Fabrics & Furnishings International - Summer 2007 Issue by Fabrics & Furnishings International

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DURABILITY PRO

NATURAL NICHE

HOSPITALITY EXTENSION

Dougan Clarke of Tuuci expresses the company’s commitment to durable, longlasting outdoor products.

George Lowy of Lady Fabrics works toward green certification, penetrates US contract market with stretch wool.

George Zaki of ERG International custom furniture announces the launch of ERG Hospitality.

See page 16

See page 25

See page 22

The Global Home & Contract Furnishings Newspaper • www.sipco.net

Vol. 17, No. 3

Summer 2007

Niche Player Valtekz Takes Faux Hides to New Heights President Wells Sees Big Market for Expensive, High-Quality Products

C Valtekz product

HARLOTTE, North Carolina — Valtekz, a two-year-old faux animal skin specialist, is set to change the perception of faux leathers and hides in the decorator showroom, marine, automotive and furniture markets into an ultra

premium product in the $70-$100 per yard retail price point, according to Randy Wells, president. In the process, Wells sees a business of $10$20 million by 2012. As a former fishing boat captain he is trading up the market from expanded vinyls to Valtekz’ premium product lines of animal hides including ostrich, eel (new at Showtime) and reptile. Valtekz said it has proprietary manufacturing processes developed in Germany which “pull” the prod-

Valley Forge, Garcia, Designtex Release “Green” Fabrics Textile Co.’s Discuss Green Certification, Pricing, Efforts

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• L i g h t i n g • Te x t i l e s • Furniture • Surfaces The Only Newspaper for the Specifier • Floor Covering

Contract/HospitalityNews

We’d Rather Give You

Fabulous

Our goal at Outdura is to produce the most beautiful and stylish fabric in the industry. From bold patterns and colors, to cool subtle tones, there’s a style for all your customers. Experience something out of the ordinary...experience Outdura!

oec fri

To illustrate his point about high-end, Valtekz products have been used to reupholster the interior of Pamela Anderson’s Airstream trailer and Nascar champion driver Jeff Gordon’s (Continued on page 16)

THE GREEN ISSUE

Follow the small globe through this issue to find out what these companies are doing to decrease their impact on the environment: Pages 22, 25, 30, 31, 34, 35.

Crypton to Treat All Fabric with Crypton Green Technology North Carolina Plant Takes on More Eco-Friendly Processes by AnnMarie Marano

EST BLOOMFIELD, Michigan — As Crypton continues their conquest to lessen The Crypton plant, in King’s their footprint, the company Mountain, North Carolina has announced that as of June, they will now be adding Braungart Design Chemistry Crypton Green Technology to all (MBDC). “The reason this wasn’t product that goes through their o- fri done before is because we plant. c e had to assess higher Crypton Green was chemistry costs,” said introduced in June 2006 Hardy Sullivan, director by Momentum Textiles of new business developand according to Crypton, is ment. It will cost more per the only performance fabric that can claim certifications from yard, but we’re hoping that people both Scientific Certification will recognize our efforts.” (Continued on page 19) Systems (SCS) and McDonough

Not Just

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products sustainable. able product offerings. “We’ve really tried While the campaign not to fall into those for sustainability has RIARCLIFF MANOR, easy, catch-all cateNew York — Despite eco - fri taken textile comgories like, ‘it’s green’ panies by storm, recent “green” fabric or ‘it’s environmental’ the meaning of introductions at HD or ‘it’s eco-friendly’ or “green” is often Expo like “Renewal” any of those descripill-defined. from Designtex, “FRESH” tors which don’t really At Designtex, a Carol Derby from Valley Forge and “EcoLinen” from Stacy Garcia, textile contract specialist and converter, tell you what about the product is designers and suppliers still find the term is not taken lightly. They sustainable,” said Carol Derby, themselves grappling with com- use very specific language to director of research and developplications that surround sustain- define exactly what makes their (Continued on page 18) by Kelly Hushin

uct from a vacuum embossing unit as opposed to typical uniform roller embossing. As a result, Valtekz’ product has a high and low face, just like the natural irregularities in real hides, Wells said.

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by Eric Schneider

Randy Wells

Fabric.

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EDGAR FABRICS INC.

Available for viewing at the following showrooms:

General Offices: 50 Commerce Drive l P.O. Box 13186 Hauppauge, NY 11788 USA Telephone: 631-435-8989 Telefax: 631-435-9151 E-mail: edgarfabrics@aol.com

New York Showroom 230 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1400 New York, NY 10016 USA Telephone: 212-686-2952 Telefax: 212-779-0354

Market Squre Tower 317 High Street, Sixth Floor High Point, N.C. 27261 USA Telephone: 336-889-4217 Telefax: 336-889-4218

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E D G A R FAB R ICS

Come See Us At: Showtime

Decosit

High Point, NC USA June 3-6, 2007

Brussels Expo Center Brussels Belgium September 8-11, 2007

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Sipco Will Get Sipco is a boutique publishing and event production firm which offers innovative sales and marketing tools to compete in the hospitality interiors industry. Our niche-oriented products champion the people behind the hospitality industry and level the playing field for even the smallest companies who often get lost in the mainstream market.

Sipco Publications & Events www.sipco.net Editorial: Rebecca Goldberg, 914.923.0616 x 11 rgoldberg@sipco.net Sales and marketing: Michael Schneider, 914.923.0616 x 14 mschneider@sipco.net

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You Noticed

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT SIPCO

“I

always look

forward to receiving my issue of Boutique Design as it is a comprehensive magazine about what is going on today in the hotel industry; it has a lot of new, cre-

”

ative designs and products.

— Andi Pepper Andi Pepper Interior Design

As the only hospitality interiors magazine that focuses specifically on boutique hospitality, boutique DESIGN (BD) is the authority on the boutique hotel, spa and restaurant market. About designers and for designers, BD features major hospitality projects, industry news and products which are relevant to the industry in each of its quarterly issues.

“ No

other publi-

cation gives the in-depth information and spans the breadth of the international market like Contract/ Hospitality News does. Insightful, cutting edge and

Fabrics & Furnishings International including Contract/ Hospitality News is the only newspaper for the specifier. It features breaking news from vendors in all categories of hospitality design, such as: furniture, light-

incredibly diverse — the articles, features

and

vision

this

publication make it an excellent tool for all serious hospitality designers and an essential part of my firm’s reading and reference

ing, textiles and floor covering.

”

materials.

— Carl Ross President, Carl Ross Design, Inc.

Hospitality Match is an innovative way of reaching the specifier. Prequalified high-end buyers are matched with FF&E suppliers through a one-to-one meeting format. There’s no wasted time and effort as with a traditional

“I

want to thank

you very much for inviting me to participate in Hospitality Match. I had a very enjoyable time meet-

booth and aisle show and meetings are

ing both my fellow designers and

guaranteed.

the many vendors whom I had never met before. I commend you for putting together such a friend-

”

ly group of people.

—Christopher Wheeler, Associate Brennan Beer Gorman / Architects Brennan Beer Gorman Monk / Interiors

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F& FI L E T T E R S

Sipco’s Latest, Shanghai Textile News Sees August Debut

ipco Publications, Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong and CCPIT-Tex have signed a formal agreement to produce Shanghai Textile News as the official publication of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2007, August 29-31 at the new exhibition center in Pudong. Sipco is the sole owner and publisher of Shanghai Textile News, the fourth in a series of specialized annual trade fair publications. A total of 10,000 copies of Shanghai Textile News will be printed locally in Shanghai in simplified Chinese and English for distribution exclusively at the

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles Fair in the registration area and at other points on the show floor on opening day. Copies of Shanghai Textile News will also be available throughout the three-day event at the official Sipco stand. The content will be provided by Sipco editors in China and the USA. While the articles may be written about exhibitors and non exhibitors alike, advertising content is only available to Shanghai Intertextile Fair exhibitors. If you

need your advertisements translated into Chinese, Sipco Publications can do this. We can also produce your entire advertisement from photography to finished artwork at a modest charge and with a quick turn around. If you are located in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East and would like to participate in the launch of Shanghai Textile News, please contact us as soon as possible. All of us are well aware of the many companies that have opened offices and factories in China to source, sew and export Chinese fabrics, readymades or upholstered furniture for their home markets worldwide. In addition, the Chinese domestic consumer and hotel markets have a growing appetite for home textiles, higherend decorative fabrics and contract/hospitality textiles. Many companies are pursuing this opportunity. Our deadlines for Shanghai Textile News are July 1 for all advertising orders and all editorial and camera ready advertisements are due July 15. Specifications are available in English and Chinese. Shanghai Textile News will contain information about the Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles Fair. It will also feature news about your growth in China or China-based sourcing activity, manufacturing and export strategy. If you have news about your company, please send the material directly to the publisher, Eric Schneider, (eschneider@sipco.net). Your ideas and pictures (300dpi jpeg format) are most welcome!

DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Michael Schneider Sipco Publications Inc. 1133 Pleasantville Rd. Briarcliff, New York 10510 USA

Eric Schneider, publisher

I Hofmann Communication. PR. Marketing Niederwaldstrasse 4, D-65187 Wiesbaden, Germany T +49 611- 890 59 640 • F +49 611- 87086 • M +49 163 783 45 73 info@ihofmann.com • www.ihofmann.com

THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES SELL SUBSCRIPTIONS TO FABRICS & FURNISHINGS INTERNATIONAL: INDIA

JAPAN

Space & Time Centre 3rd Floor, Segar 650 Shopping Centre 76, J.P. Road, Andheri (W), Bombay 400 058 Fax: 91.22.624.2706

Attrait Fashion Inc. Osaka Higashi P.O. Box Zeniya Dai-ichi Bldg. 1-6-19, Azuchi-machi Chuo-ku Osaka 541 Japan Fax: 81.06.264.1316

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Subscriptions to Fabrics & Furnishings International are US$130 prepaid for four issues. Subscriptions in India are $200. Mail or fax orders (Visa or MasterCard accepted) to Circulation Dept., Sipco Publications, Inc, P.O. Box 161 Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510, U.S.A. Fax 001.914.923.0018 Fabrics & Furnishings International is shipped via air mail to 74 countries. ©COPYRIGHT 2007 by Sipco Publications Inc. All U.S. and International Rights Reserved.

Tel: 001.914.923.0616 x12 Fax: 001.914.923.2247 E-Mail: eschneider@sipco.net

MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Goldberg Sipco Publications Inc. 1133 Pleasantville Rd. Briarcliff, New York 10510 USA

Tel: 001.914.923.0616 x 14 Fax: 001.914.923.0018 E-Mail: mschneider@sipco.net

Tel: 001.914.923.0616 x 11 Fax: 001.914.923.0018 E-Mail: rgoldberg@sipco.net ASSISTANT EDITOR Kelly Hushin Sipco Publications Inc. 1133 Pleasantville Rd. Briarcliff, New York 10510 USA

ASSOCIATE EDITOR AnnMarie Marano Sipco Publications Inc. 1133 Pleasantville Rd. Briarcliff, New York 10510 USA

Tel: 001.914.923.0616 x 17 Fax: 001.914.923.0018 E-Mail: khushin@sipco.net

Tel: 001.914.923.0616 x 20 Fax: 001.914.923.0018 E-Mail: amarano@sipco.net

ADVERTISING SALES UK, BENELUX EFTA Peter Gilmore Peter Gilmore Associates 57 Keyes House Dolphin Square London SW1V 3NA U.K. Tel: 44.(0)20.7834.5559 Fax: 44.(0)20.7834.0600 E-Mail: pgilmore@sipco.net

ISA HOFMANN WILL NOW BE REPRESENTING SIPCO IN ITALY AND GERMANY. FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES PLEASE CONTACT HER AT:

The Global Home & Contract Furnishings Newspaper Published by Sipco Publications Inc.

FRANCE Stéphane de Rémusat Chemin de la Bourdette 31380 Gragnague, France

Tel: 33.53.427.0130 Fax: 33.53.427.0131 E-Mail: sremusat@aol.com and lebrunrem@aol.com PORTUGAL Ana Conde Av. da Boavista, 280-4. Centro 4050-113 PORTO Portugal Tel: 351.22.607.6470 Fax: 351.22.607.6475/79 E-Mail: aconde@sipco.net CHINA, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, HOLLAND, SWITZERLAND, ITALY, SPAIN, CANADA, S. AMERICA Eric Schneider Sipco Publications Inc. 1133 Pleasantville Rd., Briarcliff, New York 10510 USA

www.sipco.net

TURKEY Sevim Keskinci Bati Mah. Hatboyu Cad. Bahar Apt. No. 8/21 Pendik-Istanbul Turkey Tel: 90.216.390.00.13 Fax: 90.216.390.20.27 E-Mail: skeskinci@sipco.net INDIA REHKA V. Contact: Mileage 141 Third Crasa Centro Mico Layout Bangalore 560076 India Tel: 91.80.26685821 Fax: 91.80.26684670 E-mail: mileage@sipco.net

MEXICO Adriana Michael Tel: 1.613.526.0480 1.613.620.1957 Fax: 1.613.526.6709

E-Mail: adrianamichael@rogers.com

Tel: 001.914.923.0616 x12 Fax: 001.914.923.2247 E-Mail: eschneider@sipco.net

Duralee is a family owned and operated company that was founded in 1952 and has consistently offered the interior design market superior products designed to fit any style, while holding true to the ideals of excellent value and customer service. We continue to be aggressively expanding our brand, a focus that is evident with every new and creative design we introduce. Duralee moves into New Expanded Long Island, NY Showroom: In an effort to support the ever growing Long Island business, Duralee is moving its Long Island showroom from its current location at corporate headquarters to a larger facility in Syosset, NY. The showroom will be expanding from the current 1,000 square feet to almost 4,200 square feet. The new showroom will be created with the new fresh image of the company and will be a showcase for all of the Duralee product lines including Duralee fabrics, Highland Court, and Duralee Fine Furniture. Scheduled for opening in spring of 2007, the expanded showroom will feature an extensive display area for Duralee fabrics, Highland Court luxury fabrics, with dedicated areas for tassels and tiebacks, a new library area with Highland Court and Duralee sample books, and a brand new memo room. The newly expanded space will feature display vignettes of Duralee Fine Furniture enabling more customers to experience the custom fine furniture brand. Duralee Goes Bold with Domino Prints — Crisp, clean, classic. Duralee has introduced Domino Prints, an exclusive collection of black and white patterns fit for any setting. Ogees, geometrics, dancing silhouettes, and florals are revived in a daring, innovative movement toward bold design. Created for those seeking to make a graphic statement, the black and white color combination featured in Domino Prints remains simple, yet exciting. Favorite designs from the past have been re-colored and refreshed for this collection, with our designers focusing on positive and negative space for a playful adaptation. Please visit duralee.com for more information.

Summer 2007 ■ F&FI

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D E F I N I T E LY

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D U R A L E E

Av a i l a b l e e x c l u s i v e l y t h r o u g h a r c h i t e c t s a n d i n t e r i o r d e s i g n e r s

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Table of Contents F&FI Summer 07 | Vol. 17, No. 3

Janet Yonaty Named U.S. Small Business Person of the Year . . . . . . . . . .10 British Contract Furnishing & Design Association Makes Appointment . . . . . .10

Jack McHugh Dies at 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Culp Names New Chief Financial Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Decosit HKG Brings in Fewer, More Quality Buyers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Surtex Honors International Student Design Competition Winners . . . . . . . . .10

Skaff Group to Open New Jeddah Showroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Tropitone Names New Project Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Tuuci Shade, Lounge Niche Focuses On the Unique and Durable . . . . . . . . . .16

Millennium Hotels names New President & CEO for the Americas . . . . .10

Joan’s McCallum Steps Down in Light of SEC Allegations . . . . . . . . . . .19

Contract/HospitalityNews ERG Makes the Leap Into Hospitality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Hospitality Specialist Reid Witlin Weaves in Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Architectural Systems, Inc. Has a Handle on New Materials . . . . . . . . . .22

Emma Gardner Design Releases First Licensed Fabric Design . . . . . . . . . .28

Maya Romanoff Transforms Walls . . . . .22

FURNITURE: Q Collection Furniture and Textiles Merge Sustainability with Quality . . . . .30

LIGHTING:

22 23

Hotel Management Group Launches Environmental Lighting Initiative . . . . . .31

FLOORCOVERING:

24 TEXTILES: Kravet, Lizzo Partner Up in North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

East Teak Fine Hardwoods Enters Hospitality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Brintons Teams with Scottish Firm for New Offerings . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

SURFACES:

Departments

3form CEO Says Hunter Douglas is ‘A Great Match’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Panaz Announces Trade Growth and 21st Anniversary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

GLOBAL MARKETPLACE:

Lady Making ‘Natural’ Contract Gains . .25

Calvin Klein Home Announces License Agreement with Kravet . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Photo Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Hinson & Company Introduces Contract Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Ulusoy General Manager Discusses Company Aims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Calendar: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

www.sipco.net

Show Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Ad Index/Global Marketplace . . . . . . . .37

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F& FI P E O P L E Sipco News Network

Tropitone Names Mehler as New Project Manager

RVINE, California — Brian Mehler has been appointed to serve as the design project manager for Tropitone Furniture Co., a manufacturer of fine casual furniture. Peter Homestead, vice president of design for Tropitone, said that Mehler has a strong background in design and significant experience managing seasonal product development plans, both of which will be key responsibilities in his new position. “We needed a ‘point person’ focused on overseeing each new product as it progresses from design concept through production and into the market,” said

Janet Yonaty Named L.A. Small Business Person of 2007

OS ANGELES, California —Janet Yonaty, founder and president of Janet Yonaty, Inc., was named the 2007 Los Angeles District Office Small Business Person of the Year. The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce plans to honor Yonaty, along with several other individuals and businesses, at the annual Small Business Week luncheon ceremony in late May.

ADVERTISEMENT Homestead. Before being appointed project manager for Tropitone, Mehler led product development at Small World Toys, Maui Toys and Educational Insights, Inc. Mehler said he is looking forward to utilizing his experience in design and manufacturing to support Tropitone.

British Contract Furnishing & Design Association Appoints New Managing Director

ONDON, England — The British Contract Furnishing & Design Association (BCFA) has announced the appointment of Colin Watson to managing director. Watson previously worked for office furniture group Arenson, as their marketing director for 10 years. After Arenson, in 1999, he joined the furniture design firm

Luke Hughes and Company as their managing director. BCFA chairman Carolyn Mitchell said that Watson’s unique mix of experience and strong background in design and marketing should bring a special presence to the BCFA team.

