Exciting new materials and advances in production mean today's carpets outpace their predecessors, writes Geraldine Cardozo.

Technology can truly be a marvel. In the carpet world, technological advances have delivered soft flooring that is gentler under foot than ever, with more colour and texture options. What's more, today's carpet is easier to keep clean and will look better for longer.

Customers want durability and a variety of textures to choose from, says Paul McGinty, owner of Prestige Carpets, which specialises in manufacturing wool carpets. "We are noticing a trend towards coarse-textured cut- and loop-pile weaves and higher-quality, denser carpets, such as the new Sherpa range, a chunky-textured loop-pile wool carpet." These extra heavy-duty carpets are particularly suited to both high-traffic and general living areas.

Similarly, the new Curlicue range from Australian manufacturer Cavalier Bremworth is a chunky loop-pile carpet made from felted yarn. The wool is 'aquaspun' before being made into carpet, providing added strength and durability. Another new range is Legato, a textural cut-and-loop mix that uses thick and thin yarn for a softly striated look.

Carpet Court National Marketing Manager Natasha Gallardo says sustainable design is becoming more important to homeownerssand carpet designers. "Shoppers are asking for sustainable carpeting solutions to help them create an eco-friendly home, without sacrificing other important elements on their list, namely durability, comfort and style," she says.

And, with the harsh Australian sunlight, fade-resistant carpets are high on people's wish lists. Look for new SPF (Sun Protected Fibre) technology, which prevents carpets fading from exposure to harsh UV rays. It also helps to keep colour vibrant for longer.

Stainmaster carpets from Carpet Choice (made from the unique type 6,6 nylon) are all formulated with stain-blocking technology during the manufacturing process to prevent staining from common household spills, while soil-resistance innovations help reduce dirt build-up.

Meanwhile, carpet manufacturer Desso claims its new Airmaster dust-trapping carpet tiles actually clean the air, reducing the amount of airborne dust and allergy-producing particles.

Why wool?

For a product that ticks all the 'green' boxes, you can't go past wool, says Prestige Carpets' Paul McGinty. As well as being renewable, sustainable and all-natural, wool carpets are soft under foot, while also offering built-in stain resistance.

Wool's unique fibre structure makes it durable and hardwearing, so wool carpets keep their appearance longer and offer excellent insulating properties, feeling cooler in summer and warm in winter. And, despite the belief that wool carpets are not recommended for asthma sufferers, a study by the German Allergy and Asthma Federation (DAAB) found that indoor air in a carpeted room contained less than half the amount of fine dust than in a room with smooth floors. Wool carpets absorb and filter airborne volatile organic compounds (toxins and odours that can cause irritation to humans) and actually trap allergy-causing substances, reducing those circulating in air. While allergens such as dust mites do settle in the carpet (less so than in bedding), they can be removed with a good vacuum cleaner, ideally one fitted with a HEPA filter system.

From farm to floor

Corn sugar is the latest renewable resource weaving its way into carpets. Dupont Sorona is a polymer made from corn sugar woven into triexta yarn - 37 per cent of Sorona is made from renewable resources. Sorona-blend carpets include Redbook's Green collection and Godfrey Hirst's Eco+ range - both of which are manufactured in Australia with solution-dyed nylon (where colour is added to the fibre during production). Harvey Norman Flooring imports Mohawk SmartStrand IQ150, another Sorona blend. Each of the triexta carpets boasts improved stain protection and durability, as well as anti-static properties.

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