Fabrics & Furnishings - Autumn 2017 Issue by Fabrics & Furnishings International

Fre at Me cop oO ies D

Volume 27, Number 4

Autumn 2017

The Global Home & Contract Sourcing Newspaper

Arc/Com Second Generation Management Takes Hold As Firm Morphs From Healthcare Dominant to More Important Hospitality Supplier Sipco News Network

RANGEBURGH, New York — Arc/Com, a privately held, contract jobber, is transitioning to its second family generation of management with Jeff Layne co-founder still at the wheel with his team. “I joined Arc/Com because I see the opportunity to help this business grow and scale,” says

Marc Layne, 48-year old heir apparent with his sister Ali. “We have great product, the pulse of the market and our reps are among the best in the business and we believe we can double our size in the next five years,” Marc feels. “This business is in my blood and I have been around Arc/Com since I was a teen. As I have

matured, I have grown to appreciate the uniqueness, quality and scale of the business. When I look at the product we have, the energy and capabilities of our team and the industry trends, I see tremendous opportunities for our business in the years ahead.” “We are one of the last independent entities in the industry (we have not been consolidated

Global Fabric Wholesalers Pick Different Growth Strategies

the ‘marketing’ she mentioned and any entry will be based on her desire; the invitation will always be there as she is family and very capable.” “It’s also important that you understand that Jeff has no intentions of retiring any time soon; we want him to stay active and his 50 years of experience, knowledge (continued on Page 26)

Reliance Returns to Ring for Recron® FS vs. 28 Trevira® CS Battle PAGE

York adds Two New Partners for MENA Expansion

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or taken on private equity), which we think is a great differentiator as well as a source of opportunity for Arc/Com.” Sheila, Marc’s mom has also been involved with Arc/ Com in the past and “she still feels strong ties to the business as well,” Marc explains. “I also think you should consider Ali for her option value. When she is ready to enter, she could do much more than

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16 Mohet Agrawal- Sales Director-South Asia, Cameron Warwick-Joint Managing Director and Matt Gillam-Export Manager

Warwick Targets India Market

Gary Neiman

Kenny and Avinash Kalwani

Charles Dunlop, Bru Join Forces in New Venture

w w w. F a b r i c s A n d F u r n i s h i n g s . c o m

John Dunlop

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Autumn 2017

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Contents Table of Contents F&FI Autumn 2017 | Vol. 27, No. 4 Designers Give Van Maele New Life Through O.J. Van Maele Acquisition . . . 14 The Wizard of Plainville, Kansas is Chuck Comeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 York Sell Minority Interest to Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Chivasso Co-Founder Richard J. Schutte to Retire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Crypton® Names New VP of Marketing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Warwick Australia Targets India to Capitalize on Fast Paced India Market. . . . . . . 24

Departments

Photo Galleries Bimitex Roaring 20’s Dinner/dance Bash

Dash Wedding

Proposte

Mitloedi Is the Printer’s Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Richard Oussoren, Pieter van Acker Purchase Acker Mill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Showtime

Penelope’s Tasman Picks Passion Over Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Reliance Returns for Recron® FS Versus Trevira®CS Battle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Indian Furnishing Markets Continue to be subdued in 2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Vay Adds Tutti Frutti Flavored Linens to Vanilla Synthetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Fabric Sales agent Ivy Berman Runs Her Heart Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Veteran Upholstery Jockey Mike Czarnecki Rides New Horse in Flock Race . . . . . 30 Warp knitted Upholstery Rounds Out Boyteks Product Line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Valdese Produces Justina Blakeney Collection; Fabric.com Offers 50 sku’s. . . . . . 30 Amardeep Opens Modern Warehouse, Trades Up Fabric. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Bru Textiles, Charles Dunlop Textiles Joins Forces in Pacific Rim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Americans, Germans Pass On Evteks This Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

34-35

Contract/HospitalityNews Milliken Names Jennifer K. Harmon Vice President,

Specialty Interiors

Galloway Named President Robert Allen Duralee

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Contract; Amy Silberman Departs Arc/Com Second Generation Management Takes Hold

Craig Shirk, 65, Covington’s Mr. Contract, Passes

Design 36

Privacy, Relaxation & Future Tech

Calendar

Advertiser Index

EDITORIAL & PUBLISHING EDITORIAL & PUBLISHING

The Global Home & Contract Sourcing Newspaper

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Designers Give Van Maele New Life Through O.J. Van Maele Acquisition - Old World Linen Supplier Gains Financial Clout, Restructures Operations Africa Theme Highlights Proposte Offerings Sipco News Network

IELT, BE — Van Maele Weavers, a linen weaver since 1906 has recovered from tough times thanks to the sale of 60 per cent of the company to GarnellLake LLC, a group which also operates three company owned showrooms in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York known as Dessin Fournir based in Plainville, Kansas and another 13 agency showrooms. The last thing to come out of Kansas was Dorothy and her dog Toto in the ‘Wizard of Oz’ but Chuck Comeau, Chairman of Garnell Lake and co-founder of Dessin Fournir specializes in luxury furniture, lighting and textiles. Comeau is something of a wizard in the way Van Maele has turned itself

Chuck Comeau– the Wizard!

African themed linen fabrics

around according to Carl Holcomb, CEO of 111-year-old linen mill that was previously called O.J. Van Maele. Dessin Fournir has been a customer of Van Maele all along. From the start of the acquisition process in the fall of 2015, it was understood that O.J. Van Maele would be allowed to continue to build on its legacy under the new name of Van Maele Weavers and would run the business as a separate entity, reporting directly to the investor group. Comeau talks for the group of partners who bought the majority interest and they have given Van Maele “the financial clout needed to survive,” Holcomb says. With the support of Comeau and his group, Van Maele was able to restructure the business and rehire its old staff which was let go when times turned tough in July, 2015. “Today, we’re moving again,” Holcomb told F&FI during the last Proposte Fair in Como. “We started with a whole new look last year based on Japan. This year, we based our new collection on Africa.” Holcomb indicates that this thematic effort will continue with a new collection every year. Felicia Anne French, President of Opuzen and a Van Maele customer gave the Africa collection high marks during Proposte. Holcomb says Van Maele owns 32 up-todate Dornier looms with finishing capabilities. The company is a producer of high-end textiles and wallcoverings, while linen still makes up most of its production. Holcomb points out that his firm is producing more and more linen blends with cotton, silk, alpaca mohair, raffia, abaca and horsehair as opposed to 100 percent linen. “We’re using these mixes of natural fibers because it is then more difficult to copy our fabrics. It is easier to copy 100 percent linen fabrics,” Holcomb explains. (Editor’s note: Everyone knows what the Chinese are doing to the

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linen industry with 100 percent linen fabrics at very low prices.) Prices on the new Van Maele Africa collection are as follows: sheers sell for 16-18 Euros per meter; upholstery is 18-20 Euros; colored linen blends are 20-28 Euros; linen wallcoverings are priced at 28 Euros in narrow widths while as much as 60 percent of the other fabrics are sold in wide widths. F&FI

Carl Holcomb and Felicia Anne French

The Wizard of Plainville, Kansas is Chuck Comeau, CEO of Dessin Fournir, Creator/Acquirer of 13 Companies in 24 Years Sipco News Network

LAINVILLE, KS — Kansas was the location for the 1939 iconic hit “The Wizard of Oz” but Plainville, Kansas is the location of a new wizard in the name of Chuck Comeau. He is the founder of Dessin Fournir, the parent of 13 home furnishings companies that started in 1993 with $250,000 in start-up capital and another partner in Los Angeles and moved to Plainville, KS in 1996. In an interview with CNN Money in 2009, Comeau wouldn’t disclose revenues except to say they fall somewhere in the low eight figures but he said that Dessin Fournir had seen 11% average annual revenue growth since its founding in Los Angeles. After 2009, we don’t know what the growth rate is One of the factors making that growth possible, he explained in that same article had to do with the Plainville community and, in particular, his now 100 employees, all locals. “They take pride in the company and are as devoted as I am to making it a success,” Comeau said in the same CNN/Money article.. Comeau himself, grew up in the area and went to Hays High School, the neighboring town to Plainville (30 minutes away by car) where he has invested in resurrecting old buidings and renting them out successfully. Again, he likes old things and buffs them to a high shine. In the same vein, Comeau has a burning desire to preserve the heritage of fine furniture and fabrics by breathing new life into his acquisitions and start-ups. He obviously likes the finer things in life and the water he drinks in Plainville must have a special power—greater than Los Angeles where he started or in New York, the location of Rose Cumming which was moved to Plainville. To get to Plainville, you can fly into Denver and there is one flight per day on United Airlines to Hays, Kansas.. You have to be really motivated to get there. Kansas City Airport, the only International airport in the area, is 240 miles away These companies were either started from scratch or acquired by Comeau. The latest acquisition was O.J. Van Maele , a Belgian linen weaver which was renamed Van Maele. Comeau, acting as Managing Partner of Garnell Lake Investment Co., which also includes 11 interior designers own Van Maele today and saved it from bankruptcy. (See separate story about Van Maele in this issue)Van Maele has been a regular player at Proposte and this year was no exception but Comeau was not in attendance this year. He was nursing a bad back in Plainville and then came down with pneumonia. F&FI

