TOKYO ― Toray Industries has received the Good Design Long Life Design Award 2022 for the first time from The Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) for Ultrasuede.
Since its release in 1970, Ultrasuede has evolved through a series of technological innovations with its basic manufacturing technology remaining unchanged. The Good Design Long Life Design Award 2022 is recognition of this long manufacturing history as well as its use of polymer recycling and plant-based polymer for manufacturing. Toray’s active involvement in social initiatives including industry-academia partnerships was also recognised by the JDP.
"Under the Ultrasuede vision of 'To enrich society through empowered creativity and materials evolution', we will continue taking on the challenge to realize Toray Group’s corporate philosophy, contributing to society through the creation of new value with innovative ideas, technologies, and products,” Toray said.
Toray says it is continually looking to develop Ultrasuede, such as exploring the development of fabric with a softer hand-feel, a more luxurious texture, excellent durability, and maintenance ease. In 2015, it launched Ultrasuede nu, a version that combines genuine leather appearance not seen in conventional Ultrasuede and with a distinctive suede touch that is not available with grain leather.
This development, says Toray, illustrates how Ultrasuede, originally developed to recreate natural suede, has now advanced beyond its original characteristics. Ultrasuede is now featured for applications other than garments, shoes, and bags, such as in automotive interiors and furniture amongst others.
The Good Design Long Life Design Award recognizes and commends designs that people favour in daily living. The designs cover products, architecture, content and services that will be ideal examples for designs to come and will continue to serve as reference standards over time.
