Culp Home decor, manufacturer of a wide range of mattress and upholstery fabrics has introduced a brand-new collection of sustainable circular knitted bed fabric called as ChillSense in association with Repreve from Unifi. This launch is in response to consumer demand for cooling performance and is the result of the continued partnership between North Carolina companies Culp, of High Point, and Unifi, of Northboro.

According to Unifi, fabrics created with ChillSense fibers, transmit heat from the body to the fabric more quickly, producing a cold feeling to the touch. The fabric contains at least 30% Repreve fiber derived from recycled plastic bottles, which has been verified by U Trust to certify recycled content claims.

Culp Home Fashions vice-president of sales and marketing, Jeff Veach, said that the cooling technology is inherent within the yarn and does not require the addition of chemicals. ChillSense powered by Repreve blends performance and sustainability features in one fabric, making it a cost-effective option for their clients and consumers looking to make a sustainable-based purchasing decision.

He adds that by using Repreve recycled fiber into its mattress and upholstery textiles, Culp has helped save over 63 million plastic bottles from landfills since 2019. They have the ability to produce and scale this new fabric line. The raw material may be produced locally in Reidsville, North Carolina, as well as internationally.

Brian Moore, vice-president of global brand sales for Unifi said that fabrics created with ChillSense fibers have a high thermal effusivity – the rate at which a material can absorb heat. High effusivity fabrics refer to a textile's capacity to exchange heat energy with the environment.