An American-Japanese Success Story: Ultrafabrics at 25 

When it comes to celebrating its 25 years in business, Ultrafabrics’ founders say it best: 

“We began with a vision that this leather alternative could be a game changer and we believed in its quality. We knew if we were strategic and built the company based on our values, we could grow it exponentially, and we haven’t looked back,” says Danielle ​ Boecker-Primack, one half of the founding partners of New York-based Ultrafabrics. ​ 

“We trusted our partnership with the mill in Japan, and when you have this level of trust, ​ you can confidently build solutions for clients, one yard of fabric at a time,” says the other half of the founding team, Clay Rosenberg. 

With its headquarters in Tarrytown, New York, a mill in Japan, and a successful business ​ in the United Kingdom, Ultrafabrics has every right to celebrate 25 years of designing and producing high-performing, next-generation, leather alternative fabrics known globally for quality and innovation. ​ 

The company’s commitment to nurturing long-term relationships with clients and staff has kept it at the forefront of the high-tech performance fabric sector in 11 different markets with a loyal clientele who come back, year after year, for technological advances and luxurious, durable fabrics. Constant investment in sustainability and environmentally friendly manufacturing improvements have kept the brand ahead of its competitors. ​

A reputation for quality and innovation has taken the Ultrafabrics brand through the front doors and onto the drawing board of many notable brands, themselves known for their own innovations. The brand has cultivated partnerships spanning many years with powerhouses in the automotive industry from Jaguar Land Rover, Lotus,Tata Motors and McLaren. They continue their partnerships in aviation and aerospace with JetBlue, Virgin Galactic, and NASA as well as wearable fashion brand Google Fitbit. 

Every fabric that Ultrafabrics develops for Automotive OEMs is custom developed to meet their specific requirements. These cutting-edge materials are meticulously engineered to define the future of automotive interiors. These include compliance with stringent abrasion and wear resistance standards, UV protection, and the sourcing of new sustainable resources, including bio-based, recycled, and rapidly renewable ingredients.

From humble beginnings to a global stage 

Since it was founded in 1999, Ultrafabrics has sold over 40.6 million yards of fabric — this ​ extraordinary output is set to hit 45.2 million yards by the end of this year. In its first year ​ of trading, the company reported revenues of $9.3m – in 2024 revenues will reach $125m. ​ 

Boecker-Primack laughs as she describes their first days in business. “There were only ​ seven of us in our tiny office, and we would just circle around the fax machine and watch for orders! Thankfully those orders kept coming. We treated every client like they were ​ our most important, with a mindset of ‘how can we help you solve a problem, not how can ​ we sell fabric.” ​ 

Rosenberg adds with similar amusement, “It’s really the same way we run the business ​ today, but thankfully we’ve moved beyond the fax machine!” 

An ingredient brand with a laboratory for automotive innovation 

Rosenberg says, “We refer to ourselves as an ingredient brand, and often we need to elaborate on the impact of what that means. Ultrafabrics controls the entire ​ manufacturing process in our state-of-the-art Japanese mill starting with basic ​ ingredients, through the complex manufacturing process to quality control over the end ​ product.” ​ 

Boecker-Primack adds, “The saying ‘Good farmers grow crops, great farmers nurture soil for future generations’ comes to mind when I think about our mill. We are equipped to ​ ‘grow’ and innovate future products, meeting and exceeding aggressive sustainability ​ goals aligned with the Paris Climate Accord and beyond.” ​ 

True innovation takes years of in-depth studies, experimentation, trial and error and expert collaborations. All of which are only possible when a brand owns the entire process. ​ 

Boecker-Primack says, “The laboratory took over five years to develop Volar Bio, our first ​ bio-based line with 29% bio-based composition, and we’ve recently launched a bio-based ​ aviation construction called AV Bio, another industry first. This year we are proud to ​ announce Volar Bio now has a 66% mix of recycled, rapidly renewable, and bio-based ​ content. These are just a small fraction of breakthroughs from the research and ​ development team.” ​ 

For the last four years, Ultrafabrics has had an external consultant working closely with the Japanese team researching innovations like fabric dyes from food waste such as coffee and matcha tea, and new bio-based inputs. ​ 

“The mill has seen some positive results experimenting with crushed scallop shells as a potential bio-based ingredient. These initial positive results will continue to support our innovation roadmap, and the data-gathering and experimentation is imperative to our commitment to a sustainable future,” says Rosenberg. 

Sustainability without sacrifice ​ 

In 2019 Ultrafabrics shifted its focus to delivering sustainability without sacrifice, keeping people and planet in mind, and setting goals never-before achieved in its industry. The company set up a clear sustainability framework to track progress and clearly show architects, designers, and specifiers where they are in the process. ​ 

“Sustainability is imperative, but we made a commitment as a premium product to never ​ sacrifice quality and performance,” says Boecker-Primack. 

Along with a vision for a healthier planet, each product line comes with a comprehensive warranty program, but this is rarely needed as returns are virtually unheard of. The mantra of the Ultrafabrics team is, “We know the power every specifier has, whether it’s launching a furniture line, or designing an aircraft or car interior, and we want to see you succeed. We offer a premium warranty because we see your vision and have your back.” 

The top-line target is to ensure that all Ultrafabrics products sold to furniture, healthcare, ​ recreational vehicle, marine, aviation, and accessories markets would include at least 50% ​ rapidly renewable and/or recycled resources by 2030. This target date was later moved ​ to 2025, and achieved this year, a full year ahead of schedule. 

Boecker-Primack says, “We were pleased to have surpassed our own goal by six years, ​ but we can’t rest on our laurels. 2025 will see Ultrafabrics unveil a state-of-the-art new mill in Japan. The innovation in manufacturing, water circularity, and carbon emission ​ reduction goals will be unmatched in the industry,” ​ 

Rosenberg adds, “We tend to keep our head down and push forward, but on the occasion of our 25th, we are proud to say we are so far ahead of any competition in the coated fabric market. We’re not looking over our shoulder, we’re building a new road.” 

ABOUT ULTRAFABRICS 

Ultrafabrics creates premium, high-tech materials that are reshaping the world of performance fabrics. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024, the company is the trusted resource when creating beautifully designed and comforting spaces. Rooted in Japanese craftsmanship, Ultrafabrics’ continuous investment in innovation, ​ sustainability, and development has resulted in a range of polyurethane materials suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The brand’s growing client list of luxury brands spans many industries, from residential and contract furniture, to automotive, marine, ​ recreational vehicles, and aviation. 

www.ultrafabricsinc.com