Milliken Tegris™ + Tumi = Tumi Tegra-Lite Suitcases

Tegris is a 100% Polypropylene (Thermoplastic) composite material. It is a monomaterial. Polypropylene is drawn into filaments, made into a yarn or type, then woven into a sheet. Multiple sheets are fused together there by adding strength without adding new materials.

Tumi Tegra Lite

Tumi Tegra-Lite Closeup

Here is a helpful comparison chart provided by Milliken.

Stiffness vs Weight Chart

Tegris would be 66% the thickness of ABS and 52% lighter at the same stiffness, whereas in comparison with Carbon Fiber/PP mix, Tegris would be 2.1 times thicker and 30% heavier at the same stiffness. However, that may be a good offset as according to some sources, Tegris is 10% of the cost.

Tegris fabric is 0.132mm thick, weighs 0.11 Kg/sq meter.

Here is an interesting writeup by Lori Hobson at Mind Tribe.

Other users of Tegris include Nascar, military armor applications, transportation and construction.

Other materials like it: Pure Composites by Royal Lankhorst Euronete Group, Curv by Propex Fabrics, and Twintex by OCV Reinforcements, however as the name hints, Twintex is not a monomaterial as it has glass reinforcements.

So… what intangible qualities was considered here?

• Perhaps the pattern generated by the process of making this material provokes some kind of memory or association with other polypropylene bags? e.g. Chun Chun's Hong Kong Bag

• Perhaps there's a a residual "performance material" as jewelry effect happening? Maybe a little beyond that as the perception of the material in regards to its strength could be a stronger reason for choosing the material or object rather than just aesthetic.

Here are some more information posted by Gizmag.