Culp Names a New Chief Financial Officer

IGH POINT, North Carolina — Culp, Inc., marketers of mattress fabrics for bedding and upholstery fabrics for furniture, has announced that Kenneth R. Bowling has become the chief financial officer as of May 1, 2007. Bowling joined Culp, Inc. in 1997 and has served as the company’s vice president, finance and treasurer since 2004. With an MBA from Wake Forest University, Bowling was controller for a division of Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex before joining Culp, Inc.

In his new position, Bowling will report directly to Frank Saxon, who was recently named CEO of Culp, Inc. — a position which also took effect May 1, 2007.

The luncheon will be the 26th annual awards luncheon by the U.S. Small Business Administration and will be held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on May 30. The luncheon is expected to attract over 500 small business owners and advocates to honor people in the world of small businesses. F&FI

hejiang Babei Textile Co.

Ltd. is a weaver jointly

invested in by Babei Group Ltd. and Art Touch Industrial

Hotel Vet Jack McHugh Dies at the Age of 51

Co. Ltd for USD 15,800,000. We work mainly on the designing, producing and sales of high-end yarn-dyed silk

ALLAS, Texas — Jack McHugh, hotel industry veteran of about 29 years, died in April of an apparent heart attack at the age of 51. McHugh had recently joined Carrollton, Texas-based group, Aimbridge Hospitality as their senior vice president of business development. He had also held the same position before joining Aimbridge, at Remington Hotel Corp. in Dallas. The McHugh family has asked that donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. McHugh is survived by wife, Donna, and two sons, Jeff and Todd. F&FI

jacquard fabrics for bedding, drapery and upholstery. We also produce polyester fire retardant fabrics for the contract business and the newly licensed multi-functional Bella-Dura fabric for indoor/ outdoor furniture and other commercial uses in the Asian market. We have installed 66 Staubli jacquard machines which make it possible for us to produce a variety of jacquard

Millennium Hotels Names Former Kor President Arnett as President & CEO for the Americas

fabrics with different design repeats (the largest repeat size at 140CM) and end counts.

EW YORK, New York — Former president of the Kor Hotel Group, John Arnett, has been named Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ president and CEO for the Americas. In his post, Arnett will report to Peter Papas, group chief executive and Kwek Leng Beng,

chairman of London-based parent company, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc. Prior to working for the Kor Group, Arnett served the Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group as senior vice president. Papas said, “He (Arnett) has in-depth knowledge of the North

American market and his expertise, creativity and commitment will be invaluable.” Arnett has also held management positions at other luxury hotels and resorts, including the Ritz Carlton Mauna Lani, Hawaii and the Ritz Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta. F&FI

We also have 10 Dobby looms for weaving plain fabric or fabric with small repeats. We are able to produce different widths including 140cm, 150cm, 280cm and 300cm which are suitable for different cutting ways. Babei owns one

Surtex Honors Winners of International Student Design Competition

yarn-dyeing mill with Noseda dyeing facilities and one fabric finishing mill — a joint venture with an Italian company.

Janet Yonaty

ZHEJIANG BABEI TEXTILE CO., LTD

HITE PLAINS, New York — The annual SURTEX International Student Design competition winners and honorable mentions showcased their designs in a gallery display at the SURTEX show in May at the Javits Center in NYC. Winners were chosen for four new categories this year; home interior, hospitality, housewares/tabletop and stationary/paper products. This year, about 90 entries from 27 schools around the world came in. The SURTEX International Student Design Competition is open to all third and fourth year students enrolled in a surface design or related program in a college or university. Each student had to create a collection with a minimum of six and a maximum of nine coordinating surface designs inspired by nature. A panel of design industry professionals selected the winners and honorable mentions based on style and use of color, creativity, design development, pattern, potential for viability in the commercial marketplace and overall presentation. The grand prize for the competition was awarded to Ya-Ling Hou from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, for her “Lovely Garden” stationary collection of gift boxes, bags, wrapping paper, photo albums, notecards and journals.

We have invested heavily in adopting the ERP computerized management system, specially designed for Babei Group LTD by Newbrand Software CO., LTD. The system carries out the task of scientific management which The top prize in the hospitality category went to Lenna Salbashian for “Zen Soleil” In the hospitality category, the top prize went to Lenna Salbashian from Syracuse University in New York for her “Zen Soleil” collection of carpet, upholstery, wall-hanging, menus, tabletop and wallpaneling. Judges said her work showed a strong design concept and was “well-executed” and “well thought-out.” In each category, the first place winners received $500 in addition to a two-night stay in NYC during the SURTEX show. F&FI

coordinates and supervises all production and operation. Not only will this improve our production efficiency, but also it will provide good conditions for operating the whole company with the utmost efficiency. With ‘Innovation, Service, Enhancement’, we will serve our customers sincerely.

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F& FI S H O W B U S I N E S S

Decosit HKG Brings in Fewer, But Higher Quality Buyers by Vicky Sung

ONG KONG, China — Exhibitors at this year’s Decosit HKG, the international trade fair for fabrics and furnishings for the upper end residential and contract markets said the show attracted fewer but more quality buyers than last year’s edition. By invitation only, the threeday exhibition attracted 550 trade visitors with almost half from

local Hong Kong, a slight increase from last year. Other major visitors came from China, Singapore, Taiwan, India, Japan, the Philippines and the Middle East. The exhibitors commented that the visitors who came had some solid and serious projects in mind. The show attracted architects, interior designers, wholesale companies, agents, procurement offices, furniture manufacturers, decorators, university professors and students.

First time exhibitor, Udima of Spain’s Antonio Gramage said they are already exporting to Hong Kong and China and were there to look for opportunities in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the S.E. Asia markets. He said Decosit HKG is focused and the trade visitors are in the interior trade which he appreciates. Ivan Vandekerckhove of Devantex Velours commented that the second edition had fewer visitors but of higher quality

Decosit HKG 2007 which he does not mind at all. He received visitors from many Asian countries at the show. Their high end velvets made with Van de Wiele machines cater to furniture makers, wholesalers and designers. Pankaj Jhunjhunwala, VP of

exports at Eastern Silk Industries of India said the good result they had from the first edition of Decosit HKG convinced them to come again. He commented that there were fewer visitors this time, but he hopes that the few will yield some good business. Ihsan Cerrah of Aydin Tekstil of Turkey said the show had slower foot traffic but it yielded better results for them because the visitors came with serious buying projects. They had discussions with many buyers in the contract market. Mottura of Italy was different from the others as they showed curtain systems instead of fabrics. Besides their factory in Italy, they have production facilities in France, Belgium and Spain. To reach new markets they have set up a show room in Moscow. They are exporting to more than 60 countries with their main markets being Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. They are also starting to do business with the US. This is their first time in Asia, said Alain Miranda. The slow foot traffic was actually good for them as he was able to demonstrate the systems to each visitor that came to their booth. They are already working with a group that is doing casino projects. The organizers survey showed the demand for contract qualities is much higher in the HKG show than Brussels. Visitors came seeking new suppliers and many were interested in returning in 2008. Some 68 percent of the exhibitors were satisfied with their participation in the show and 73 percent ranked the visitors to be high to very high quality. F&FI

The Venetian Macau The show attracted the vice president in charge of conventions and exhibitions of Venetian Macau Ltd, Wolfram Diener, for a brief visit. This fall, the Venetian Macau will open its casino, convention and exhibitions centre, shopping, cinema, hotel, resort on the Cotai Strip and a new manmade island created between the two natural existing islands. A number of five-star hotels, such as Four Seasons, Shangrila, and Intercontinental etc. will follow suite. Other projects by the Venetian Group include casinos, convention & exhibition centres and resorts in Singapore and Zhuhai, next to Macau.

www.sipco.net

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Skaff Group to Open New Jeddah Showroom Company Looks to Put Stronger Focus on Europe by AnnMarie Marano

EIRUT, Lebanon — The Skaff Group, a major wholesaler and retailer in the Middle East based here, will open a new showroom in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in Sept. 2007. According to managing director, GP Skaff, the company is estimating a turnover of $18 million for 2007, putting them amongst the top 43 wholesalers in the world.

This is a collection of organza, sheers, linens and blackouts that meet international standards and specifications. Skaff also provides Trevira CS fabrics for curtains and upholstery. “We can also provide our clients with custom-made fabrics.” Three companies exist within the Skaff Group. Skaff Tiska acts as the importing company. Skaff AL’etage specializes in the import and retail of ethnic furniture, bamboo sets, tables and accessories.

Skaff Les Galeries offers a fusion of modern and contemporary furniture. “We even have a devoted and specialized carpentry division whose responsibility is to make sure that even the most delicate and sensitive work is carried out.” According to Skaff, the company has grown into a market leader. “Skaff is a story of passion, where talents are skillfully blended together and more than 120 men and women contribute in a united effort to ensure the best results.” F&FI Right: One of Skaff’s showrooms in Lebanon

GP Skaff and his father, Philip Skaff “For our new showroom in Jeddah, we have just signed for the location and will be opening in Sept. 2007 and a showroom in Doha, Qatar will follow shortly,” Skaff said. Skaff operates outlets scattered across Lebanon, Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Ten are located within Lebanon and later this year they’ll open another one in the Tabaris luxury district area. “The same concept and design is applied to all our showrooms,” he said. Skaff says that after a successful expansion into the Middle East, they are now targeting a more intense presence in Europe. English editeur Daniel James already serves as a franchisee. The Skaff collection is also available at Harrods in London. “We hold all lines of fabrics, from upholstery to curtains, rails, silks, trimmings, embossed and colored leather, bamboo and Venetian blinds, Roman shades, panels, twine rugs and wall-to-wall carpets and wallcoverings in bamboo, vinyl, textiles, Swarovski and beyond,” Skaff said. “Skaff’s collection covers everything from light sheers, heavy casements and fancy prints to elegant embroideries and sophisticated jacquards.” Approximately 20 percent of their business is in the contract sector and they are the exclusive distributor of “Isoteks by Technotex” in Lebanon and the Middle East, says Skaff.

