Beautiful decor is part of what makes a house a home. At Unison, we believe value originates in good design. From materials to production processes, we support products that balance quality and accessibility. Our focus is on finding partners that design for longevity and prioritize minimizing the impact on limited resources.
These ideas align well with Chilewich, a company specializing in durable vinyl products for the home. Their first products — placemats — helped to enhance the magic of mealtime with beautiful designs while prioritizing convenience and functionality. But that was only the beginning. Chilewich would go on to create a variety of innovative products for the dinner table and beyond, including their popular flooring collections.
The Chilewich Story
In the late 1970s, Sandy Chilewich was living in a factory building in the NoHo neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. One night, she and her friend, art teacher Kathy Moskal, thought to dye some simple cotton shoes from Kathy’s closet. After a bit more experimentation, they ended up forming Hue, a fashion line featuring colorful shoes, tights and accessories. After selling Hue in 1991 and then parting ways with the brand in 1994, Sandy began channeling her creativity into another business endeavor. She found an unexpected inspiration in a proprietary woven vinyl that was surprisingly flexible and soft — and of course, extremely durable.
But how would she use it? Sandy wanted to aim for something essential to the home rather than something meant purely for decor. One day, she had the material sitting on her table, and the idea struck her: placemats. TerraStrand™, the brand’s proprietary woven vinyl, not only looked good on the table but also created a protective, easy-to-clean barrier. In addition, the material could be customized with any color or design, opening up endless creative possibilities.
The idea took off, and the Chilewich brand debuted in 2000. As the brand’s founder and creative director, Sandy continues to design products at the brand’s NYC studio. Her husband, Joe Sultan, serves as CEO and has helped to expand the business into new products and industries, including flooring.
Durable, Eco-Friendly Designs
Made from extruded yarns, Chilewich textiles mimic traditional fabrics but with a sturdier makeup. The brand’s placemats, runners and floor mats are incredibly durable. And because the yarns are washable, it makes for easy clean-up. Most messes can be wiped clean, and issues commonly associated with traditional fabrics — such as fading, fraying and staining — simply aren’t a concern. For busy households, these features make Chilewich products just as practical as they are beautiful.
By reimagining a use for vinyl, Sandy stumbled upon another noteworthy benefit: sustainability. The material is free of phthalates and heavy metals found in conventional plasticizers, made with a minimum of 18% renewable vegetable content, and certified by both Green Label Plus™ and GreenGuard®. Because the woven vinyl is so durable, it also offers exceptional longevity. Chilewich textiles (which are made entirely in the U.S.) are designed to last not just for years, but for decades — even with daily use. No machine washing is necessary to keep them clean, which further contributes to the brand’s focus on minimizing environmental impacts.
Bringing Depth to Surfaces
The range of practical applications of Chilewich’s materials are impressive, and just as much attention to detail goes into the design of each product. The brand is known for its innovative, multi-tonal patterns and these products bring inviting color and texture to your home while giving each space a more personalized feel.
At Unison, we offer a selection of distinctive Chilewich products for the home. The Signal Twilight Placemat features bold, geometric patterns in deep, rich hues, while the Mesa Marble Placemat mimics the look of textured linen in soft, neutral tan tones. For the floor, durable Chilewich doormats, utility mats and runners are available in two versatile colorways. The Fade collection features a soft gray ombré effect, while the Domino collection is characterized by a higher-contrast cascading stripe pattern in black and white.
