UP Collection by Kelly Harris Smith for HBF Textiles Offers Vibrant, Charismatic Designs with Notable Sustainability and High-Performance.

HBF Textiles has partnered with Boston-based designer and entrepreneur Kelly Harris Smith to create the new UP series, a collection of uplifting textiles inspired by the beauty of everyday objects.

UP fuses technical prowess, the majority are bleach cleanable, all feature post-consumer recycled polyester content in their construction, and most are domestically sourced -- with a modern industrial aesthetic.

When conceptualizing UP, Smith looked to the urban environment around her and discovered patterns others might fail to notice, such as the intricate chain of an iron fence, textural utility covers, clean-lined telephone poles, and intersecting paver stones. By translating these utilitarian designs into upcycled textiles with bold colours and geometric motifs, Smith and HBF Textiles offer a playful approach to performance fabric that enlivens space and captures city life's essence.

"Kelly's positive outlook is contagious, and her vision for this collection reflects that by offering comfort, joy, and hope," states HBF Textiles VP of Design + Creative Direction Mary Jo Miller. "Her appreciation for the details that make life richer is perfectly captured in this mood-boosting collection. We believe her designs will spark that same zest for life in the spaces they inhabit."

Smith explains, "Living in the city, patterns are all around me. I look up a lot. I'm an avid cloud watcher and architectural façade enthusiast, but I'm also looking down as I walk around, noticing brick patterns, seemingly unglamorous utility covers, and sewer grates. Witnessing the complete process -- from photographing and sketching my inspiration, to seeing these designs translated by the mills to woven textiles -- was truly special."

Smith brings a lifetime of passion for textiles to this collaboration. From growing up crafting with recycled clothing, she went on to study and work as an architect. She transitioned to the textile world in 2008 and began her design and consulting firm in 2017. In addition to that practice, Smith is the founder of Minni, a creative community space offering art and design classes for young children. Her signature, sustainable consideration, and dynamic designs are evident in the UP collection.

Adds Smith, "Collaborating with Mary Jo and the HBF Textiles team has always been on my wish list. So to finally have the opportunity to work together was amazing. I wanted to push the limits on the construction of this collection, with a strong focus on using recycled content and keeping it as sustainable as we could. HBF Textiles and their amazing mill partners were more than happy to oblige. In particular, the use of polyester yarns made from recycled water bottles adds another layer to the collection's story, mirroring cities' constant regeneration. I'm so proud of what we've put forward and hope the industry enjoys it as much as we do."

Smith used her experience as a trained architect to look at how the pattern plays a role in modern interiors. The series showcases usable pattern scales and her signature, classic palette of fresh and vibrant hues. The collection encompasses five designs in a broad range of 41 colorways. Four of UP's five designs are bleach-cleanable, and each textile features recycled fibres. The collection is also made entirely by North American family- and employee-owned mill partners, with four designs crafted in the US and one in Canada. All the patterns serve a dual purpose for both upholstery and wrapped panel applications (meeting both flame code requirements) and are third party certified SCS Indoor Advantage Gold.

Learn more about HBF Textiles.