Summer 2007 ■ F&FI

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Tuuci Shade, Lounge Niche Focuses On the Unique and Durable by Eric Schneider

IAMI, Florida — Tuuci, with $10 million plus in sales, has been manufacturing functional shade and lounging products here for ten years for restaurants, hotels and theme parks for consumers who use the product but don’t own it. The name Tuuci is not Italian; its initials stand for, “the ultimate umbrella corporation incorporated.” Tuuci has become an important manufacturer of better umbrellas and deep-seated lounge furniture in a market estimated at $500 million and is still growing. “Tuuci products are priced in the $150$4,000 price range and are designed for buyers who want a product that can be repaired instead of throwing it out,” said Dougan Clarke, founder and principal. Tom Parker, a longtime friend “pushes the paper as president,” while Clarke does the design and innovation, he said. “I wanted to build something that I could sell with confidence and would be durable,” Clarke said. Parker was a former corporate attorney. Tuuci products are designed to work for 15 years, Clarke says.

that job, but sometimes general management gets involved with the design process. Sometimes, the owner will override the designer and sometimes the designer will put his or her foot down and stand by their decision.” Tuuci is a big user of solutiondyed acrylic fabrics from Glen Raven Mills. “About 90 percent of our fabrics are Glen Raven Sunbrella®. They give us the swatchcards and we pass them on to our designers/specifiers who recommend our products to their clients.” “Customers come to us with their ideas and we design everything custom for them. We welcome the designer to be as creative as possible. We have 15 different unique collections of products with 100,000 possible combinations of fabrics and frames. We spend a lot of time in tailoring the finished piece.” Tuuci uses about $1.5 million worth of fabrics per year and doesn’t anticipate switching its main vendor. Most of those fabrics are white, natural or Pacific blue and oyster. These colors have been strong in the Caribbean and the Southeastern USA while beiges and earthtones are strong in the

Top: Dougan Clarke; Right: Tuuci’s Bali Lounge Northeastern USA, Clarke points out. “We have not done much business with jacquard designs,” he said. Larger umbrellas are a major trend in Clarke’s business, designed for the ‘Café Society.’ Several tables can be placed under large umbrellas and this is a trend five years in the making which started in Europe and has spread to America. “Europe might be a decade ahead on this trend. Our privacy cabana line, for example, is a spin off of the European beach scene in America. It doubles as a shower and decorates the outdoor room.” Although not formally trained in design, Clarke loves design,

(Continued from Cover) Niche Player Valtekz Takes Faux Hide Products to New Heights

Tuuci’s Ultra Flex umbrellas “Many mom and pop dealers use a cheap mechanism and expensive fabric. That’s our competition. On the other hand, there’s Tuuci; our first customer is still using the originally purchased Tuuci umbrella mechanism even though the fabric may have been replaced,” he explained. “Our products — like cabanas and lounges — compliment outdoor furniture made by other manufacturers but we still produce unique lounges and we have other ideas on the horizon along these lines,” Clarke said. Tuuci sells to the hospitality trade but also maintains a position in the retail market through designer showrooms. “The best looking jobs we do are specified by the designer on

parade car. Wells also said that a Saudi prince has purchased an Audi A7, converting it into a limo with Valtekz seating inside. Valtekz products have appeared on “Unique Whips,” a cable channel program about car customization. “Our products look genuine,” he added. In addition to seating, Wells said his products also have application for wall coverings. “Try installing real animal hides on walls; it doesn’t work.” he said. “With us, it’s not about price. It’s about quality of product.” “At Valtekz, we are selling 30 different collections, 270 sku’s of faux leathers through 34 agent showrooms in the USA and we will soon hit the Canadian market as well through better showrooms,” Wells confirmed. Valtekz sells, cuts and has stock for the entire line stored in a dedicated 20,000-square-foot warehouse in Pompano Beach, Florida. Valtekz also expects to introduce an 18-page catalog featuring its product line to be given to designers shopping its lines in the showroom environment. The company also depends on Celerie Kemble, an interior

designer to the stars, to develop its upscale lines which are sold under her name and also the Valtekz Luxo brand. While Wells has no formal training in designing fabrics, he had a lot to say about it. “Valtekz is the exclusive customer in the U.S. for all of our vendors,” he said. “We actually develop a recipe for every fabric we sell, right down to the polyester or cotton backing or polyurethane or PVC-face. For outdoor product used in the fur-

which he approaches with great passion. His background lies with different materials used in rigging of sport fishing boats and for several years before Tuuci came about, he worked for Porch & Patio, an outdoor furniture retailer. “Manufacturing is more interesting for me,” he added. His retail experience coupled with his knowledge of metal and other materials led him to start Tuuci and make higher-end, longwearing mechanisms for shade products. “You can buy a cheap mechanism for an umbrella and cover it with expensive fabric. What’s the point of that when you only have to throw it away when it breaks down? We have replacement parts for all of our products to expand the product life. We create our own tools and dies for forged metal parts to maintain niture industry, we have topcoats which utilize nanotechnology called Pro-Tech. Here, smaller molecules fill the grain unseen by the naked eye producing a high UV rating. We never source existing product.” Valtekz has targeted the boat — defined by Wells as 40 feet and below — and the yacht market with a strategy to trade up to more expensive boat makers to differentiate their products from the mass market. Right now, a $20,000 boat can feature the same cockpit seating surfaces as an $80,000 boat. Boat customizing is a big business with some boats costing as much as $400,000, Wells explained. Valtekz product

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the high quality we expect from our products. They are easy to repair.” Tuuci has operations in Australia where it sells through agents and keeps some stock. With nearly 80 employees, most of the product is produced in Miami in its own 30,000 square-foot factory with some light manufacturing and distribution in its European division in Amsterdam. “Some of our vendors are offshore but more are based in the USA. We buy raw materials like stainless steel on the global market and manufacture stateside.” Tuuci participates in 14 shows a year to get the word out about its shade and lounge products. These include the Casual Furniture Market in Chicago, Seatrade in Miami and the Hospitality Design Show in Las Vegas. F&FI “High-end boats need highend seating and materials,” he said. “Just as the manufacturer has traded up the fiberglass and electronics of the boat, he can now trade up the seating and interior surfaces with our products.” To drive his point home, Wells has been sending fullyupholstered helm seats of the boat featuring Valtekz products to show the boat manufacturer how to trade it up. There are more boats than yachts out there but the volume of product used in a yacht is way beyond the typical boat, he said. In the case of the automotive after-market, a $34 billion business, it’s not as simple. “When the consumer wants to decorate the home, she can engage an interior designer,” said Wells. “There is no such thing in the automotive after-market. You go to a fabricator. Right now, we’re trying to figure out how to influence that fabricator to trade up their product offering for automotive seating because our lines are so far ahead of what he is using now for reupholstery.” (Note: Wells reports to Dan Dobin, principal of Valley Forge, the sales leader in hospitality fabrics who also owns Valtekz. Wells runs Valtekz as an independent company.) F&FI

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Sustainable Textiles: Fabric Companies Discuss Efforts ment at Designtex. At HD, Designtex formally introduced their “Renewal” line and showcased several other green offerings. The lack of industry standards has made it increasingly difficult for consumers to be sure a product meets their own environmental needs.

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The Green Anomaly “Being green is much more than offering fabric with recycled content,” said Glenn Stinson, vice president of CFStinson — a leading contract specialist. “It involves being more environmentally friendly in how you bring your products to market.” “Green has been talked about for a couple of years and now it’s finally hitting the masses,” said Stacy Garcia, president and CEO of Stacy Garcia, Inc. and Lebatex just introduced the oec fri sustainable line “Eco-Linen.” “It was in 1995 when we really started to grapple with the idea of sustainability in fabrics and we learned a very precise language by working with MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry),” Derby said. Since then, she said that, “(Designtex’s) attempt has been to categorize things very specifically with criteria that refer to all of the following; their origins,

their safety in use and their endof-life scenario.” “What we’re all seeing — Designtex and its competitors — is that we need to create some ‘sustainable metrics’ for our industry and let manufacturers measure themselves against those,” she said. Derby also noted that certification of fabric can be expensive, but the overall approach is fairly simple. “There’s a lot of talk about what it means and how you define it,” said Garcia. “It’s a multi-tiered concept; there are still a lot of questions in the industry about what it is.” Michael Dobin, vice president of development for Valley Forge Fabrics agreed. “There’s a lot out there right now that people are saying is green, but there’s no governing body to say what is green and what is not,” he said. According to Dobin and other professionals, it is easy to “call yourself green” without actually getting certified by Greenguard, MBDC or another textile certifying agency. Each textile company has its own method of dealing with sustainability, and all are trying to combat the confusion about what it really means to be green. Certifications and Costs As Derby said, certification can be pricey, but the costs are relative to