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York Sells Minority Interest to Others, Including Outside Saudi Investors for Undisclosed Price; Kalwani Family Still Controls Sipco News Network

UBAI, UAE — York Furnishings, considered an important wholesaler and importer of better furnishing fabrics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has sold a minority

Kenny and Avinash Kalwani

stake to outside investors. “We would like to officially inform F&FI that we now have strategic equity partners in our business,” says Avinash Kalwani, second generation owner and CEO of York Furnishings. “There are clear expansion plans in the GCC and potential global markets,” he says. The new partners are Havenvest Private Equity Middle (HPEME) established in 2013 as HSBC Private Equity Middle East Ltd. Havenvest made several investments across three funds in companies based in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE according to Avinash. The second shareholder is Rimco Investment Company LLC based in Dubai, a subsidiary of the Rashed Al Rashed Group (RAR). This company has been active in Saudi for more than 50 years.

“York is the culmination of its founder’s vision, Kenny Kalwani, who spotted an opportunity in the furnishings space and made his foray in this sector by moving to Dubai from India in 1987,” Avinash explains. York was established in 1988 and Avinash’s father has led the company to become one of the largest players in the MENA region. York says it offered a large minority ownership last year to new shareholders following a strategic review of its expansion and growth plans. These new shareholders represent a leading Private Equity firm in the MENA region and also a renowned well established Saudi conglomerate. “We have had a long preparation time for this and all actions will continue in alignment of the shareholders,” Kenny says. “York will continue to blossom and grow in the existing MENA markets, but we will now have a strong presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. York already had

three regional offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam which act as distribution centers. The new investors will give York a stronger presence in Saudi, Avinash feels. This was being facilitated by the induction of the new shareholders.” “While the management and business control remains with the founder shareholders, the new shareholders will bring in significant expertise in corporate business processes, systems and governance,” he says. “The business has a strong future and is well positioned to capitalize on the industry consolidation,” he feels. “This is another step in our Group strategy to focus on our larger businesses and geographies beyond the MENA region Avinash adds to his father’s comments. “We are proud to have a strong team of shareholders and under the guidance of the Board of Directors, we look forward to building on the foundation of the York business-

Chivasso Co-Founder Richard J. Schutte To Retire; Sold Chivasso to Jab Anstoetz Group in Year 2000

Sipco News Network

OMO, Italy — Afer 30 years at the helm of fabric wholesaler and editeur Chivasso, co-founder Richard Schutte, told friends at Proposte that he will leave the company at year end. His exact future plans are not known at this time but Schutte, as CEO and his wife Ellen, founded Chivasso Holding BV, a private limited company registered in 2014 and located in The Hague It is active in the financial holding industry. After a 17 year run under the supportive management of JAB, this was always the plan for Schutte as per his contract in connection with the sale of Chivasso to JAB in late 2000. An official, more complete announcement of his departure will be made by JAB

Fabric Sample

in October according to Chris Jacob Schminnes, President of JAB and Director of Chivasso. He is based in JAB headquarters in Bielefeld, Germany. Chivasso, the editeur, was founded in 1991 in the Netherlands by Schutte and his wife Ellen Steentjes (Stones). Under JAB’s management, Chivasso BV is still a growing interior fabrics and wallpaper editor with headquarters in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands, with showrooms world-wide. Although Schutte was the spark plug for Chivasso design, this responsibility has been assumed for several years by a young team of designers including Veerle van Houten based in The Hague. She was last seen shopping the halls of Proposte in May along with Schutte who casually mentioned to his colleagues and industry friends that he would be leaving JAB at year end. According to the Chivasso website, there are three brands under the Chivasso banner: ‘Chivasso,’ ‘Carlucci di Chivasso’ and ‘Easy’ by Chivasso. Chivasso products are modern, and can be used not only in

young interiors but also in rich classical interiors. Easy by Chivasso is described as “beautiful simple fabrics to be used for everyday durable curtains or upholstery, without too many unnecessary frills.” Chivasso says it releases “two new collections each year, keeping up with the latest trends to ensure its collections are always new and innovative. Chivasso interiors reflect the Zeitgeist but are versatile enough to be timeless!” According to the Chivasso website, Schutte originally built up a successful business Ellen of four interior decoration shops together with his parents. A few years later in 1987 he decided, with the support of his wife Ellen, to start his own wholesale business. “Initially they sold their collections exclusively in the Netherlands but soon decided to expand their business which now spans the globe,” the website says. “They started creating their own collections under a new brand name: Chivasso.

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Steentjes and Richard Schutte In 1991 the first collections were launched under the name Chivasso. By 1995 their collection was large enough to show at the Heimtextil Fair in Frankfurt, Germany. In 1999, contact was made with the Jab Anstoetz Group in Germany for possible collaboration. By the year 2000 the deal was done and JAB Anstoetz became the major shareholder.” F&FI

es, product innovation capabilities, valued customer relationships and skilled workforce and to support existing management in its global growth.” Avinash also says that York is the first and only private family business in furnishings in the MENA region to attract Private Equity investors. Further he adds that York is the only fully ISO certified furnishing business in the MENA region. F&FI

Crypton® Names New VP of Marketing Sipco News Network

LOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan — July 10, 2017 – The Crypton Companies has hired Matt Targett as Vice President of Marketing, a new position. He will be based in the company’s Bloomfield Hills office. Targett joins Crypton after 7 years at La-Z-Boy, Inc. as the Vice President of Digital Customer Experience, where he developed, led and coordinated the cross-functional efforts for all of the brand’s broad reaching digital customer initiatives. Targett earned his Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he still resides today. Targett will report to CEO Lance Keziah and work closely with Founder, Co-Chairman and Brand Ambassador Randy Rubin. Targett is the recipient of three ADDY awards, the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, and was named to the 2014 Top 25 Innovators List by iMedia Communications. F&FI

Matt Targett

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Warwick Australia Targets India to Capitalize on Fast Paced India Market; Opens India Based Sales Office, Warehouse 60 Indian Retailers Take Warwick Line as Master Distributor Phases Out by Vishwanath. S

EW DELHI, India — Warwick Australia has established direct India operations to market its furnishing fabric collections based on India’s high emerging market potential says Cameron Warwick, Warwick Joint Managing Director. He timed the announcement to the Heimtextil India exhibition in June. Warwick is the first overseas company in India that has

taken the lead to establish its direct distribution. The company says it has already placed its collections with its 60 retailers across top cities in India. Warwick is not new to India and has been reaching major retailers here for 10 years through Seasons. Indian markets are steadily growing at 8-10 percent annually and is estimated to have 100-125 million upwardly moving consumers. Warwick sees India as a very

Cameron Warwick opens New Delhi warehouse/showroom

important emerging market with huge potential that appreciates and accepts good products with international trends at reasonable premium price tags. Warwick realized the need to cater to this market more quickly with its wider range of collections.More importantly Warwick saw the need to offer ready stocks to expand its market reach. Warwick had to work on a more appropriate business model to its marketing efforts than practiced earlier in order to grow faster in India. “We had to establish direct Indian operations for Warwick by incorporating in India,” Cameron Warwick says. “It took us a year and a considerable amount of patience to complete various formalities but we finally did it.” Warwick as an importer and wholesaler sources fabrics from Australia, China, Turkey and India.

