Spec Perspective: Carnegie Fabrics Is on a Roll

At Architizer, we find it interesting that some of the best-known companies in commercial wallcoverings and textiles are family-owned or operated. Recently, we asked Carnegie Fabrics president Cliff Goldman why that is. “This side of the industry requires an entrepreneurial approach, one that is often best suited to people and organizations that are quick on their feet and willing to veer off in new directions,” he responded. In this latest Spec Perspective, we explore in depth Carnegie’s move toward sustainability, and its nimbleness overall.

Name: Cliff Goldman
Age: 56
Title: President of Carnegie Fabrics
Location: New York

How has Carnegie Fabrics evolved most notably since 1950?
Well, 1950 was an entirely different universe. The requirements are so much more complex today in terms of performance, flame codes, client expectations, and quality. What hasn’t changed is our approach that looks for new ways of doing business; keeping our eyes wide open; and not worrying so much about how we have done things in the past and, instead, focusing on what clients need in the future.

For example, Carnegie was founded with a commitment to material development. In 1950, my father was ahead of the curve and took risks to push the boundaries of how designers were using fabrics in interior spaces. He was the first to introduce fabric wallcoverings to the commercial office market and transformed their application in the process: at that time, you either did paint or vinyl. This opened up a whole new world of possibilities. And, in 1981, Carnegie launched Xorel, the first-ever high-performance textile. It was the result of much experimentation and illustrates our commitment to innovation, which is still at the heart of what we do. Since then, we haven’t stopped creating.

Which of these changes was Robert Goldman most happy with?
My father, who passed away just recently, loved the fact that it was still a business that was personal. By that I mean that it is people who make the difference. Whether you have been here for 20 years or 20 days, creativity is recognized and celebrated. We are a midsize company that treats employees and clients in the spirit of a small company and that does business like a large company.

My father also was passionate about the environment and never stopped looking for ways to make our products better, both in terms of quality and sustainability. The introduction of Biobased Xorel sourced from plants instead of fossil fuels made him very proud indeed.

What is the difference between Xorel and Biobased Xorel?
The major difference is the raw material resource. The original Xorel is a PVC-free, third-party-certified material meeting C2C certification at the Silver level. It introduced the concept of high-performance textiles to the design industry and set the bar high, but we knew it could still be improved. So, after seven years of research and development, Carnegie launched Biobased Xorel in 2013. As the world’s first bio-based high-performance interior textile, it is sourced from sugar cane, whereas original Xorel, like all plastics, is derived from fossil fuels.

Biobased Xorel has the same great look, easy maintenance, performance, and cost as Xorel. The difference is the source — with 60 to 85 percent derived from plants. It is C2C Gold-certified, too — a rare achievement.

What does it mean to be a PVC-free company: is there no vinyl whatsoever, or do you avoid phthalates?
Carnegie decided in the mid-1980s to become a PVC-free company, and our Xorel product was positioned very strongly against vinyl products in general. While phthalates have gotten all the recent negative publicity, we believe chlorine chemistry in general should be eliminated. We do not sell any vinyl wallcovering and upholstery materials, which are still big sellers in our industry. Instead, we are heavily invested in PVC replacement technology, especially TPO films for wallcoverings that match PVC performance with a much better environmental footprint.

And why was it important to become a B corporation last year?
The premise of B Corp is very much in line with Carnegie’s mission. We’re extremely proud to be part of a movement that supports economic growth while making a difference. And, frankly, we did not have to adjust how we were operating to become a B Corp. It was very much in line with how we have always done things.

Why does sustainability run so deep?
My father and I always believed in a people-based approach to running this business; we are working on a project we can collectively be proud of. By making a difference, our business breeds success for the owners, employees, clients, and the planet.

What are the unique advantages of designing in-house? And does this suggest that there are some disadvantages to commissioning outside talent?
Carnegie is one of only a few companies in our industry with a full-fledged in-house Creative Design Studio, and a unique advantage of that is flexibility and freedom. The Creative Studio is comprised of talented and diverse individuals including textile designers, weavers, painters, and graphic designers. Rather than producing a far-removed concept, we have people who know the materials well, who work on R&D, who take the pulse of interior trends, and who speak to designers about their needs and aspirations. Working together, this powerful “think tank” allows us to explore and develop forward-looking concepts.

What is the Creative Design Studio’s most notable accomplishment, in your opinion?
We often bring interior design clients to our studio to observe and interact with our creative process. While they are impressed with our creativity, they are even more impressed with the openness of the people and the culture. They love being shown everything we are working on, having the ability to take photos, and the relaxed nature of the studio itself. Many declare in a half-joking way that they would love to work there. That ambiance is probably our most notable accomplishment.

Besides sustainability, what phenomenon drives your company’s growth?
We are always focused on providing design solutions. We address a multitude of areas including acoustics, cleanability, and long-term performance while always being concerned for the environment. In early 2016, we will introduce acoustical panels covered in Xorel to offer a finished solution for spaces requiring acoustics and textile performance, for example, because we always look to find new ways for fabrics to improve public areas.

Any favorite projects that feature Carnegie products?
There are too many to name, but it is always fun to be in a public place such as a hotel, office, theater, or restaurant and to recognize our products. We love to create custom solutions, and one of our favorites is a custom Mondrian-patterned Xorel that we engineered for the movable doors at the Aria Hotel Convention area in Las Vegas. It has both scale and design impact, which is fun to see.