GARFIELD, N.J.—Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills Inc., the makers of Bella-Dura performance fabrics, in conjunction with American Fibers and Yarns Co., has announced a new fabric recycling program for all Bella-Dura fabrics. Fabrics sent to American Fiber and Yarns in Bainbridge, Ga., will be implemented into a recycling stream that will produce a variety of durable and disposable goods. Some of the markets include parts for automotive interiors, geotextiles, horticultural products and filtration fabrics. Energy-saving manufacturing practices are also used during this recycling process to make these re-generated products. In every case, each yard of Bella-Dura fabric brought for recycling is converted into...

BAY SHORE, N.Y.—Duralee Contract introduces Eco-Fabrics that feature 100 percent Eco Intelligent Polyester that is Cradle to Cradle Gold certified by MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry). With a current and much-needed social movement towards sustainable products, Duralee Contract has designed the Eco-Fabrics by Duralee Contract collection to fit into the lifestyle of the environmentally conscious without forfeiting fine design. Eco-Fabrics by Duralee Contract makes it possible to match unique patterns and colorways with the satisfaction of taking a step in promoting a healthy planet. To achieve the Gold level, MBDC evaluated Eco Intelligent Polyester material and product ingredients for human...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Almost 100 years old, the historic Meier & Frank department store here is being converted to a 331-room Starwood Luxury Collection hotel called The Nines. The upper nine floors will be the home for the hotel; the lower five floors are being refurbished by Macy’s, Inc. and will open as a Macy’s department store. The Nines, which is being developed by Denver-based Sage Hospitality Resources, has Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification as its goal. The hotel is slated to open in summer 2008. SERA Architects, Inc., Portland, Ore., is the architectural firm on the project...

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, COLO.—Related/WestPac announced that the $2 billion 80-acre Snowmass Village, Colo. mixed-use development will combine groundbreaking environmental stewardship with a first-class resort experience. The development includes residential units, world-class hotels, retail, entertainment, and restaurant amenities surrounding the renowned ski area. The Snowmass development seeks to create a new model in community and resort sustainable development and be one of the first and most ambitious projects to be chosen for the new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Pilot Neighborhood Development certification program. Related/WestPac will incorporate LEED’s pilot Neighborhood certification program and plans to augment these efforts by extending...

CALISTOGA, CALIF.—The Solage Calistoga has opened in Napa Valley, Calif. Paving the way for the next generation of Napa Valley resorts, Solage Calistoga is a design-focused, environmentally conscious resort featuring a hip bistro, full-service spa offering treatments with a playful twist on Calistoga’s historic mud bath tradition, as well as exclusive Kate Somerville facials and a 130-foot swimming pool surrounded by cabanas. From the creators of Auberge Resorts, the 89-room contemporary style property was designed by renowned Napa Valley architect Howard Backen. Solage Calistoga’s spacious rooms and suites were designed by San Francisco firm Dowling Kimm Studios which interpreted Napa...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Milliken Walk Off Mats, a global leader in manufacturing sustainable mat products, recently launched the mat industry’s first reclamation program during the Clean Show in Las Vegas. “Offering an end of product life option to reduce waste fits Milliken’s sustainable practices and quality customer care,” says Chris Brown, Milliken Walk Off Mats’ global business manager. Milliken offers an extensive range of mat products and services for the commercial, retail and rental markets in North America, Europe and Asia. The company has been the standard-bearer in mats for more than seven decades with an eco-heritage spanning more than 100 years....

LAGRANGE, GA.—InterfaceFLOR is previewing new products that represent the first commercial carpet made from post-consumer, recycled nylon 6,6 fiber. InterfaceFLOR has formed an exclusive, international alliance with an Italian-American company to introduce a patent-pending technology that allows for effective and affordable reclamation of nylon 6,6 in order to recycle it for use in the commercial market. Through the new technology, InterfaceFLOR will now be able to reclaim all types of carpet from both the commercial and residential marketplaces, regardless of the type of face fiber or backing used, thereby reducing waste sent to landfills and further reducing...

DES PLAINES, ILL.—Bedding manufacturer United Feather & Down will unveil some of its newest “Natural Treasures” during the New York Home Fashions Market Week, August 6-10. The company will showcase its latest products, with a focus on natural and eco-friendly materials. These will include: • Eileen West Collection—New looks from top designer Eileen West.• Joseph Abboud All-Natural Collection—New designs, featuring organic and all-natural product. • Proneem®—A patented, natural, non-chemical, anti-microbial treatment for down and down-alternative products, for those who prefer the organic lifestyle. • 360° Fiber Technology—Previewed in MicroMax and SilverFill, United Feather & Down’s proprietary process that transforms down alternative fibers into fiber ball clusters....

LOS ANGELES—Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP (JMBM), one of California’s foremost full-service law firms, announced that its Global Hospitality Group closed the senior debt portion of the capital stack on one of the largest single hotel mixed-use projects in the country—the Hollywood W Hotel & Residences. The complex construction loan transaction was for JMBM client, HSH Nordbank AG, a leading credit institution headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and particularly renowned for very large construction loans on luxury hotel projects. “This is going to be one of Hollywood’s flagship developments,” says attorney Guy Maisnik, lead counsel specializing in hospitality transactions. “This...

ASHLAND, ORE.—DreamSacks Inc. has launched a line of bedding made from 100 percent bamboo fiber. Often compared to silk or very high thread count cotton, bamboo is extra gentle next to the skin and wicks moisture away from the body. Bamboo is a fast growing grass that regenerates quickly in the wild, free from chemicals and fertilizers. It can grow up to a foot a day, making it a highly sustainable resource that is completely biodegradable. Using a process similar to making paper, the bamboo pulp is refined so it can be spun into fabric. ...