Clockwise from top left: Stacy Garcia, president and CEO of Stacy Garcia, Inc. and Lebatex; Glenn Stinson; One of Designtex’s newest green offerings, 180 Walls wall covering the product. “To get Greenguard certified, the process is testing done by an indoor-air lab where they actually create a chamber, put products in the chamber, let them off-gas, and then measure the air afterwards to determine what’s been released,” she said. “We’re doing it (getting certified), or testing to lead to certification, when we suspect that there’s a problem. If it’s relevant to the product, if there would be a real concern about volatile organic compounds coming from that product, then it’s worth the cost of certification.” “They (certifying organizations) all charge different amounts,” said Dobin. “We contacted one certification company that wanted six categories of fabric and they wanted $50,000, plus

$10,000 every year. But the biggest misconception with green is that the fabric itself has to be expensive, which is just incorrect.” According to James Ewell, director of projects and external relations with MBDC, the certification price depends on the complexity of the product. “It’s in our best interest to keep trying to drive the cost of certification down,” said Ewell. “I don’t think we’ve had anyone who’s told us it’s unaffordable. Our certification program is designed for any product.” “The point is that we try to

Designtex Products: Green Certifications C2C

Eco-Intelligent Polyester™ Upholstery & Panel Gold rating Climatex® Lifecycle™ Upholstery Silver rating

EU Fower

Color Box Upholstery

Oekotex

Nano-tex™ Resists Spills Finish

Greeguard

SCS

180 Walls™ Wallcovering

Fusion Architectural Panels Recycled content

Fusion Architectural Panels

Crypton® Green Upholstery Indoor Advantage Gold

180 Walls™ Wallcovering Silver rating

Zeftron® Registered Nylon Upholstery Environmentally Preferable Product

Crypton® Green Upholstery Silver rating Nano-tex™ Resists Spills Finish Silver rating (pending) Green certification by product category

updated Mar 07 DH

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make sure that it’s relevant to the product before we add that expense that ultimately gets passed onto the customer,” said Derby. “The fabric that resulted from the first undertaking with MBDC was the first biological nutrient fabric (Climatex® Lifecycle). It was designed to safely biodegrade, but over and above safely biodegrading, it was to add nutrients back into the soil when it biodegraded. So that meant looking at all the die chemistry and the auxiliary chemistry to make sure that whatever was going back into the soil was actually going to promote growth rather than be a toxin of any kind. It had continued to be the model of sustainability for our company in terms of something with a closed-loop cycle from beginning to end, starting with rapidly renewable wool and ramie, and ending up with something that is safely biodegradable.” New Products and Innovations One of Designtex’s newer offerings is certified by Greenguard to have low VOC emissions, and it receives a silver rating from MBDC. According to Derby, a drive-up in cost for “180 Walls™” (due to certification and other expenses), was ultimately worthwhile. “With 180 walls, you’ve built in the adhesives, so your installing costs could be less,” she said. 180 Walls — being offered in five contract styles through a partnership between Designtex and Milliken & Company — is comprised of 100 percent recycled polyester with a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing that eliminates the need for paste, an element which can be environmentally detrimental. The Renewal collection, (Designtex’s newest textile line for hospitality) features eight patterns made from 100 percent recycled polyester. The eighth pattern in the line, “React,” is developed from Eco Intelligent® Polyester (EIP) which is a technical nutrient textile that is made of antimonyfree polyester, fully-optimized dyes and chemicals, and is free of chlorine and PBTs. The concept was developed with MBDC. Designtex consultant and hospitality line designer, Kimberlee Frost said, “Renewal is all about having a design aesthetic and direction. I wanted this to be about texture and color. Designtex has a strong mission statement about sustainability and I felt that it was my job to design a beautiful fabric with the benefit of being sustainable.” As Derby pointed out, fabrics (Continued on page 25)

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F& FI N E W S (Continued from Cover)

Crypton Goes Strictly Green

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Crypton has recently constructed an easy to read table below that explains the difference between standard Crypton Super Fabrics and Crypton Green. Sullivan says the base fiber requirement is different for each set of finishes. “For Crypton Green, we’re specifying that is has to be 50-100 percent recycled oec fri fiber or 100 percent heavy metal free polyester,” Sullivan said. “We try to stress to our customers that we are trying to take a leadership position in green practices, chemistry and product,” he said. He said cofounder Craig Rubin has stated that there is no cap on what Crypton is going to spend on green products and practices. “It’s about being a responsible human being,” Rubin said. “Our company has made the commitment. It’s not a fad for us.” When questioned about the costs associated with certification, Rubin says they are a necessary evil. “If you don’t go there and put yourself in front of them (certification providers) then you can’t make the claim that you’re green. It’s not right. It’s misrepresentation. If you want to take people’s money and you want to be in

business, then you have to go the business as paper-less as possible. We’re re-doing all business softextra mile,” he said. “We have spent an enormous ware. I want to stop cutting down amount of money. There are many trees. Hopefully, everything will companies that are ‘green wash- be paperless by the end of this ing’ and making claims that they year. We will insist our customers meet green protocol and they will give us orders electronically. don’t. We are and we can prove it. No more faxing. Invoices will be We have the letters and certifi- sent electronically.” “We really had to work with cates that prove we are doing it the entire supply chain to make right.” For example, “we thought our this work,” Sullivan said. He said that the yarn supplier chemistry was as green as it can be,” he said. “But when MBDC Unifi is working to get their yarns assessed for Crypton came in, they started green purposes and questioning. They MBDC’s Cradle-towere minor things, Cradle™ certification, but it still made us so they can sell to better. We made those Crypton’s base fabric changes and at a fairly suppliers. significant cost. They According to look at things through Rubin, it took approxidifferent glasses than mately two years to we do.” “green” their King’s He said truly makMountain, North ing green and sustainCraig Rubin Carolina plant and able products the norm will take companies such as processes, as well as the product a design firm in Minneapolis he itself. MBDC awarded Crypton came across, that will not specify Cradle-to-Cradle™ silver certifiyour product unless you meet cation on their chemistry. As far as the plant goes — their green criteria. Rubin says Crypton will also “We’re not polluters,” Craig said is start insisting that their customers one component that was worked reach the same level of responsibil- towards. Within the factory, there are a number of ovens and ity that Crypton is shooting for. “We recycle all our tubes in the machines that put off a lot of plant. We’re trying to make our steam. A system was installed

Comparison of Crypton Super Fabric and Crypton Green Product Attribute

Crypton Super Fabric

Superior formulations for stain, moisture, bacteria, and odor resistance sustainable beauty

•

Green chemistry with ultra-low emissions

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Virtual elimination of PBDEs, PFOAs, and formaldehyde

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Contributes to LEED-CI points (Building Reuse, Recycled Content, Low-Emitting)

MBDC Silver Cradle-to-Cradle™ certification

possible

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tSCS Gold Indoor Advantage™ certification

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Tested and certified to meet Section 01350 and BIFMA X7 emission standards

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Fiber type requirement: Either 50-100% recycled or 100% heavy-metal-free polyester

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Purchase of renewable energy credits

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Green certification by product category

Summer 2007 ■ F&FI

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The Crypton plant, in King’s Mountain, North Carolina where any smoke that goes up the stack and out of the plant is benign. “All exhaust pipes go into one and it takes all the exhaust into a scrubber. This is a huge tank with a water system that has filters in it. The steam goes through the water so that any potentially bad elements that might be in the steam are scrubbed,” said Rubin. Rubin said they are also in the process of installing a charcoal filtering system. The hot steam will eventually go into three huge tanks, where it will be chilled down into a liquid. The liquid sinks through the charcoal system and goes back into the plant. This creates a “closed system,” allowing them to reuse 99 percent of anything that was not used in the first step. The plant operates on steam, rather than heat or electricity. “We changed all the boilers so instead of using electricity or heat for space heaters, they steam the heat and it blows heated air. So

we’re utilizing energy sources that are, in essence, not burning carbon fuel or gas or electricity,” Rubin said. Crypton also spent about $150$160,000 on a wrapping machine that eliminates the need to keep an inventory of several different types of bags. “The machine senses the size of the roll and heat-seals it for shipping. The machine clips off the end and the ends are saved and sent back for recycling. This is polyester that can be recycled. At the end of the day you save money by doing this and not wasting,” Rubin said. According to Rubin, it takes 24 months to see a return on the investment of all the additions and changes to the plant. Sullivan also noted that the plant has the ability to produce product without the use of water. “But long term, we would have to purchase additional machines to do all product this way. It is a direction we’re moving in.” F&FI

Joan’s McCallum Steps Down in Light of SEC Allegations suit. The SEC alleges that Company and 2001 and 2005, the Subsidiary File for between defendants engaged in fraudulent schemes and made materiChapter 11 Sipco News Network

YNGSBORO, Massachusetts — Following SEC fraud charges, chairman, president and CEO of Joan Fabrics Corp., Elkin McCallum, has stepped down from his position, effective March 30. Following McCallum’s decision, Joan Fabrics Corp. and its whollyowned subsidiary, Madison Avenue Design, filed for voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, McCallum was among nine former directors and executives for auto parts manufacturer Collins & Aikman (C&A) who were charged with fraud in a civil law-

ally false and misleading statements concerning C&A’s financial condition and operating results in filings with the SEC, offering documents and press releases. C&A settled the charges without admittance or denial of the SEC’s allegations. The settlement will be subject to approval of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Throughout the bankruptcy filing and reorganization process, both Joan Fabrics and Madison Avenue Design will remain fully operational under the Carl Marks Advisory Group. They will continue to serve their 700 or so clients in the hospitality, residential and contract sectors in the Mexican, Canadian and U.S. markets. F&FI

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ORGANIC LUXURY

NEW MARKET

BUILDING UP

Jesse Johnson of Q-Collection proves that eco-friendly can equal designfriendly.