Warwick’s will be offering collections to hospitality industry, designers and high end homes in India. Warwick depends on importing fabrics. As a result, it says it has worked out an efficient logistics arrangement and will maintain a

Cameron.“We expect to grow in the Indian market. We have found in the past that it is easier to work with Indian partners for sourcing than with China. We are comfortable with Indian culture and its life style. Indian attitudes easily gel

steady stock level. Stocks via sea shipment are regular while air shipments reach within four to five days thus maintaining ready stocks always. ‘We will ensure supplies within 48 hours to all retailers all over India that matches well with Indian mill suppliers’, concluded

with international trends,” he says. “There are many large mills in India that cater to the domestic and global furnishings market but Warwick observes there is no real competition or similarities with Warwick designs. “About 80 percent of our product line is Western (continued on Page 31)

Mitloedi Is Considered the ‘Printers’ Printer This Mill is a rare bird as smaller printers disappear Sipco News Network

ITLEID/GLARUS, CH— Mitloedi Textildruck AG is known as a printers’ printer as it offers low minimums, as little as 60 meters, high quality work, and techniques that few if any other printers can offer according to Mitloedi customers--editeurs and manufacturers. Mitloedi Textildruck AG is a Swiss family run printing mill which exists since 1937. For more then 80 years it has been specialized in the design and production of high-end printed fabrics. “Our 45 employees print the most beautiful fabrics for apparel, accessories, interior and outdoor decoration, bed linen and

Ink

technical applications,” according to Simone Blesi, General Manager. Mitloedi works for the who’s who of top editeurs: Akris (CH), Christian Fischbacher (CH), Chris Barrett (USA), Cowtan & Tout (USA), Creation Baumann (CH), Hermes (F), Soie (CH), Jakob Schlaepfer (CH), Kinnasand (D), Kvadrat (DK), Lelievre (F), Maharam (USA), Melrose House (USA), Nobilis (F), Nya Nordiska (D), Pierre Frey (F), Sangetsu (JP), Schoeller (CH), SWISS/Edelweiss (CH), Vitra (D), Zimmer+Rohde (D). “Mitloedi works very creatively,” Blesi says. “We produce around 500 printed fabric prototypes per year so we always have new articles to show our customers. The customers select the one they like and include them in their collection.“ “We produce special fabrics with various screen printing techniques including lacquer-print, foam-print, color burnout-print, foil-print and chine-print.” “Additionally, we print digitally. We use this technique mostly

for small quantities with a lot of colors.” Blesi sees a trend towards more printed decorative fabrics. He says that his production is 36 percent decorative fabrics today which represents a slight increase over prior years. Market-wise, Mitloedi is serving Switzerland: 71%, USA Mitloedi - printing bed linen on the 14%, Germany 8%, France 4% and The fabric on the right flatbed machine is a digital print, warp the rest of the world- 3%. printed in the fore“However, at east 50% of the quantity from our Swiss custom- ground. The one behind ers is sold abroad to the USA, with yellow is reserved for Brunschwig. Germany, Africa and Japan. “We believe that the future of printing in our decorative fabric business are fabrics we call “eye-catchers,” That means special, innovative, haptic and sensual fabrics in a high quality. The customer can buy decorative fabrics at Mitloedi, which he can’t buy in other mills; and we Hans Blesi, Production think that individual fabrics Manager, Mitloedi Textildruck are more and more importAG, Mitleid/Glarus, ant especially in hotels.” Mitloedi - last step - printing logo on Switzerland with his pal Nick F&FI woolen scarves Savoye, US Agent

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Contract/HospitalityNews C/HNEWS I Milliken Names Jennifer K.

Harmon Vice President, Specialty Interiors Sipco News Network

PARTANBURG, South Carolina — Milliken has named Jennifer K. Harmon as its new Vice President of the specialty interiors business, which is part of the company’s Performance &

Jennifer Harmon

Protective Textiles Division. Harmon, who was previously vice president of design and interim vice president of sales at True Textiles, Inc., will be responsible for leading Milliken’s growth in the market of specialty interiors textiles which includes both the commercial and residential market. With more than 25 years of leadership experience in the textile industry, she brings a combination of business management and textile design and development skills to the business. At True Textiles, she was instrumental in developing innovative platforms for product offerings to better reach the target audience to grow sales. Prior to True Textiles, she worked for a variety of market leaders, including Tietex International, Victor Studio and Chatham. Harmon earned an MBA

from Montreat College and a BS in Textile Technology with a Design Concentration from North Carolina State University. “Our advances in the interiors textiles market and the increasing demand from our customers led us to look for an addition to our team who would fit in with our ethos of innovation and exceptional service,” says Jeff Price, President of Milliken’s Performance & Protective Textiles Division. Milliken Specialty Interiors, a business in the Performance & Protective Textiles division develops designs and manufactures fabrics for home and office furniture, vertical panels, privacy curtains, window treatments, theatrical curtains and top-of-bed applications for commercial, residential and hospitality markets. F&FI

C/HNEWS I Galloway Named President Robert Allen Duralee Contract; Amy Silberman Departs Sipco News Network

AUPPAUGE, NY — Kerry Galloway was been named President of Robert Allen Duralee Group Contract division in April. He was previously Vice President of Robert Allen Contract prior to the merger of Robert Allen and Duralee March 31. At the same time, Amy Silberman Benjamin, Vice President of Duralee Contract has left after 32 years with Duralee. Amy was also a Senior Vice President of Duralee. Lee Silberman CEO of RAD Group confirmed her departure with F&FI. F&FI

Kerry Galloway

Amy Silberman

(Continued from Front Cover)

C/HNEWS I Arc/Com Second Generation Management Takes Hold As Firm Morphs From Healthcare Dominant to More Important Hospitality Supplier Marc Layne Joins Arc/Com With Wall Street Finance, Banking Skills; Initial ERP Focus and judgement is a great resource and differentiator that we capitalize on every day.” “Jeff, Executive Vice President Marisa Pichigian and I work as a cohesive unit to manage the

Marc Layne, Ali Leitner (Marc’s sister) Marisa Pichigian and Jeff Layne, Co-Founder

business and our strengths enable us to naturally gravitate to certain areas of operations in order to execute our growth strategy. Marisa is an important part of the story at Arc/Com and should be painted in a very positive light. Her ability to step up a few years ago helped Arc/Com manage difficult times and her capabilities, consistency, loyalty and drive make her an invaluable member of the Executive Team.” “The infrastructure investments we are making are not because the business can’t continue to do well as it is, but because we can grow faster and with modernized processes and systems, we can be more effective and efficient getting product to market and our customers.” Marc joined the family business

just under a year ago but fondly remembers going to the Arc/Com warehouse with his sister Ali when they were small children. In addition to the gradual changing of the guard at Arc/ Com with an emphasis on team management—Marc, Jeff, Ali and Marisa--the company’s business has turned from nearly 60 percent healthcare projects to 60 percent hospitality projects just in the last five years, Jeff Layne confirms. Nevertheless, Arc/Com exhibits only at Neocon in June where its 4,000 square foot showroom is host to all kinds of hospitality, corporate and healthcare designers who attend; about 2,500 of them a day, he says. You will not currently see Arc/Com exhibit at any other exhibition in spite of the shift to the hospitality business.

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Arc/Com’s 5,000 sku line of wallcovering, curtain and upholstery fabric is geared to hospitality markets today which is a sea change for the company. “Healthcare is in a state of flux in the USA,” Jeff reports. “Hotels like Ritz Carlton are changing or refreshing their interiors every five years. The 1,500 chairs in a banquet hall are changing every three years at the rate of 500 chairs a year to keep them fresh looking,” he adds. Arc/Com introduced 768 sku’s last year, Jeff Layne points out. The biggest part of the Arc/ Com business is upholstery fabric followed by hospital privacy curtains which use a special silver yarn that is nylon coated. Arc/Com says it is an exclusive licensee and inventories the yarn

made by Noble Biomaterials, Inc., Scranton, PA. “The pure silver yarn is oxidized by the human touch on the privacy curtain which repels germs and odors,” he says. Arc/Com Product sells for $12$50 a yard. Vinyl wallcovering produced by Arc/Com is of exclusive design courtesy of the embossing rollers also owned by the company. Green Certification is a big thing at Arc/Com. Amanda Eaton is Vice President, Design. Eaton and her cohorts are passionate about finished product even though Jeff is still the arbiter of what gets in the line. He attended Proposte with Amanda, Marc and Ali this year in spite of back surgery two years ago which has slowed him down physically—but he is on the mend (continued on Page 31)

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Richard Oussoren, Pieter van Acker Purchase Acker Mill Sipco News Network

