Toray Industries, Inc.‘s Portugal-based airbag converting operation, Alva Confecções S.A., will open a showroom dedicated to its Ultraseude nonwoven material for automotive interior applications. Ultraseude will launch its first-ever sewing operations this month by leveraging the Alva’s existing facilities.

By opening a showroom and stock sales point in Portugal, Toray aims to focus primarily on the local automotive interior and furniture industry, while also broadly extending proposals to various other applications including fashion, accessories, consumer electronics and automotives.

The launch of Ultrasuede sewing operations will reinforce the supply chain in Europe, enabling faster stock operations for the European market and the establishment of an integrated supply chain that covers everything from cutting to sewing.

The showroom’s spatial design has been created by the designer duo of Portugal-born Rui Pereira and Japan-born Ryosuke Fukusada The project transforms a part of Toray’s factory into a calm environment showcasing the brand’s material library. Under the Ultrasuede vision of “to enrich society through empowered creativity and materials evolution,” we will continue to take on the challenge of realizing Toray Group’s corporate philosophy,”Contributing to society through the creation of new value with innovative ideas, technologies, and products.”

Set within a windowless industrial space, the space is inspired by French mid-century structural style, with stained birch to create an architectural envelope that contrasts with the industrial setting. Reflecting the Portuguese context of the showroom, high-gloss blue terracotta tiles by Viúva Lamego add vivid accents to the space against the micro-cement flooring, birch cladding, and exposed steel.