Matt Mladenka of East Teak discusses the supplier’s charge onto the hospitality scene.

Reid Witlin’s Scott Yasgoor announces a new line and a bulked up sales force.

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Contract/HospitalityNews T h e

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FURNITURE | ERG Makes the Leap Into Hospitality New Line Offers Specialized Chairs and Tables

George Zaki

by Kelly Hushin

said the pieces are different in design and more suitable for the hospitality market due to their durability and flame resistance. ERG worked

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XNARD, California — In April of this year, ERG International officially launched ERG Hospitality. “We started (ERG Hospitality) because it was a natural extension of the product,” said company CEO, George oec fri Zaki. “We went ahead and created the line and developed quite a few pieces that suit hospitality more.” ERG International specializes in manufacturing custom furniture, with a specific regard to chairs and tables that are placed in public service areas. The company was founded in 1981 with the offering of a single swivel chair. From there, the Zakis began to develop their ideas and their current services proved their official jump into hospitality to be quite a natural one. About the hospitality line, Zaki

with Perrenial Design’s Toni Hekelman on the development of the product offerings. “We feel that we have a package for some niches in the hospitality industry such as food bars,

steel frames that can come in 24 powder-coat finishes or polished chrome. It is offered as a café chair, counter stool and bar stool and can come with or without arms. The Trevo series of armchairs have fully upholstered seats and backs on polished chrome or powder-coated frame. Two-tone fabric is available and optional maple wood arm caps come in 16 different colors. The Torento line includes benches and

nightclubs, lounges,” said Zaki. “We don’t go into rooms or suites. We go for the public spaces like lounges and food eateries. That’s really where I see our designs going.” Zaki said that ERG’s hospitality line is competitive because of its extensive color options. For instance, the Elos line features a maple wood seat with perforated back and

SURFACES | Architectural Systems, Inc. Breeds Innovation Fusionstone™, Magna Mosaics™ and Lunalite™ Among Introductions

This past year, the company proudly announced the launch of some new products that have brought further innovation to technology and design at ASI. The

company is continuing to introduce some of their latest product offerings that were launched at this year’s GlobalShop and HD Expo. Fusionstone™ is a new offering

by Kelly Hushin

EW YORK, New York — From a basement to a chic, lofty, eighth-floor Manhattan office, Ron and Nancy Jackson, CEO and president of Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI), know what it’s like to travel “from the ground up.”

HICAGO, Illinois — With some of the most unique surfacing materials and wall-covering options in the industry, Maya Romanoff has proven that artistic passion is — after all — at the core of any successful interiors manufacturer. A traveler and innovator at heart, Maya Romanoff, director of the

Wall made with Mother of Pearl mosaic wall covering

from ASI that the Jacksons were eager to bring to market. Offered through ASI’s specialty products brand, it is made through a proprietary process whereby ultra-clear glass is permanently fused to exotic stone slabs. The process eliminates adhesion lines and the material appears entirely translucent. “Fusionstone fills a specific need in the hospitality industry,” said Nancy Jackson. “For instance, in a bathroom environment, cosmetics would normally affect stone (Continued on page 35)

Natural stones sourced from around the world create ASI’s Magna Mosaic™ Collection.

SURFACES | Maya Romanoff Transforms the Traditional Wallcovering by Kelly Hushin

(Continued on page 30)

Zola café chair

Maya Romanoff Corporation, has been working his magic through his company since 1969 when he brought his fascination for tie-dyed fabric to a whole new level. “Maya started out tie-dying t-shirts,” said vice president of sales and marketing, and niece of Maya Romanoff, Laura Romanoff. “He had an epiphany at Woodstock when he saw tie-died shirts. He became obsessed with the techniques and was moving on from material to material, from cotton to canvas to velvet, silk, to leather and polyester.” “He had a lot of belief in what he was doing. He was searching for an outlet for his creative intensity. He had focused on sketching and painting and poetry and wanted to get away from himself. Maya found working with materials allowed him to expose their beauty, but he got frustrated with fashion and he became very involved in the art world. But he got too involved. Once he found design, he was excited by the enthusiasm with which designers react to beauty, whereas with art it was much more complicated. The head of J. Robert Scott recommended that Maya look at walls, and gave him some good advice.” Look at walls he did — and more. Maya Romanoff Corporation, which now has just over 50 employees in its Chicago factory, offers some of the industry’s most striking materials; their driving principal being, “It has to be beautiful.” (Continued on page 35) “Everything has to be some-

Inside Contract/ Hospitality News Textiles: Emma Gardner Announces First Licensed Fabric Design . . . . . . . . . . .28

Furniture: Designer Angie Thornbury Introduces Outdoor Line, “la-Féte” . . . . . . . . . . .30

Lighting: Farmboy Fine Arts Brightens Up Hospitality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Floor Covering: Brintons Teams Up with Scottish Designers Timorous Beasties . . . . . .34

Surfaces: 3form’s Talley Goodson Discusses Their Acquisition by Hunter Douglas . . . . .35

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Kravet, Lizzo of Spain Partner Up in North America by Eric Schneider

ANIA, Florida — Kravet Fabrics Corp. has placed a significant bet on the Lizzo of Spain by adding it to its product mix as a freestanding collection in the USA and Canada in most of its 31 showrooms. Currently, Kravet is showcasing five Lizzo books in its show-

rooms featuring high-end wovens with cut velvet, chenille and printed paislies. Kravet says it has a partnership with Lizzo because Lizzo distributes Kravet in Spain. Kravet Fabrics Corp. kicked off its introduction of the Lizzo line at a three-hour party in its DCOTA showroom here, complete with paella, sangria, flan and a flamen-

Left to right: Ann Feldstein; Larry Kravet co dancer and guitarist. About 100 designers turned out for the event to hear a presentation from Ann Feldstein, Kravet director of marketing communications. “The sensibility and design control of the Lizzo line is a compliment to other

Kravet Luxury collections,” Feldstein said. “Lizzo is exclusively distributed by Kravet in the USA and is one of the best collections to

come out of Europe,” said Larry Kravet, Kravet chairman, on hand for the event. Larry Kravet said that his firm also recently opened its 30th showroom, on three floors in the Estero section of Naples, Florida on Corkscrew Road in October 2006. Kravet is the only trade showroom in the building. The 31st Kravet showroom opened in Tulsa on East 71st Street recently. F&FI

Panaz Announces Growth Sipco News Network

ANCASHIRE, England — ‚Panaz Limited, a fabric design and manufacturing company based in the UK, has announced figures that represent its most successful trading year to date.

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Celebrating 30 years of design excellence

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After 21 years in the industry, Panaz has grown into a leading distributor of flame retardant textiles for the contract sector. Its export sales account for 30 percent of their total turnover; a figure that increased by 20 percent in the last 12 months (as of April 2007). The growth is due, in part, to a 15 percent growth in sales across the UK and Europe, as well as a 40 percent rise in sales in the U.S. market. “From a product perspective, our creative team has developed a truly international ‘look’ – exemplified by our latest boutique collection,” said Tony Attard, company founder, president of Panaz USA and CEO of Panaz in the UK. F&FI

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Sustainable Textiles: Fabric Companies Discuss Efforts

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are usually not the top cause for major eco-concerns. “For instance, the VOC issue, has really — to my mind — been blown up to a great degree as it relates to fabric,” said Derby. “It is a critical piece of inforo- fri mation to have c e when you’re designing interiors, but fabrics are not typically the culprit when it comes to off-gassing. Adhesives can be a problem as well as solvents and printing inks and things like that. Most fabrics are going to be pretty inert when it comes to releasing off-gasses.” Derby, Dobin and Garcia agreed that while companies may find themselves caught in a tangled web of green misconceptions, what is most important is not simply that the fabrics are recycled,

recyclable or have low VOC emissions, but more so that steps are being taken to analyze the bigger picture. At CFStinson, the approach in recent years has been to revolutionize the way sales are done, and reduce waste made by sample distribution. “Internet sampling is not only more efficient and far-reaching; it is eco-friendly as it reduces waste in the production and distribution of sample cards,” said Stinson. In April of 2007, CFStinson launched the third release of their website to encourage online buying and sampling. Other companies have also begun to realize the value of Internet marketing; utilizing web platforms like “Sample Technologies,” (a sister company of CFStinson), which provides a platform to customers who wish to better their online sales, hence reducing waste that comes from typical sampling.