EMERT, The Netherlands— The acquisition of Johann van den acker by the principal of Raymakers and a sixth generation member of the van den Acker family may lead to coordinated velvet and flat weave collections for the two companies according to Pieter van den Acker. Johan van den Acker Textielfabriek BV, a small specialist weaver was acquired on May 15 by Pieter van den Acker the sixth generation member of the founding family and Richard Oussoren, owner of Royal Dutch Textile Mills J.A. Raymakers & Co. BV both located in Gemert. This is a personal investment for Oussoren who says that he and van den Acker bought the shares from various family members. This company has existed since 1807 and was owned by members of the van den Acker family during that time, Pieter van den Acker will continue as General Manager of Acker and the company will operate from the Gemert facility. Acker owns 40 dobby, jacquard and dobby widewidth looms up to 340cm with annual fabric production of about 750.000 square meters according to Oussoren. Acker is also vertically integrated with yarn dyeing, yarn preparation, weaving and finishing all in one factory about 10,000 square meters in size. “This acquisition and co-operation with Raymakers will offer us new opportunities to strengthen our specialism and market presence,” says Pieter van den Acker. “Furthermore it enables us to finalize our investment program to become one of the most flexible and creative flat weave operations in Western-Europe. That is good news for our customers and employees!” “This acquisition will give a strong impetus to the small flat weave operation of Raymakers,” says Oussoren. “For our important velvet operation, the cooperation of the two companies will secure textile craftsmanship, challenge our young apprentices for their careers in textiles and will give both design teams more opportunities to create the best flat-weave and pile-fabric products in the market. Both companies will operate independently to secure the best focus on each activity.” “Acker is acknowledged as the supplier of the Dutch Royal Court,” Oussoren says. “It is part of the Dutch textile heritage and in the last decades has developed itself as a specialist weaver, dyer and finisher of high-end interior flat woven fabrics for both domestic

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and contract use. Its products are sold world-wide via wholesaling editors and contract specialists.” “Royal Dutch Textile Mills J.A. Raymakers & Co BV from The Netherlands, was established in 1773. It has the same roots in the Dutch textile industry and is a market leader and specialist weaver, dyer and finisher of velvets for both domestic and contract use,” Oussoren says. “Its products are sold world-wide via wholesaling edi-

tors, contract specialists and manufacturers. Healthcare, hospitality, office, maritime and home are key Raymakers market segments.” “Key synergies for Raymakers are in flexible workforce, sharing and developing craftsmanship, purchasing, lean manufacturing and design, especially trend watching, yarn development, market segmentation models,” Oussoren says. Raymakers and Acker are both Proposte exhibitors. F&FI

Pieter van den Acker toasts his new partner, Richard Oussoren, Principal of Raymakers Velvet, both based in Gemert, Holland

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Penelope’s Tasman Picks Passion Over Money; Boutique Mill Holds its Own in Upholstery World Sipco News Network

OMO, Italy — “There are more successful companies than Penelope if the criteria for business is only how much money you generate but our goal was to create a company that is long lasting as opposed to a short term success,” says Murat Tasman, co-principal of Penelope. What do you expect to hear from the owner of a mill named after the wife of the hero Odysseus in Greek mythology. Tasman’s other partner in the Bursa, Turkey based mill is Tamar Celebi. As a formally trained engineer, Tasman has always been on the technical side of the business with a deep knowledge in the design of software and hardware

for jacquard systems while Tamar is a lawyer by trade and watches the money. Neither partner is driven by the money. They are very passionate about making beautiful fabrics and Penelope has gained a reputation over the past 22 years as a mill of great design talent. “We want to be a boutique mill. There’s no sense to be big in this business. We want to keep the passion for the business flowing first. Nevertheless, Penelope has been aggressive when it comes to sales. For example, in its largest export market, the USA, it has hired De Leo to market its upholstery to furniture manufacturers (Penelope by De Leo is the brand in the USA) and more recently,

Penelope hired Franco Nannucci to work with American jobbers. Initially, Penelope worked with High Five to call on the entire trade but recognized the value in segmenting the American market between manufacturers and jobbers in the current super competitive environment. “Jobbers have more growth potential for Penelope but sales are currently split about 50/50 with furniture manufacturers,” Tasman explains. “The pressure on the bottom fabric level forces us to go higher and higher in what we do at Penelope. We’re trying to stay even with last year and trying to keep the business at the same level,” Tasman explains. We can survive where we

are now—small and profitable with less than $10 million in sales.” Penelope is running three shifts with lower efficiency than it would like to have because the business done is with smaller orders, more sku’s and more sampling than ever before. The minimum order is one piece. “The important thing in this business is the fabric on the table,” he says. “We deliver fabric in six weeks to the USA, Germany, UK and Benelux region. We visit the customer more today than ever before.” Penelope shows at Heimtextil and is one of four Turkish mills now showing at Proposte in the Villa Erba Fairgrounds. Penelope is considered on a par with Vanelli in terms of (Continued on Page 30)

Murat Tasman and Wahlid Sfeir

Franco Nannucci

Reliance Returns for Recron® FS Versus Trevira® CS Battle Intense Competition Expected to Shake Up Stagnant Branded FR Market Sipco News Network

and carpets with its Recron® FS brand going toe to toe with Trevira®CS owned by partners Indorama Ventures and Sinterama. Reliance says the worldwide polyester market is growing three to five percent a year and the global FR polyester market is estimated at nearly 50,000 tons. About 340 million square meters of FR textiles are sold annually with 1/3 of that geared to FR polyester accordYIGIT AKKÖSELER Sales Manager at Intesa ing to Reliance. FS Global Reliance agent Turkey, Prem Chitkara Marketing Manager Europe Reliance Polyester, stands for Firesafe. Recron® FS is said Baris Mertoglu (Export Director at Sait Nalbur to utilize a new Tekstil Caravelle) Turkey, Vijay Garg Business technology which Development Manager Recron FS Reliance creates phospho-

UMBAI, India — Reliance Industries, Ltd., India, has re-entered the contract FR fibers business for curtains, upholstery

rous levels above 6,500 ppm. In January, 2017, Trevira told the press it did not have a growth year last year and the overall market for FR may have hit a wall but Reliance expects its new proprietary technology for Recron® FS will greatly impact the contract/ hospitality design community. “Reliance is coming after Trevira but Trevira is still charging a lot and reducing service levels,” says Dr. Ulrich Girrbach, consultant to Reliance Recron® FS. “I spoke with many Trevira customers who are keen on a serious second player. The second player will be much fairer priced, highly committed to polyester, launch an improved product with a much better price yet offer similar quality of services,” he says. “I don’t think Trevira has significantly grown the business much in

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the past eight years and the customer is asking for an alternative,” Girrbach continues. (Comments from Trevira management were not available at presstime but another story in F&FI will cover their response to RecronFS.) The Recron® FS product line will be shown for the first time at MoOD. Recron® FS is said to be a whiter fiber and less expensive than Trevira according to Girrbach. During the financial crisis in 2008, Trevira went bankrupt due to its heavy dependence on the automotive sector, according to Girrbach who originally built up the Trevira®CS and is now consulting with Reliance on Recron® FS. He was global marketing director for Hoechst Trevira from 1990-2008 but left prior to the bankruptcy phase. Ultimately,

Indorama Ventures, a Bangkok, Thailand based company and Sinterama, an Italian polyester maker bought Trevira and is now trying to make money in the business. It has expanded operations in China and Turkey in the past few years and has reportedly maintained the European price levels for Trevira®CS even in China. “Reliance is the largest player in the polyester world and is aiming at a very significant share of this market with all possible applications,” Girrbach adds. “Reliance does not go for a small share—they go for the lion’s share.” F&FI

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Indian Furnishing Markets Continue to be Subdued in 2017, Though Hopes Aspire for a Better Time Ahead Over supply of furnishing fabrics turns market highly competitive. by Vishwanath.S

ANGALORE, India — India Indian furnishing markets already subdued from last 18 months, the trade and suppliers wait and aspire for a better time are ahead. Since mid-2015 the oversupply situation has not improved but has worsened in the year 2017. The real estate markets are depressed and have contracted after demonetisation in November 2016 will take a longer time to normalize. Sales of new homes saw the biggest dip while select segments like IT, retail, office space, consulting and e-commerce have registered a positive demand for office space in West and South of India. ‘Adding to subdued marketing conditions, over supply of furnishing fabrics has indeed increased this year further and we don’t see any major positives in 2017’, says Mahendra Jain, of Mahendra Furnishings, Bangalore, distributor

Mahendra Jain, of Mahendra Furnishings, Bangalore

of leading mills in India since 1993. Mahendra Furnishings inventories are increasing, profit margins are under pressure due to supply gut and retailers are taking the advantage as it has turned to buyers’ market. ‘Our business a year ago will be maintained this year also but meter wise sales will be static or may improve slightly’, he added. Though Indian markets by large is growing the furnishing fabrics marketing is becoming complex. It is becoming increasingly common to suppliers to offer multi-distribution channels apart from their own direct distribution showing desperation, he added. Manufacturers have to run the mill with acceptable capacity utilization to earn a profit as well the trade partners such as wholesalers and retailers have to earn a reasonable profit. ‘Number of retail outlets are growing across India and markets are becoming regional in terms of buying habits as urbanization of all

