Chicago, IL, June 19, 2006--With urban as the theme, Bentley Prince Street is paying homage to the urban environment and how it influences all aspects of our lives: social, environmental and cultural.
The leading broadloom manufacturer debuted its new Merchandise Mart showroom and new products--both inspired by new urbanism--in conjunction with NeoCon 2006. In addition, the company is joining with its sister Interface companies to launch Mission Zero--a revitalization of parent company Interface’s mission statement to become sustainable and leave zero environmental footprint by the year 2020.
“Bentley Prince Street is proud to unite with our sister Interface companies as we launch Mission Zero,” said Anthony Minite, president of Bentley Prince Street. “‘Mission Zero’ is, quite simply, a new way to describe the journey to sustainability that Bentley Prince Street, as well as all of the Interface companies, have been working toward since 1994.”
Minite explained that Bentley Prince Street’s environmental action and innovation will continue to contribute to the Mission Zero goal of zero environmental footprint by the year 2020.
“Mission Zero now becomes part of Bentley Prince Street’s brand promise,” Minite said. “Every action we take and every decision that we make here at Bentley Prince Street will move us closer to the top of Mt. Sustainability, and thereby closer to eliminating our negative impact on the environment.”
In addition to launching Mission Zero, Bentley Prince Street is also introducing several new styles inspired by urbanism.
“Urban-inspired design is about delivering a look that is at once modern and timeless, sophisticated and edgy, thrilling and composed,” explained Minite, ”Urban life – despite its many problems and failings during the past few centuries, has been, and continues to be, the destiny and promise of global civilization. It is this promise that inspired our new products and new showroom design.”
Bentley Prince Street’s vice president of design, Valerie Ottaviano, explained that at the heart of Bentley Prince Street’s urban-inspired products is the Urban Tribe Collection. Inspired by journalist Ethan Watters’ characterization of a segment of the urban population with the same name, Urban Tribe pays tribute to the social phenomenon among young urban dwellers that is redefining friendship, family and commitment. Using the city as their backdrop, a generation of young city folks is forming urban tribes--a group of friends who become like family to one another in the transitional time between the family they were born to and the family they may one day create. The members of the tribe are as diverse as any group of blood-related family members; for tribes, their respective city is their shared DNA.
“The shared DNA among the six patterns in the Urban Tribe Collection is a linear background; the patterns on the foreground are as unique as any six family members can be, from botanical to geometrical,” said Ottaviano.
With 45 new colorways, Urban Scene is the color core for the Urban-inspired styles. Urban Scene captures a sophisticated look with a silk luster.
Honoring the economic engine that is the central business district, smaller coordinate City Center features a grid-like pattern that resembles the aerial view of a downtown area.
And for the romantics, there is the subtle matte Mythic City which is inspired by cities in earlier times or places that are awaiting discovery or rediscovery. And finally, the natural, cord-like New Town is a nod to the suburbanites who are creating nouveau town squares for that quick cappuccino and best-selling novel fix.
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