Summer 2007 ■ F&FI

Giving and Taking Back At Garcia’s company, she and her colleagues decided that although they were taking steps toward promoting green products, there had to be more they could do. “We as a team asked ourselves, ‘what can we do to do more?’” said Garcia. “It still takes energy to recycle product, it’s still a manmade product that’s going on a truck to be recycled, so what can we do to erase our footprints?” To answer her own question, Garcia decided to implement a program where for every 1,000 yards of Eco-Linen that is printed, the company will plant a tree. Eco-Linen, Garcia’s green introduction, is an “FR recycledcontent print base cloth which is being weaved at a ‘green’ mill. It’s not just recycled fabric, but the mill itself recycled. They are energy conscious. The mill is conscious about their own suppliers; they want to source from local suppliers,” she said. “If the project was big enough we might plant it in honor of the project,” she said. Although they are still debating the logistics of the program, which was just launched at HD Expo, Garcia said, “The fact that we’re planting a tree on the earth is really what the point is.” Valley Forge is also looking at the big picture of sustainability. With the introduction of FRESH, the company has brought to fruition the idea of a take-back program that physically works to

take back fabric at the end of its life cycle. Many companies offer take-back programs where the product can be returned for recycling, but most do not actually provide the services to take the product out of the hands of the enduser. With FRESH, which debuted at HD Expo in May, users can call on Valley Forge to take their product back. “If we tell people that something is recyclable, they won’t even know where to start or how to recycle it,” said Dobin. “We’re offering a service that takes back the fabric and recycles it. We sell the fabric to a hotel and if seven or so years later they want to redesign, we offer the recycling program. We will pick up the product and then recycle the prod-

For every 1,000 yards of Eco-Linen that is printed, Stacy Garcia’s company will plant a tree uct.” There will be a transportation fee associated with the pick up, but Valley Forge is one of the few companies in the business working toward physically taking back product, says Dobin. While Designtex offers some fabrics that have a take-back program, Derby agreed that more efforts should be made toward the implementation of such programs. “What our industry really needs

to evolve to is a much easier mechanism for end-users to access takeback,” said Derby. “We’re labeling as much as we can. Everything Designtex touches is labeled with this information. We are doing the outreach to tell customers, ‘this is what can happen to this fabric at the end of its life cycle.” “I think all of this is going to evolve and it will come about as a dialogue between textile manufacturers and furniture manufacturers as to how the final piece of furniture communicates this to the end-user.” F&FI

Lady Making ‘Natural’ Contract Gains Brazilian Mill Specializes in Wool and Linen. Sipco News Network

IGH POINT, North Carolina — Lady Fabrics is approaching $20 million in sales in 2007, according to George Allan Lowy Jr., third generation principal and general manager of this Brazilian mill, about an hour from Sao Paolo.

George Lowy “Brazil is a big country but you need to think globally. Our next step after America is Europe in 2008,” Lowy said. “We work as a U.S. company and handle all aspects of the import process.” The five-yearold US operation also relies on its own US agent network. “We keep stock in Brazil and ship every week to the States to furniture manufacturers and jobbers as well as the small plane aviation market. We offer the jobber especially, great flexibility with minimums of one piece per design.”

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The separate distribution and menswear looks with three to company based in High Point is five week delivery, most from headed by George Lowy Jr. who stock,” Lowy said. “We focus on polyester fabric is also general manager of the Brazilian operation. He makes production in Brazil but offer four trips a year to the United natural fabrics for export to the States and spends one week o- fri States,” he explained. Originally, the local at a time here. Export is ec Brazilian office furniture 20 percent of sales today business became the but Lady is seeking a mainstay of this mill in 50/50 mix with domestic wool, polyester and olefin. sales, he says. At the last Showtime, Lady Lady also was active in local featured a poly/wool herringbone office and bank building projects geared to furniture manufactur- and hotels as well as aviation and ers at $8.95 per yard. Lady also transportation fabrics. Today, offers wool sateen in 60 colors at Lady is starting to penetrate the $14.75 a yard. “We’ll custom US contract market with wool, color any of our fabrics with as lit- especially stretch wool for contle as four piece minimums,” temporary furniture frames. The company was started in Lowy added. “We also believe in the sus- 1941 by Erich Lowy who named tainable system of manufacturing it after his wife Ady Lowy. and are working towards green Originally an apparel fabric mill, certification. We use no heavy Lady evolved into a home furmetals in manufacturing and the nishings supplier. Erich was followed by his son waste water is treated and recycled. We also use hydroelectric George Lowy Senior and now power for production. We use George Lowy Jr. is general mannatural gas for finishing and ager. His brother Ricardo runs manufacturing and sister Patricia dying.” Lady introduced a contract handles finance. While 65 percent of Lady’s home furnishings line to the local Brazilian market with the first business is residential, a growing wave of Chinese apparel fabrics movement in contract is taking about 15 years ago and started to place. The line consists of natural export natural fabrics in wool, fabrics including wool, linen, and linen and rayon to the States five cotton; rayon linen blends in the $6.95-$8.95 landed duty paid. years ago, Lowy states. Lady is a piece-dyed house “About 30 percent of our producwith yarn forward capability, tion features medium and thicker jacquard weaving, dobby produc- wool yarns interesting to upholtion as well as in-house finishing. stery accounts for its soft touch “The line offers a lot of texture and better durability.” F&FI

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Designtex’s Renewal

“Cfstinson.com launched in Neocon 2000 to a great market reception,” said Stinson. “Not long after, furniture manufacturers approached us with the same problems that we faced. Thus came the idea for Sample Technologies, launched in 2003.” “The problems were that traditional sampling (binders, etc.) was out-of-date as soon as it was sent, as new things were constantly being added and deleted from the line. The sample cards would be removed from the binders and the next designer would not have the benefit of a full binder. Fabrics can now be added and deleted from the line much more efficiently. Speed to market with the platform has been a huge advantage as we can post images to our website much faster than the time required to produce traditional sample elements.”

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Hospitality Specialist Reid Witlin Weaves in Taiwan Sipco News Network

alabasas, CA — Reid Witlin Ltd is a 20-year-old manufacturing and sourcing specialist to the hospitality trade, catering specifically to the hotel and cruise ship marketplace in the United States. “Reid Witlin Ltd. co-owns looms in Taiwan with a weaving

capacity of approximately 250,000 yards per month and can be extremely competitive when it comes to pricing in a bidding situation,” said Scott Yasgoor, recently appointed national sales director. “Typically, our deliveries run 30-45 days, depending upon the construction of the fabric and the quantity. We are also in the process of opening in Shanghai to

handle many of our novelty fabrics,” Yasgoor added. “Our primary clients are architects and designers who specify our products, as well as purchasing agents and hotel owners.” Yasgoor was previously a hospitality marketing manager for seven years. “In that capacity, I worked with companies like Reid Witlin Ltd extensively to help me source

custom fabrics that were required for many of my jobs.” Recent installations include the guestrooms of the Los Cabos Hilton, Flamingo Las Vegas, Marriott Vacation Club, Sheraton Society Hill and Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Products include wovens for upholstery and headboards, as well as prints and sheers for drapery and bedding applications. Smaller quantities for suites, public areas and ballrooms can also

2006 Attendees

Scott Yasgoor be specified through the company’s new textile collection released in April of this year. As Reid Witlin Ltd. decided to become a national textile company, Yasgoor was asked if he would be interested in helping them build a sales force as well as to help them create a line. In addition, the task of building out the company’s website was his responsibility. Yasgoor has now completed all three tasks and feels the company is positioned for explosive growth. “We recently launched our first collection of over 500 items and now have several sales reps covering many of the prime hospitality markets here in the U.S.,” he said. Reid Witlin Ltd. is now looking to hire more agents in selected cities around the U.S., with a huge eye toward the Dubai marketplace. Reid Witlin Ltd. exhibited at HD Las Vegas for the first time in May. F&FI

Gardner Releases 1st Licensed Fabric Design Sipco News Network

Now in its third year, Hospitality Match USA (HM) matches FF&E suppliers with the heads of purchasing, design and hotel corporations. Our exclusive invitation-only event brings the key decision makers to you for a weekend of serious business and exceptional networking events. At HM, you will meet with pre-qualified buyers at the I participate in Match because I prefer three- to five-star level, one-to-one, with pre-arranged meetings. the one on one contacts with vendors. The relationships you will walk away with at HM would take some people a lifetime to achieve. This organized and focused format gives

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ITCHFIELD, Connecticut — Licensor Imagine Adventures Inc. will be working with Emma Gardner Design, Inc. to create their first licensed fabric, “Elefunk.” Emma Gardner Design is a boutique design and development company that makes contemporary heirloom quality rugs and other interior products. The team will work to bring Elefunk to life as part of a larger collection. Elefunk will be offered in eight color stories that are “whimsical” and “edgy,” according to Mike Farrell, owner of Imagine Adventures. Several contracts have been engineered to bring Elefunk to market in the United States. The manufacturer, Palliser Furniture, Ltd. plans to use Elefunk in an oversized chair and ottoman design, and for decorative pillows. Imagine Adventures plans to work with high-end furniture and fabric retailers like High Fashion Home in Houston and Britex in San Francisco. F&FI

Summer 2007 ■ F&FI

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Q Collection Furniture and Textiles Merge Sustainability with Quality

The Q Collection furniture line is made with: Wood:

Burgeoning Firm Display Their Strong Environmental Values, Practices

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EW YORK, New York — Q Collection may be a young company, but its driving mission has undoubtedly helped in its quick climb to success. Co-founder and CEO, Jesse Johnson, used his o- fri background in c e environmental management to prove that quality and design do not have to be compromised for eco-friendly furniture, textiles and accessories. Anthony Cochran, cofounder and creative director, was able to bring Johnson’s ideas to a fruitful reality, with designs geared primarily toward environmentally conscious, high-end customers. “I had a small apartment in Tribeca and had hired Anthony to do the interior design,” said Johnson. “My background was more from the environmental management side and his was from the design side; which have come to complement each other in the end. We wanted to find products that were as equally focused on design and quality as they were on sustainability. This was in ’99