Beni Gopal Choudhary, Owner, Skipper Furnishings, Bangalore

major Indian cities are facing with severe traffic congestion’, expressed Beni Gopal Choudhary, Owner, Skipper Furnishings, Bangalore, India. Skipper Furnishings caters to middle, high end consumers, architects and Designers. Number of retailers have multiplied in the last 3 years and customers prefer to buy near their localities as driving and getting back to big show rooms that are in the city central districts is terrible unless the customer is too keen to see a large collection, added Gopal. Importantly, the major issue is how many sample books can be kept for a season? According to trade sources, it is a pain and harassment as Indian companies bring in sample books every 3 months and sometimes up to 30-100 books each quarter and in festival seasons ‘ Our sales staff in the show room always prefer to show fast moving collections and it is practically impossible to show all the collections in the limited time available as customers prefer to conclude selections quickly too’, added Gopal. Thus many sample books are never shown and inventories add up: But new collections with minor design changes keeps accumulating. Unless this craze by Indian suppliers to offer 100’s of sample books do not stop, this unnecessary burden on the trade community. Also supplying companies will have a mammoth task of selling the unsold stocks as surplus and stock lots, he added (some suppliers are already compelled to

Vay Adds Tutti Frutti Flavored Linens to Vanilla Synthetics Sipco News Network

OMO, Italy — Vay S.p.A has changed its product strategy to fit the times by offering 100 percent linen instead of only synthetics with three times more product than previously offered according to Giovanni Vaj, principal of this Chieri, Italy based converter. “We’re concentrating on trying to make the customers’ life easier,” Vaj states. Vay’s focus is on delivery, quality and service for the 17-year-old converter with sales said to be in the $20 million range. Originally, Vayu started life as a jacquard mill but this was closed in order to focus on Giovanni Vaj with new linens converting business.

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appoint special wholesalers to get rid of such stocks at 50% or more discount).. ‘We are now seriously thinking to make our own select sample books to reduce our expenses and clearing the storage space from unwanted sample book scarps’, commented Gopal. Since 2 years It has been a difficult situation to Indian manufacturers and all efforts are made to keep the capacity utilization at its best. ‘I see a major change from Indian suppliers who are adopting sale of fabrics as cut length suppliers directly across Pan-India and have expanded their business by avoiding wholesalers or any sort of middle man’, observes Mandeep Singh Wadhwa, Managing Director, Seasons Furnishings Ltd, New Delhi, Manufacturers as well as leading retailers of luxury Furnishings lines both Indian and imported lines. While this has been helpful to suppliers the intelligent buyer has understood the selling desperation and has wide range of similar goods from many suppliers to be purchased at bargained price

Mandeep Singh Wadhwa, Managing Director, Seasons Furnishings Ltd thus adding to severe competition in the market place, he added. Further it is very unusual way that Indian suppliers each offering over 50-100 collections a year instead a normal offering of 7-12 collections a year in the Western markets., Seasons Furnishings for this year expects 6% growth in retail and its wholesale business will continue to dip. The company is in final stages of making a new strategy to market by extending customer-end solutions by tying up with architects and designers for middle and high end customer’s especially new home buyers as well re-furbishing of existing homes. F&FI

Run Ivy, Run! Ivy Berman is currently competing at short distances, 800 meters, 1 mile, 5K. “In running I strive to improve my times and support my team mates. I’m considered to be All American and National Class and age competitive. It’s about focus and discipline. My husband likes to brag about my running the Boston Marathon 2x and my shelf of trophies.” Pictures were taken in Central Park, and the New Balance Armory. The Armory race is a mile indoor track race.” Ivy runs just as hard for her clients and principal fabric lines!

“We’re offering yarn dyed linen in 250 colors in wide width now,” he explains. Deep color lines in basic fabrics have always been the hallmark of Vay but this time, he is offering ‘tutti frutti’ instead of plain vanilla polyester. There are 25 new collections in all with half of the new products shown during Proposte in an outside showroom that resembles Elvis Presley’s jungle room at Graceland, TN. About 40 percent of the sales are in linen for Vay with the balance in synthetics. The new collections are priced at seven to 15 Euros. F&FI

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Veteran Upholstery Jockey Mike Czarnecki Rides New Horse in Flock Race He joins Flokser, the Turkish company which now owns the Microfibres brand with production in USA Sipco News Network

REENSBORO, North Carolina — Mike Czarnecki, a veteran of the upholstery fabric trade has landed a new mount as U.S. sales manager for the resurrected Microfibres® brand now owned and produced by Flokser of Turkey. Microfibres will introduce a new velvet line priced from $4.95 for plains and $12 for higher end wet printed velvet at Winter Showtime in December. It is also understood that Flokser will export Microfibres greige goods to China for domestic consumption as basecloth for prints where there is a large appetite for flock upholstery. HP Fabrics, the name of

Flokser’s U.S. holding company, is also pleased to announce that it will start its local recruitment efforts in North Carolina. Thus far it has named Steve Trastelis, a 40-year veteran of the textile industry, as the Chief Operating Officer. His office will be located in Winston-Salem. HP has also appointed Mike Czarnecki as head of sales and marketing and he will be focusing his attention to establish and improve their national and international sales network. His office will also be in WinstonSalem. Czarnecki was previously Vice President for Sales & Marketing of the original Microfibres Inc. before it went bankrupt. He also spent some time working for

Flocktex, a high-end flock producer in Keir Malachi, Israel prior to his latest appointment. He is expected to hire two to three people to help with the Microfibres sales effort in the USA. He reports to Ilkner Tukek, Rafet’s daughter. Flokser purchased Microfibres intellectual and physical property from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in March of 2016 for $5.92 million. Since making the acquisition, Flokser has moved its recently acquired flock equipment from Pawtucket, Rhode Island to its Winston-Salem, NC facility which has a wet printing line. Some of

Sipco News Network

the flock manufacturing equipment has been moved to Turkey it was learned from trade reports. F&FI

Warp Knitted Upholstery (Continued from Page 28) Rounds Out Boyteks Penelope’s Tasman Product Line Up Picks Passion Over According to Mustafa Money quality two are considered jacquard looms housed in a Bursa Yildirim, General Manager at a veryandhighthelevel. based facility it moved to in 2008. Sipco News Network

AYSERI, TR — Boyteks has developed a $20 million business in value priced warp knits for headboards, mattress covers

Mustafa Yildirim and more recently, a line of velvet upholstery in an unlimited color range for sofa and furniture manufacturers worldwide, says Mustafa Yildirim, General Manager. Yildirim was on hand during the International Observatory Fair in Como, Italy but operates out of Kayseri at Boyteks headquarters. In general, Boyteks created the category elevating the quality of was always a commodity product. “With warp knits, Boyteks has

become a one-stop upholstery resource offering a complete range of upholstery in sustainable quality including jacquards and dobbies.” Yildirim says his products are superior to what the Chinese make as cheap alternatives. “We produced warp knits for the bedding industry for many years before we introduced the category into upholstery five years ago capable of reaching 50,000 double rubs,” he says. Boyteks is selling warp knitted upholstery to buyers in Iran, Turkey, Ireland, Morocco and Italy. Prices range from 2.50 Euros per meter in narrow widths in 100 percent polyester and 3.5 Euros per meter for treated warp knits, he says. Boyteks is currently marketing a new collection of transfer printed warp knits for 3.5 Euros per meter with copyrighted designs, Yildirim says. There are even embossed designs on the knitted fabric which emulate the look of leather, he says. Yildirim also points to new capabilities at Boyteks including an auto dye warehouse in Bursa utilizing robotic systems to guarantee the color. “The shade you order is exactly what you will get,” he says. F&FI

“All the international buyers came to Proposte this year, maybe a bit more than last year for us,” he says. At Proposte, Penelope featured ‘Lidia,’ a wool fabric that weighed 1.1 kilos, nearly 2.5 pounds per meter that sold for $40 a meter. This is the top end for this mill. You could also score a Penelope made polyester and acrylic blended fabric for $10 a meter. “Penelope takes risks with people and machinery,” says Wahlid Sfeir, a member of the Penelope sales and export team chimes in during this interview. This high end weaver has 38

Craig De Leo with Katie Williams

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Valdese Produces Justina Blakeney Collection; Fabric.com Offers 50 sku’s

