BINGHAM FARMS, Mich., -- Fashion cues from Paris, Milan and New York, by way of the auto industry, are debuting in Bingham Farms, Mich., with the opening this month of Canadian General-Tower's new Innovation Studio. Best known as North America's leading provider of auto interior cover stocks, global supplier CGT and its designers are now doing wondrous things inside today's vehicles.
In addition to satisfying manufacturer needs for unique brand identifiers, CGT's innovation studio is giving couture-craving consumers exactly what they want. Consider:
-- Eco-Dynamic Design- CGT is the first to fuse old and new, architectural
and organic, Millennial and classic in a variety of synthetic materials
and trims.
-- The Innovation Studio provides consulting services to OEMs for
color and trim packages to outfit show and production vehicles.
-- Euromatte- This athletic-inspired textile comes well equipped with a
rubberized feel and raised-dot pattern.
-- Aeolis(TM) Technology- CGT's Aeolis drives its premium Black Label
brand with leather-like breathability and soft, supple touch.
-- Protein Coat(TM) Technology- With its moisture absorption and release
features, this technology adds a silky feel for consumer comfort.
-- VEHREO- Part recycled bottles, part natural cotton, earth-friendly
VEHREO uses renewable soy in place of diminishing fossil fuels.
Lilana Nicoghosian, a former Ford designer, is heading up CGT's Innovation Studio, which showcases one-of-a-kind tech-savvy interior materials and trend- spotting developers. The innovation studio is located at 30300 Telegraph, just north of 13 Mile Road.
"CGT has brought several key designers under one roof -- all in the backyard of the international auto industry," said Nicoghosian. "Our goal is to interpret global trends and apply them to interiors in new and surprising ways."
Like their counterparts at luxury retailers, Nicoghosian and her team are launching nubby tweeds, twisted surfaces, urbanized patterns such as stone and brick, and eco-friendly touches such as cotton backing.
"By combining CGT's materials production expertise with our growing design capabilities, we provide our customers, from Asia to Europe to North America, with a tool to keep auto design fresh and appropriate across vehicle models," said Patrick Diebel, vice president of advanced technology at CGT.
In addition to breaking new synthetic-materials ground, the Innovation Studio will serve as a design and style watch resource for CGT customers. Here, designers will regularly catalog what they see and hear in fashion centers and among trend-setting cultures worldwide. For a sneak peek, visit www.cgtower.com.
Canadian General-Tower Limited, a provider of innovative polymer products, designs, and technical solutions is headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. The company is North America's leading supplier of polymeric cover stocks for soft interior trim, with content on an estimated 80 percent of vehicles produced in the region. CGT has expanded its global footprint recently with two manufacturing sites located near Shanghai, China. Also, the company is exploring manufacturing opportunities in Mexico, Eastern Europe and Russia.
In addition to its automotive portfolio, the company manufactures flexible plastic film for use in pool liners, roofing and containment membranes, marine seating, and stationary binders. CGT produces approximately 100 million meters of flexible film per year.
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