Chilewich

The American brand Chilewich was established in New York in 2000 by the designer Sandy Chilewich. She worked in the late 1990s with her textile design company Raybowl. Chilewich’s keen interest in new textile materials led to the invention of a weave that didn’t work for bowls but led to a new brand concept, Chilewich.

Sandy Chilewich began designing placemats and floor mats in contemporary, sleek designs using innovative materials. The textile products had a profound impact on table settings and floors in homes, hotels, and restaurants around the world.

Innovative textiles and venerable collaborations

In 2001, Chilewich launched its first collection of placemats and floor mats. The placemats were produced with cushioned backings of soft, resilient polyurethane. The collection quickly became famous for its modern design and innovative materials, and won an award at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair the same year. In 2002, celebrity chef Tom Colicchio became the first person to use Chilewich’s table mats in his restaurant. This was to be the start of a long series of collaborations with restaurants and hotels around the world. Sandy Chilewich’s husband, Joe Sultan, became CEO of the brand in 2004 and began working with several different players in the market. This included the MoMA Design Store, which in 2007 exhibited innovative products designed by Sandy Chilewich over ten years for the Raybowl and Chilewich brands.

In 2012, the brand launched the Biofelt textile, a PVC-free backing textile made from recycled water bottles, renewable vegetable components and industrial waste. Chilewich was also commissioned to furnish the Oakley Safehouse for athletes at the 2012 London Olympics using Biofelt.

Founder Sandy Chilewich devotes a lot of time to researching and streamlining the company’s production processes. Many of the textile products in the range are made from woven vinyl. Vinyl consists of the synthetic fibers TerraStrand and Microban, and vinyl weave is classified as environmentally friendly as the fibers have only minor impact on the environment when manufactured as a finished product. The production process complies with the GreenGuard® program, and the textiles are certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute. The institute works to reduce chemical exposure and improve air quality in laboratories to protect people’s health and quality of life.

Today, Chilewich continues to explore new materials, and innovative and sustainable solutions for textile design goods. The placemats and floor mats are designed with an elegant and contemporary design idiom and always go hand in hand with functionality. The first dedicated store opened in 2014 in the Flatiron District of New York City.