“It’s more comfortable in this new factory than where we were before,” Tasman laughs. Penelope has an expertise in the design and production of novelty yarns which it uses for its collections and also sells to certain other weavers, Tasman explains. The weaving department consists of 80 people with an eight-man design team lead by Tasman. There are 140 employees in all. “For the past six years at least, the yarns we produce drive the business at Penelope,” says Tasman. Yarns are generated in acrylic and linen blends with viscose and wool. Wool yarns were introduced just two years ago and these yarns can lead to some pretty bulky upholstery fabrics—wool filling with cotton warps. F&FI

‘Lidia’ wool fabric

ALDESE, North Carolina – Justina Blakeney’s first fabric collection produced by Valdese Weavers is being offered for sale on Fabrics.com, the Amazon owned site. About 50 sku’s are on offer at $22-$45 yard retail prices per yard. “Justina’s free-spirited aesthetic translates well into textiles,” says Valdese Weavers Chief Creative Officer Laura Levinson, “and it adds a design offering to our product lineup that meets the needs of the Millennial generation.” The Millennial Generation refers to those people who were born between 1978 and 2004 and are between the ages now of 13-39. The new collection is said to be a youthful group of patterns with an eclectic palette, all based on Blakeney’s original artwork. “Each design tells a story of a place I’ve traveled to, an important moment in my life, or something that inspires me about my neighborhood in Los Angeles,” Blakeney says. I’m thrilled to bring these designs into people’s homes and can’t wait to see how they get used.” F&FI

Justina Blakeney

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C/HNews

Amardeep Opens Modern Warehouse, Trades Up Fabric Father, two sons run one of the largest Asian wholesalers Sipco News Network

AKARTA, Indonesia— Amardeep, a 34-year-old company, has opened “a state of the art, 6,250 square meter warehouse with cutting machines in place” according to Ashok Nanwani, the owner. “Business is slow but sure right now and it has been that way for the past several months,” Nanwani admits. “We get new ideas by traveling the market. We have seen performance fabrics without chemical in polyester and we like the Rohleder line from Konradsreuth, Germany. There is too much competition at the lower price points,” he says.

“We’re doing more high end projects like hotels and we’re looking for better goods as a result, at higher prices of course. Volume of these goods might be smaller but at least there is a profit!” About 90 percent of Amardeep’s business is cuts. “There is a lot of outdoor furniture manufactured and sold in Indonesia today and we supply the manufacturers with Sunbrella® and Serge Ferrari coated fabrics from France. Most everything we sell, we also stock and that’s the value of having a bigger warehouse. “Our new place is like an Apple warehouse in terms of organization,” he says. Nanwani is con-

sidered to be one of the leading wholesalers in Asia today. He was present for this year’s Proposte in Como with his son Sohan and his buddy, Kenny Kolwani, a wellknown distributor in Dubai. Vikesh, Nanwani’s other son, stayed at home to manage Amardeep but the three partners are multifaceted and capable of managing any aspect of the operation including 75 employees, Sohan says and this time it was Vikesh’s turn to watch the shop. Amardeep admits to having nearly 500 clients today with a sales office in Malaysia to serve them. F&FI

Sohan and Ashok Nanwani

(continued from Page 26)

Arc/Com Second Generation Management Takes Hold As Firm Morphs From Healthcare Dominant to More Important Hospitality Supplier and still robust! “Italian designers are still the most innovative in the world,” Jeff says “The good stuff is still in Italy. Italians may buy solid textured cloths in China but they are piece dyed in Italy,” he comments. “Yarn is the secret of interesting product. Proposte is the home of the creative atmosphere in Italy and Como is like dying and going to heaven on the Lake.” (His favorite restaurant is Jardin in Lugano.) “We’re all equals here,” Jeff reports. “We have many 30-40-year people on staff,” Pichigian chimes in. Marisa R. Pichigian, was named Executive Vice President after the passing of Peter Layne, Jeff’s brother and partner in 2013. “I became the liaison between Jeff and Peter, which many people didn’t

envy, yet I only saw the benefits as I became a trusted partner rather than the status quo,” she explains. She has been a key part of Arc/ Com for 23 years, starting in human resources. She says she has hired most of the sales people in the field for Arc/Com. The Company now employs about 200 people. Ali Leitner, Jeff Layne’s daughter is also joining the company but with two young children, she still wants to be home for them. Her background is marketing and Jeff admits he needs a fulltime marketing and communications manager. Ali may ease into that role at least part time. Marc Layne is the newest recruit already retired from one career on Wall Street at the age of 48 after 20 years in the saddle. Now, he’s in

(continued from Page 24)

Warwick

oriented; this is different from Indian suppliers and our designs/ textures will occupy the category of premium collections”, he adds. The price sensitive Indian market is fast maturing and we have taken care to price the products at an affordable price and current price acceptance is highly encouraging as exclusivity of product lines matter to architects as well other elite customers.” Warwick also offers a three-year commercial warranty on its merchandise offering a higher comfort zone to its customers. F&FI

The companies Mario Cavelli SRL and Castiglioni SRL inform the customers and the business operators, that they have settled the dispute between them. Mario Cavelli SRL acknowledges that Castiglioni’s product “Rusticana” does not violate any Cavelli’s right and can be freely sold.”

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the family business. In banking, he focused on transactions and capital raising until he burnt out doing 100 hour weeks and 250,000 air miles per year. During that career he took time to get his MBA at Stern College at NYU. He has worked for Bear Stearns, J.P. Morgan and Royal Bank of Canada. Now, he is looking for a new ERP system for Arc/Com so the

company has the tools to double sales in the next five years. “Our original software was ahead of its time. We ran it since 1984 and it worked for us quite well. Now we need something else that will handle our expansion. A mill uses a system to measure 50 yard rolls. We take that roll and cut it up into a lot of pieces; each must be tracked. It’s the backbone of our business.”

When Marc is not working he’s taking his family on rides in Mantoloking Bay in New Jersey with his 26-foot Crown Line motorboat. He’s got three kids, two girls, 15 and 16 and a boy, 11. His wife is also retired from IBM where she made partner at a young age. “This business is my family. I thought I could help,” Marc adds. F&FI

Craig Shirk, 65, Covington’s Mr. Contract, Passes Sipco News Network

EW YORK, New York — Craig Shirk, Vice President of Contract Sales for Covington Fabrics & Design LLC passed away of natural causes on May 28 at his home in Tavares, Florida. He was 65 and joined Covington in 2010. Under Shirk’s direction Covington successfully reestablished the company’s contract program which had been phased out in prior years, according to Greg Tarver, President & CEO of Covington. Shirk was considered a pro when it came to sourcing fabric for contract jobs and was well liked internally at Covington. “Craig will be sorely missed at Covington and in our industry,” Tarver says. “He was one of the most well-liked and respected individuals that I’ve come across in my career and I am devastated by the news. We at Covington are simply heartbroken. We’ve lost a cherished colleague but more importantly, we’ve lost a friend who will be sorely missed by all that knew him. Our thoughts go out to Craig’s family and friends, especially his daughter Kristen and dear friend, Joy.” In 1975, Craig developed a national multi-line

sales and marketing business for fabrics and furniture, operating wholesale showrooms in Texas, Colorado, Arizona and Louisiana. Craig Shirk In 1987, he joined Fabricut as Vice President of Sales where he managed its Contract Sales Force. He joined Jaden Fabrics in 1995 as President of its Contract Division, where he remained until joining Covington Fabric & Design in 2010 as Vice President of Contract Sales. He was born December 19, 1951 in Salina, Kansas, to the late Walter & Marjorie Shirk. He moved to Tavares, Florida, about 40 miles north of Orlando in 2014 from Evergreen, Colorado. Craig is survived by his daughter, Kristin Spratt, Dallas, TX; brother, Robert Shirk, Austin, TX; and grandson, Liam Spratt. Final arrangements have been made by Harden/ Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis, Florida. F&FI

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Bru Textiles, Charles Dunlop Textiles Join Forces in Pacific Rim, Also Export Markets Sipco News Network

HRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — James Dunlop Textiles, founded in 1907 and now managed by the fourth generation of the Dunlop Family has recently merged into a new group of textile companies which will be named James Dunlop Group (JDG) according to John Dunlop, Chairman and Gary Neiman, Chairman of Bru Textiles, a $200 million fabric converter and wholesaler based in Kontich, Belgium. The pair made a joint announcement concerning this merger. James Dunlop Group will house the recently acquired Zepel Fabrics business and brands, together with Mokum, James Dunlop and Pegasus brands. Prior to the acquisition of Zepel, Neiman/Bru acquired 50 per cent of Zepel and made a further financial investment in JDG. Bru’s investment gives JDG working capital to help the Dunlop brand expand more internationally. It also gives Bru a captive wholesale distribution channel to further sales of Bru

