Product Spotlight:
Vinyl. Evolved.
The market is moving
Vinyl has earned its place. Durable, cleanable, affordable, and the proven commercial upholstery fabric of choice across decades of demanding use in healthcare, hospitality, education and beyond. Nobody is retiring it.
But the market is evolving. Sustainability requirements are tightening, clients are asking harder questions, and two new material technologies are rising to meet the challenge. Neither replaces vinyl outright. Both are worth understanding.
A note of honesty: early alternatives struggled on durability, hydrolysis resistance, and price. Some still do. No single material has fully replicated vinyl across every brief. What has changed is how close the field is getting.
Approach One
Designtex & the shift to Silicone
Traditional vinyl (PVC) requires plasticisers to stay flexible. Those plasticisers raise material health concerns and can off-gas over time. Polyurethane (PU) removes PVC but can hydrolyse, gradually breaking down under sustained heat and moisture.
Silicone sidesteps both. Derived from sand, not petroleum. No plasticisers, no solvents, no PFAS. It doesn’t hydrolyse. Designtex’s Silicone range delivers 200,000 double rubs, bleach cleanability, and GREENGUARD Gold certification — with a refined leather-like grain. The trade-off is price. For healthcare, aged care, and high-end hospitality, the case speaks for itself. Note it is also suitable for outdoor use.
Designtex Ethos
Designtex Ethos takes a different path — their first biobased PU. Derived from non-food corn biomass, ASTM-verified biobased content, PVC and PFAS-free, GREENGUARD Gold certified. Pebbled leather surface, 32 colours. Same performance credentials. Different material philosophy.
Approach Two
Skai & the Innovation of PU
Skai’s approach is different — not a new base material, but a push to reinvent what goes into PU.
VyP Coffee uses spent coffee grounds as raw material. 65% natural and recycled content. Worth knowing.
Pureto EN is the PVC-free foundation. Water-based, solvent-free, produced in Germany. Calfskin look, soft feel, hydrolysis resistant.
Evida goes further — 80% natural and renewable raw materials, organic cotton backing, phthalate-free plasticisers, produced on 100% renewable energy.
Evida Fiber reaches 90% bio-based content. Both carry full commercial performance credentials.
Vinyl is still here
Skai Tovega EN proves the core vinyl category isn’t standing still. A fine microporous texture with staynu technology — an invisible protective coating that resists dirt, scratches, and abrasion. 38 colours, light-resistant, and built for the most demanding environments.
Key Questions
Is PVC-free the same as sustainable?
Not automatically. Longevity — keeping a material in use and out of landfill — remains one of the most meaningful metrics of all.
Does silicone process the same as vinyl?
Mostly yes, though specific needle, thread, and machine calibration is required. Ask your Hume representative for the Designtex sewing guide before fabrication.
Where does each sit on price?
Silicone carries a premium. Pureto EN and Evida are more accessible. Core vinyl — including Tovega EN — remains the most cost-effective for volume.
Can I get samples?
Yes. Colour cards and samples available across all ranges.
More options. Smarter choices. Same trusted source.