A Spanish company operating in the textile sector since 1875, Citel is the creator of the well-regarded Docril fabrics, and has been supplying Ricky Richards for over 20 years.
Why is Docril so popular in the Australian market?
Docril became popular due to its high-functioning properties including UV treatment, water resistance, anti-corrosiveness, and low maintenance care, proving beneficial in the Australian climate. Citel’s processes and values differentiated them from competitors in the market.
Citel’s approach to sustainability
One key highlight is their commitment to sustainability. The textiles industry plays a rather significant role in tackling the growing threat of climate change and Citel has made strides to minimise their impact on the environment, wherever they can. Citel has implemented processes that directly mitigate the usual consequences of manufacturing, such as reusing and conserving water, recycling raw materials, and reducing smoke emissions. The company has also reduced the amount of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) to below 20 ppb – a practically negligible amount of C8 and C6 fluorocarbons.
Citel's commitment to sustainability does not stop there. Docril fabrics indirectly further their goals to lessen their climate impact, even after the manufacturing process is completed. Docril fabrics reduce solar heat gain by 90%, naturally creating a cool outdoor environment. Meaning the need for artificial cooling methods such as air conditioning and fans is reduced, ultimately leading to energy conservation in houses in which Docril awnings are installed.
The conversation of sustainability in the textiles industry is often followed up with questions and concerns about the quality and longevity of products. The general notion is that environment-friendly products do not last and are not as durable as their unsustainable counterparts. However, at Citel, quality control is the upmost concern. Citel has obtained ISO 9001 certification, meaning the manufacturing process from fibre to fabric is highly regulated. The quality of Docril fabrics is also supported through Ricky’s 10-year UV warranty. It’s destined to outlast the rest.
So, how is it produced?
As you may know, the process of constructing Docril fabrics is a little different. Docril is made from solution dyed acrylic, and includes a polymer called acrylonitrile. Acrylonitrile guarantees a robust and durable nature, making it the ideal choice for Australian outdoor spaces. The acrylic fibre is pre-dyed, and the yarn is spun and tightly woven to produce a material with a canvas-like appearance. This fibre dyeing process ensures the colour is retained regardless of the conditions.
But it doesn't stop there. Once off the weave, Docril fabric is coated in Teflon, a fluoropolymer lubricant with extreme resistance to chemicals and liquids. At every stage of this process, Citel enforces tests to guarantee the top requirements to manufacture yarn that will ultimately be made into a quality piece of material. After this process the material is then benchmarked to a European standard (standard UNE EN 13561) to prove its sun protection capabilities. This quality control process ensures a reliable product is produced and sold to customers.
Coming up...
Citel has been able to maintain a high standard of quality whilst also implementing many sustainable practices to their manufacturing process. Making Citel a valuable and respected part of the Ricky Family. That said, we are excited to announce the addition of 13 colourways, both plains and stripes, to our offering with the launch of our new sampling in August.