Textiles, one of the largest converters in the world that was founded in 1994. Previously, Bru has purchased wholesale businesses for that purpose. The previous purchase of Home Fabrics in Joberg, South Africa is an example of this strategy. This partnership with James Dunlop now gives Bru a major distribution presence in the Pacific Rim that it did not have before. “Bru Textiles has made a significant financial investment into James Dunlop Group, and will become a substantial yet minority partner in the new group. Andrew Mills, current Managing Director of the James Dunlop/Mokum Australian business will retain minority equity in the new group and has additionally been appointed to Managing Director of Zepel Fabrics. In terms of marketing and sales, Zepel Fabrics will remain its own independent business unit with the company owned headquarters and warehouse located at its existing address in Melbourne.” “The founders and managing partners of Zepel Fabrics, the Filipou Family have recently sold

their 50% remaining share and Gary Neiman (Chairman of Bru Textiles) was quoted ‘I can only commend, congratulate and be thankful to the Filipou Family for all their hard work and efforts to build Zepel Fabrics into such a great company, and most especially being partners with them for the past almost 11 years. Their high level of professionalism and conduct during their exit negotiation should be an example to all of us and as a result will always remain great friends and be close to me and my family’s hearts”. “We believe we can secure continuous growth through further developing the two businesses’ sales and products into the future. By merging two major players in our operating sector we can enhance each other by sharing best practice and local market expertise in the retail, manufacturing and the commercial/contract area,” Dunlop and Neiman state. “Zepel is a very successful well established Australian fabric brand which will enhance both our footprint and long-term commitment

Gary Neiman

John Dunlop

into the Australian market. We see considerable synergies in the operational process and strategic direction of both companies and believe that by working together we can maximise opportunities. Just as the purchase of Mokum catapulted James Dunlop Textiles into the international marketplace, we believe that our merger with Zepel will strengthen both companies into the future. Over time, Zepel will be introduced to New Zealand, offering an exciting new range to

the New Zealand market.” “The majority of the ownership of the James Dunlop Group is still very much in the hands of the Dunlop family, Dunlop and Neiman say, and the Dunlops will continue to manage and control the whole group.” (That’s for the time being of course.) “As you know our suppliers are our key partners in supplying good quality innovative fabrics to our customers and we look forward to enhancing our business together with you. From an operational standpoint, nothing will change and it will be business as usual.” F&FI

Bimitex

Bimitex Photo Gallery

Bimitex Roaring 20’s Dinner/dance Bash at Tag Como Nightclub

Christos Stamatopoulos, MD, The Fabulous Group with 85 year old dad Kostas, Athens, Greece

Dressed to Kill: Danielle St. George, Scott Kravet, Addie Jamulis, Shelby Miller—the Kravet Fabric team from Bethpage, NY

Arianna Pieraccini, Bimitex Export Sales with Emanuela Biagioni, Market Development, Bimitex

Key Hall, Designer, Cowtan & Tout, New York

Wife Julie and Keith Gordon, (right) Principal of Architex, Northbrook, Ill. with Franco Nannucci, master of ceremonies for Bimitex Bash at Tag/Como www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Autumn 2017

Dash

Dash Wedding Photo Gallery

Eric Schneider dances with Michael Jackson during Brown/Dash wedding

The Dash/Brown wedding in Las Vegas:Hospitality Designer Sandi Brown’s first trip to the alter and Jay’s third. Good luck kids!

Craig Miller, President of Pictographics, Las Vegas digital printer with John Sofka, sales agent for Yongshun All Brite black out lining

The cake

The turtle was an uninvited wedding guest we picked up on the Las Vegas desert road.

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Jay Dash and Sandi Brown tie the knot June 3 at the Westin Lake Las Vegas. The two dogs are Sandi’s. They insisted on being at the wedding. Rebecca and Justin Dash, Jay’s two children www.fabricsandfurnishings.com 33

Proposte

Proposte Photo Gallery Ranae Ahrens, CEO, Bauman Dekor LLC, New York, with business partner Ellen Shultz

Yohei Saito, Director, General Manager, Administration, Manas Trading Inc., Tokyo wholesaler with Mayumi Takata, CEO, Ailes Creation, Tokyo; Alberto Perego, Spinelli Vincenzo, Barrage, Italy; Yukiko Nakao, Marketing Division, Planning & Design Manager, Manas Trading; Cesare Spineli, Principal, Spinelli and Noburo Saito, Manas Trading Chairman. Spinelli is a 35 man family owned jacquard weaver moving up to better goods, including silk to stay in the game.

Stefanie Weber, Gebruder Munzert sales division based in Marlesreuth, Germany with Shirley Lee, Director, Home Deco Boutique Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan If you want connections with the Persian market, then Farhad Poosti, Principal of Josan, an expert in Persian and Oriental carpets is the guy to know. He lives in Firenze, Italy

Jo De Munster, Managing Director, Muvantex, the lower priced upholstery line and Bekaert Depla, the higher priced upholstery from Deerlijk, Belgium and Richard Leliveld, Principal of Oniro Textiles, a Zeist, Holland wholesaler

Carl Holcomb, CEO, Van Maele, Tielst, Belgian linen weaver with Corratex jobbers Mini and Esteban Corral from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Veerle van Houten, Designer for Chivasso Studio in The Hague, Holland a brand owned by JAB Richard Oussoren, Raymakers Velvet Principal, Gemert, Holland with Russian customer Mikhail Markov, General Director, Decor City, Moscow

Alja Butinar and Katarina Muller, Textile Designers based in Slovenia where they work with Mercis, a fabric and leather wholesaler with Aydin Aydin, Corporate Brand Manager for Boyteks in Kayseri, Turkey and his colleague Ilknur Dag based in Bursa, Turkey.

Donald Hurwitz, Carleton Fabrics owner in Baltimore, MD has sold his company to Rick McInnis, Dogwood Fabrics owner in Norcross, Georgia as previously reported. The pair attended Proposte.

Murat Muhsinoglu, Regional Sales Manager, Aydin Tekstil, Istanbul with Mark Beacraft MB Textiles UK agent in Darbyshire; Taha Hasan Karabacak, Aydin Sales Director; Mevlut Baydar, Marketing Director, Aydin; Aydin Regional Sales Directors Sinan Esen and Ufuk Vural with Laura Major, Designer with MB Textiles and Ruth Paybady, G-Plan Upholstery buyer, Melksham, UK

International Observatory exhibitor and Principal, Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Decorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ajay Arora with Cam Warwick, ,the Melbourne Australia powerhouse wholesaler with Martin Irvine, Warwick New Zealand Principal

The Publisher Eric Schneider dines at Il Gatenaro with Goldie and Bob Greenfield, owners of Magitex, Miami, Florida wholesalers and converters at their first Proposte Menu cover from Il Gatenaro Restaurant in Cernobbio.

Rex Godzo, Principal of Textilia, New Zealand with Justine Allen, Creative & Marketing Director

Lake Como, the home of Proposte

Consultant Chris Latham, on the boat to Proposte. www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Nader Oubari, Principal of Jabtex, Dubai showroom with supplier Baumann Dekor mill Owner Ajay Singh

Autumn 2017

Showtime F FI NE W S

Showtime Photo Gallery Showtime Brings More Performance Fabrics By John Lowe

HIGH POINT, NC--Showtime’s product “stars” were highperformance fabrics and polyester/natural fiber blends. This economical, low-maintenance trend is gaining momentum by the increasing number of companies offering these products. “People today want a relaxed environment,” Bob McKinnon, chairman and chief executive officer of Burlington Technologies said, “. . . for every room in the house.” Here were some new of the new and old faces:

(left to right) Melissa Shaw with the retail division of Woodhaven Furniture in Coolidge, GA; Liam Waters, Culp’s vice president of marketing; and Sharon Heckler-Cundiff, upholstery/merchandising designer, also with Woodhaven Furniture.

Elite Texiles, Los Angles, launches their new woven embroidery collection at Showtime. Catherine Pauciello & Ahmet Sapmaz Valleyforge Fabrics with Arman Demir of Elite.

Kristen Dally Steigelmann, design director for Keystone Weaving Mills. Florence Grazi, Ethan Allen’s director, fabric and leather programs.

