from a charcoal face and thermal benefits from the white external facing colour = cooler interior, without the glare! 

• Reduced energy costs by keeping the interior cooler on hot days

• Significant glare reduction = better visual comfort

• Softer external appearance than silver backed darks

• A minimum 50% improvement in SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient)

• 70% less Solar Absorption

“As we have all become more energy conscious from both environmental and cost perspectives, energy saving window coverings like ThermoView 5% are essential in meeting these requirements.”

“The internal sunscreen market is extremely strong for core products. The cost of sunscreen fabrics over the past 10 years has reduced significantly, making them quite affordable. In fact, they are now price comparable to standard blockouts. There is also a wide choice of openness factors available to suit all window aspects. Our Uniview screen fabrics are available in 17 colours in all three openness factors, 90%, 95% and 98%. Sales of Day/Night dual roller system sales have also increased substantially.

Blinds by Peter Meyer

A new addition to the Blinds by Peter Meyer range is antimicrobial screen fabric, Nuescreen, described as “the perfect choice for those who have clients with dust allergies or looking for mould and mildew protection.” 

Nuescreen with sanitised protection inhibits the growth of bacteria, mould and mildew on fabric. This antimicrobial hygiene function enhances the performance and life expectancy of blinds due to the fact that they will have less risk of degradation and will stay consistently cleaner.  

It is available for wider windows at 3000mm wide and offers a colour palette with 11 on-trend colours. Made from PVC, Nuescreen is Greenguard Gold, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and Flame Retardant certified. It is also eco-friendly for the more environmentally conscious clients.

Managing Director Simon Meyer tells WFA another new interior screen fabric from Blinds by Peter Meyer is Freescreen, a non-PVC screen targeting the project and commercial market.  

“It has become particularly popular for use in schools, hospitals and aged care facilities due to its ability to gain the green tick. It is also soft to the touch and feels like a fabric as opposed to a screen. It is free from formaldahyde, halogen, lead, heavy metals, odours and is Greenguard, Greenguard Gold and Oeko-Tex 100 certified. 

“Freescreen has a lovely matte fabric look finish which is unique to most of the glossy finish screens. It is available in nine colours ranging from white shades through to charcoal shades and jet black.”

“Finally, Blinds by Peter Meyer has released Reflekt, our first PVC coated Silver backed screen fabric in the Signature Collection. Highly reflective and energy efficient, this 3% sunscreen fabric has a special Silver Aluminum backing that provides significant thermal benefits. It is a very cost effective group 4 fabric that is 2500mm wide as opposed to other Silver/Aluminium backed PVC screens which are 2400mm wide. 

“Reflekt is available in six contemporary colours to complement any commercial or residential decor and is easy to maintain and clean, thanks to its fabric protection system. It also consists of a patented coating system that helps withstand against the harsh Australian climate.”

Meyer says that with increases in electricity costs, end customers are on the hunt for new ways to save energy and screen fabrics, in particular Silver/Aluminium backed screen fabrics “so we have seen an increase in demand for more internal and external screen blinds.”

“We are starting to see increased interest in sustainably produced fabrics overall – including screen fabrics – due to architects and designers looking to the future and pledging their support for zero carbon emissions.”  

BM Blinds

Michelle Macready, Sales Manager BM Blinds tells WFA the company recently added the Spectrum 3% sunscreen to its fabric selections, adding that the thermal properties of the aluminised backing are its main feature. 

“The neutral palette of the range is perfect for any commercial or residential space, with colours ranging from Chalk to the darker tones of Charcoal and Ebony.”

Spectrum 3% is durable and easy to clean and comes with a five-year warranty. It complies with stringent requirements of the building code for Fire Hazard and is tested to AS1530.2 and 1530.3. Made to withstand the harsh Australian climate, Spectrum 3% is fade resistant and meets the ISO colour fastness standards.

“The fabric is 2500mm wide and is perfect when paired with our roller or panel glide systems. For a quality blind that helps reduce sun glare, solar heat gain and solar UV light, you can’t go past Spectrum 3%.”