The use of polyester fiber in carpet has been questioned for its performance and appearance retention for years. I’ve written articles about nylon versus polyester and advances in polyester. Polyester has come a long way from its introduction into the industry back in the late 60’s when it would mat and crush to the extent you couldn’t get it back up with a lawn thatcher.
The march to performance has reached new levels with Dacron XPS, the premium polyester from Gulistan carpet developed by Koch/Invista. Gulistan has developed carpet made from Dacron XPS polyester that is a premium high performance product. Their polyester is subjected to and must pass the Vetterman Drum test. Samples I saw had excellent appearance retention. Dacron XPS is a trade up in the polyester category by design, that being the case the fiber and yarn system deliver real value not apparent value. The fiber has been delustered because a shiny synthetic fiber in polyester carpet gives the impression of it being cheap. Gulistan’s Dacron XPS also has a soft hand, achieved without compromising performance, further making it a premium product in the polyester category.
This product is targeted to the 25 to 35 year olds who can’t afford StainMaster or higher end carpet but who still want a premium product that will give them good value – Dacron XPS by Gulistan fills the need in that niche. Good value, good performance, color very difficult to compromise – a good choice for younger families, and certainly other consumers as well, who want and desire something better than they may have thought they could have.
Polyester inherently possesses excellent stain resistance. To dye polyester special penetrants must be used to force the color into the fiber or the fiber has to be dyed in pressure becks. Because the color basically has to be kicked into the fiber it is not easily compromised nor does it readily accept intruders in the form of staining agents. If the dog piddles on the carpet you won’t have a stain. I know this first hand because the house we bought four years ago has off white polyester carpet in the family room, the old technology kind. Our two little dogs on rare occasion have thrown up and peed on it, never leaving a stain. Yes, of course we clean it right away with a spotter and a small extraction machine but even if it gets missed and sits until it dries, it comes out, completely – this is one of the great attributes of polyester.
Gulistan has a reputation for producing high quality carpet, especially now under their new ownership. The focus is on not being all things to all people but being the best they can be in a chosen category. Years ago I wrote a column entitled, “Can a Leopard Change It’s Spots.” It was about the original XPS polyester. I challenged the leading polyester producers at the time, Hoescht, to prove me wrong – that their yarn was as good as they said it was. When they came back with the original XPS, that proved me wrong, they had a product manufactured by JPS, the best polyester processor at the time, predecessor to Gulistan that performed the way they said it would. The challenge was taken and they delivered. We’ve come light years ahead of that now with the new Dacron XPS from Gulistan and Invista. Gulistan is a company that has created real value for the retailer and the consumer alike in this niche of the market. And they have warranties that are actually real and saleable; a rarity in our industry. In today’s economy this is the type of product that actually has real value for the category with high performance and a soft hand – a product that will help you make profit and avoid claims.
Author: Lewis G. Migliore
LGM and Associates – The Floorcovering Experts