This is CEO Bob McKinnon of Burlington standing behind Tom Zaliagiris (left), VP of sales and marketing with Precedent in Newton, NC and Woody Williams (right), CEO of the same company.

Anne Lekow, Ethan Allen’s senior director of upholstery merchandising Ruben Lentz of Ruben Lentz & Associates out of Greenwich, CT

Proposte Post Proposte Holiday

MILAN--After a rain soaked weekend in Ospedeletti on the Italian coast headed towards Cannes, I stayed at the Malpensa Sheraton in the Milan Airport. Nice hotel but nicer still was the renewed I’ll Canetto Restaurant on the lobby floor. Note the wire mesh fabric on the restaurant bar. Is that considered a fabric? Great, whimsical tablecloths hung from the chandeliers. Great Italian ambience equalized by the vegetarian cannelloni and minestrone. Kudos are due to Sheraton and Saporiti Studio for the refreshing restaurant makeover.

Michael Shelton with Valdese and Sheila Seigel with Sklar Peppler

Jim Ennis, Principal of Vision Fabrics with his daughter (center) Abbey Ennis (summer customer service employee) and his Market Manager Michelle Rasmussen, who also is in charge of Home Décor & Contract.

Autumn 2017

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com 35

F FI D E S I G N

Privacy, Relaxation & Future Tech P By Jennifer Castoldi

n the modern day we are engulfed in an increasingly technological world. This impacts the application of fabrics to furnishings across the board. Incognito pressure pads and technical embroidery under upholstery, speakers that are also textile sculptures with sound absorbing properties, and the proliferation of micro manufacturing are just a few examples. In terms of lifestyle we witness the rise of personal space and privacy enclosures within shared interior areas. At the end of it all sit down, relax, and pucker up!

rivacy is a premium these days. People are subscribing to VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) in record numbers to add security and privacy to their internet connections, and designers are developing a plethora of products to keep things “hush, hush”. Innofusor’s acoustic curtain fabrics make up the Aava Collection; Manerba’s modular square blocks can create a unique meeting space whereas Ahrend’s single seater is great for a private phone call.

ecent graduate Tom Butterfield explored how a piece of furniture, combining the essential chair, light and table, can achieve a sense of personal space within a shared environment whether it may be residential or a commercial interior such as an office waiting area, hotel lobby, school, or airport. Tom comments on the hidden tech, “Fitted within the seat is a pressure pad switch that will activate the light. The concept is to give the impression that the chair recognizes you, it’s your chair, it’s your space.”

lthough it has been around for years many designers have yet to discover technical embroidery. Fashion and the medical industry have been the earliest adopters. Now we see that there are some first movers in the interiors industry as well. Illuminated clothing screaming, “HELP US” lights up the Innovative Apparel Show while conductive embroidery from Amann Group adds new dimensions to a seat in the exhibition hall next door to the runway.

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Autumn 2017

F FI D E S I G N

nternational brand Bang & Olufsen will be launching BeoSound Shape in stores this fall. Covered in high-end textiles, available in numerous hues, it is “a wall-mounted wireless speaker system for design conscious music lovers – delivering immersive sound staging, a customizable design and integrated noise dampers for improved room acoustics.”

here is a growing business trend of small and medium-sized enterprises and designer makers outsourcing the manufacturing of their products in small quantities to local service providers, otherwise known as micro manufacturers. This includes tasks such as cutting and sewing, digital printing, 3D printing/additive manufacturing, CNC (computer numerical control) systems, and laser cutters. August Down is a micro manufacturer of soft furnishings and The Deep Print Movement specializes in high-end digitally printed leather for interiors and fashion accessories.

Cinna

aris is known for its romance, so it is fitting to discover a number of sofa designs prefect for sitting down and puckering up—that is referring to the leather, fabrics and quilting techniques, of course! The French reign here with frames from Ligne Roset and Cinna; including neighboring Belgian company JNL adding to the mix with an inviting sectional model.

Ligne Roset

JNL

ew technologies, innovations, and talent embracing the aforementioned topics can be found in Brussels September 6-8, 2017 during MoOD in collaboration with Trendease International, which has curated the MoOD Tech, MoOD Innovation, and Launch Pad areas to run alongside the long-standing MoOD exhibitors, experts in weaving and textile development.

Autumn 2017

Jennifer Castoldi is the CEO and Chief Creative Director of Trendease International. Since 2004, Trendease has been providing cutting-edge and competitive design information to readers spanning over 170 countries. Trendease is an influential resource reporting on global trends and key international design events. Hundreds of images and forward-thinking articles are presented on www.Trendease.com each month, additionally videos and podcasts are available on www.Trendease.TV.

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F FI C A L E N D A R June

June 4-7 ITMA Showtime-High Point, NC June 20-22 Heimtextil India Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

August

August 23-26 Heimtextil Asia National Exhibition & Convention Center, Shanghai

September September 6,7,8 MoOD & Indigo

Tour & Taxis Brussels

November

November 12, 13 BoutiqueDesign New York Jacob Javits Center, New York

November 12-14 New York Home Fashions Market

December

December 3-6 Showtime Fabric Market

F FI NE W S

Americans, Germans Pass On Evteks This Year But That May Change with New Show Dates Middle Eastern and Russian Buyers turn out for Evteks Sipco News Network

STANBUL, Turkey — The 2017 version of Evteks May 16/20 saw aisles crowded with visitors but where they came from represented a marked change from previous Turkish exhibitions. There was a great influx of visitors from the Middle East including Iran and Iraq and also Russia. More importantly, there were more visitors from India than ever before in the form of Indian wholesalers looking for Turkish lines for the domestic India market. There were few if any Americans or Europeans at Evteks this year with Proposte just in the rear view mirror of Evteks (May 3/4) held just a few weeks before. This may

High Point, NC

change next year if the show organizers are able to hold Evteks before Proposte. “Indian suppliers are bypassing local wholesalers now and selling direct to the retailers,” said one wholesaler who did not want to be identified for fear of recrimination. Warwick Fabrics in Australia is expected to rollout a warehouse for distribution of its lines to the domestic market in India, it was learned. An announcement to this effect was made in late June. No doubt, this will take advantage of the increasing demand for imported goods in the Indian market. “There are 250 mills in Turkey capable of delivering goods to India and anywhere else,” says Ahmet Sapmaz, Sourcing Director for

Valley Forge Fabrics, Pompano Beach, FL. He was one of the few Americans at Evteks this year. “In India, maybe there are half a dozen mills capable of handling export markets; in China there might be 500 mills but only a handful which can handle exports,” he points out. “Only in Turkey do you have hundreds of suppliers ready to do export business. Germans and Americans did not attend Evteks in great numbers this year but that was because of the timing of Evteks. Maybe next year, Evteks dates may change to be held prior to Proposte,” he says. Sapmaz says even without the shows, Turkish suppliers will call on customers in their home base.

“Even if buyers are afraid to come to Turkey, the suppliers will visit them during the year.” In addition, he says that Turkish suppliers are showing on a regular basis in New York showrooms, and the Turkish Government financially sponsors Turkish manufacturers at U.S. trade shows like Showtime where they show as a group. “Turkish manufacturers make certain they don’t copy designs that are confined to certain customers. Still some customers may be disturbed about the level of Turkish communication and delivery. Turkish prefer to invest in machinery but not as much in people,” he says. “However, Turkish service levels are improving all of the time.” F&FI

Party Swadeshi Party Scene During Proposte

Advertiser Index

At Swadeshi Cocktail Party: Hayley McAfee, Brand Manager Villa Nova, Nottingham, UK with Maria Garber, US agent for Swadeshi, Bangalore, India; Felicity Mould, Director, Romo (Nottingham) and Joanna Rose, Senior Designer, Villa Nova

For more information about one of our advertisers, see the page number listed: Ateja. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

Kravet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Aydin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Mario Cavelli. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Boyteks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11

Magitex Decor. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Classical Elements . . . . . . . . . . 1

MoOD/Indigo. . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Covington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

ON-EM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9

D’Decor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7

Richloom Fabrics Group. . . . 17

Dicitex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 & 39

Rockland Mills. . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Express Air Freight. . . . . . . . 27

Yongshun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21

GM Fabrics. . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23

Sunil Gupta, Principal with his brother, Swadeshi and Trevor Helliwell, Principal of prestigious based in Yorkshire. “Business is stable but the world is in so much chaos,” Helliwell adds.

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Kimberle Frost, Design Consultant to Duralee, New York; Anne Hahn, Design Director, Bailey & Griffith, a Duralee line and Chelsea Garber, Maria Garber’s stepdaughter and business associate

Autumn 2017