Wood finishes: • has replaced polyurethane (contains toluene, also known to cause cancer) with water-based alternatives

Clockwise: Jesse Johnson, cofounder and CEO of Q Collection; Q Collection introduced their contract textiles line at this year’s ICFF’; The Tucker Bench uses chromium-free leather that is vegetable-died and both of us looked around and couldn’t really find materials that met these criteria.” Thus, Q Collection was born. It has grown into a company that offers 20 furniture designs and will be introducing a new children’s furniture line later this year, as well as 100 fabric skus in their textile division. Historically, about 60 percent of their sales have been in furniture and the rest in their textile offerings. The Tucker Bench and the Todhunter Club Chair are the most recent additions to Q Collection’s line of furniture offerings. “The Tucker Bench is dyed with vegetable dyes and tanned using no heavy metals,” said

• flacquer effect: a water-based replacement for high-solvent lacquer (contains no formaldehyde) Paint: • zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)

Johnson. “Typically both processes can be quite toxic. For example, the heavy metal chromium is often used in leather tanning. Chromium poisoning was the subject of the movie Erin Brokovich.” “We are introducing a line of children’s furniture and bedding. We have learned in the last few years that interest in what we focus on is definitely growing and awareness is much greater than when we started. We want to know who is more interested, and on the one side it is the commercial industry and on the other side it’s people buying furniture for their kids.” “I think we’ll always be a company that isn’t solely focused on furniture for hospitality but has

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ERG Makes the Leap Into Hospitality

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table benches that feature individual, two and three seats on steel, tapered-leg frames. They are available with upholstered seats or laminate tabletop/bench seats and have optional shelvoec fri ing and tabletop available in over 1,000 different laminates. All of ERG’s product manufacturing is done in California where they use products from companies like Designtex, ArcCom and Knoll Textiles. “Most of our products are made locally and therefore we have a handle on them,” said Zaki. “We can do custom work and don’t have to import (the products.)” The in-house capabilities of their Oxnard plant include welding, sandblasting, table-edge application, wood-finishing,

upholstery and more. ERG has some of the latest technology for use in manufacturing, including NC bending equipment, fully-automated and computerized panel saws and KOMO CNC Router machines. Valencia Leather chair The ERG hospitality line also focuses on environmentally safe offerings for its eco-conscious customers. “Everything we make here is local and green,” said Zaki. “We try to recycle and reuse. All the materials are recyclable and water-based. We were the very first company to introduce water-based glues and stains ten years ago in California.” The

company meets or surpasses all EPA manufacturing requirements for stains, sealers, lacquers, glues and adhesives using these water-soluble products. The hospitality line was just launched in early April, but Zaki said it has been well-received by customers so far. “The response has been good,” he said. “The phone has been ringing a couple of times a day in that particular division and it’s going to grow. I think by June it’s really going to pick up. “We’re working on it and we’re going to use our name to help. We’re all for high-end quality and that will continue. We’ll continue to carry our tradition.” F&FI

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pieces that are used in those settings. We don’t have pieces that are specifically geared for hospitality. Because of the quality and the price, they’re usually used as accents. We’re not competing on price and a lot of contract settings are going for that. Our goal is to stay an innovator in sustainable design and it’s not easy to do that in the contract market for furniture. Thankfully for textiles we’re able to offer that.” At this year’s ICFF, Q Collection officially introduced its contract textiles line which brings their ideas about sustainability to the contract market. “We’re trying to make a reach into hospitality with the new textile line,” said Helen Quinn, director of textile design and development. “We’re seeing the contract growing out of the residential line. The colors are quite sophisticated and can cross over. All the fabrics in the contract line have at least 60,000 double rubs on the Wyzenbeek. They’re recycled and they’re-produced in North

• natural pigments • natural lemon oil polish Upholstery Construction: • twine, webbing & burlap: natural jute • foam: natural latex, no polyurethane • feather ticking: natural cotton • muslin: organic cotton flannel • batting: organic cotton

America. Most residential fabrics are produced in Europe, so we’re very excited to use less shipping and less oil.” Both Johnson and Quinn said the contract line will be competitively priced in the range of $20 $30 per yard — a significant decrease from their residential line which tends to be priced at or around $80 per yard. “Longer term we intend to stay a leader in the environmental areas,” said Johnson. “This is the full reason we started the company so we’ll never deviate from that.” F& FI

Designer Angie Thornbury Introduces “la Féte” Outdoor Sipco News Network

OS ANGELES, California — After months of collaborating with her husband’s spa manufacturing company, ‘’Softub,’’ interior designer Angie Thornbury announced the introduction of her outdoor line, “la-Féte, The Scene Outdoors.” Pending green certification, 95 percent of the new line uses recyclable materials. The products are weatherproof, durable and feature interchangeable covers. Some of the product offerings include “wave,” an ergonomic chaise, “puck,” an ottoman/coffee table and “sun-pad,” a round outdoor platform for sunbathing. F&FI

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Hinson Introduces New Metalarte Collections by Kelly Hushin

EW YORK, New York — Hinson lighting has a jumpstart on design this season with new Metalarte introductions and a reintroduction of an old classic. The “Lewit” collection is new from Metalarte, a lighting design company based in Barcelona. Metalarte was founded by Antonio Riera Clariana in 1932 as a metal workshop. The Lewit collection incorporates open, frame-like, slim, steel rectangles in a cubic concept. The lamps have a cylindrical shape that resembles black or white

metal mesh. Their design gives the illusion that the lamp is “freefloating,” despite its permanent affixture. Also new from Metalarte is the “Josephine” collection. In this design, traditional porcelain is brought together with platinum, gold, black and white finishes in a

Hinson is also proud to say that thirty years after its introduction, the Robjsjohn-Gibbings classic square marble table lamp, has made its way back to the showroom floor. The lamp was originally designed by T.H Robsjohn-Gibbings for George Hansen in 1952 at the pinnacle of his career.

IHG Replaces 250,000 Incandescent Bulbs

TLANTA, Georgia — The Hotel Management Group — the Americas Operations division of Intercontinental Hotels Group — announced that they will replace more than 250,000 incan-

descent light bulbs with new energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in guest rooms at over 200 company-managed hotels across the Americas. This initiative is the first of many environmental programs that IHG’s Hotel Management

Group will launch in 2007, all part best practices and innovative of their “Chase the Extraordinary” initiatives for our guests, road tour. This will involve IHG owners and communities,” said Tom Murray, COO, executives visiting companyoec fri the Americas, IHG. managed hotels and rally“Replacing the old incaning employees around the descent light bulbs in new initiatives. The lighthotels with energy-effibulb change-over is the cient longer-lasting CFLs is lead effort. “Chase the Extraordinary is our an important step in doing our part pledge to go beyond what is ordi- to respect and improve our envinary or usual by implementing ronment while at the same time

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Sipco News Network

non-porous ceramic. Josephine’s table lamp and ceiling pendant bring in a series of fluid spirals to their design. The concept derives from digital images that were interpreted by northern Italian artists. Besides the Metalarte intros, Hinson is also proud to say that thirty years after its introduction,

Farmboy Fine Arts Introduces FB123 Virtual Art Process Gives Customization a Jump Start by AnnMarie Marano

“We have a great team. I think that one of the keys to our success is involving designers from different disciplines.” —Towers

ANCOUVER, Canada — Farmboy Fine Arts (FBFA) has unveiled FB123, a newly developed art process that allows you to virtually choose your image, medium and composition of the product FBFA is to create. “We currently have 30,000 images in our Farmboy stockyard collection at www.farmboyfinearts.com, that we have an exclusive license to or own outright,” said Todd Towers, president. Towers started the company seven years ago. He holds a BFA in painting, and for years ran his own studio — until he had the opportunity to develop work for Starwood and W Hotels. Above: Farmboy product installation; Right: Todd Towers Today, FBFA has a range of 12 products, including a number of clients in the hospitality and retail augment your images of choice to fit within your medium and your digital art pieces, as well as markets,” Towers said. “Once you have gone on our composition of choice.” “Woo,” their custom designed The first phase of the website website and searched the light fixtures and panels. “Our collection of images stockyard, you follow the simple was launched May 15 and the from our roster of 150 artists, three-step process to develop site process was showcased at HD photographers and illustrators specific art pieces for your envi- Expo. “We have a great team,” around the world is specifically ronment. At any stage along the tailored to the needs of our way, our design team is ready to Towers said of his 12 designers. “I

Summer 2007 ■ F&FI

the Robjsjohn-Gibbings classic square marble table lamp, has made its way back to the showroom floor. The lamp was originally designed by T.H RobsjohnGibbings for George Hansen in 1952 at the pinnacle of his career. The lamp design features a sculptural, square, white or black marble column. The classic table lamp has on/off chain sockets and is available with round or square white linen or white translucent shades. Both lamps are combined with bronze, matte nickel, polished brass or polished chrome. Mrs. George Hansen said that this lamp was most avidly sought after by architects and designers in the 50’s and 60’s. Hinson’s lighting division was established in 1992 when Hinson

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think that one of the keys to our success is involving designers from different disciplines. We hire designers that are wellversed in art theory, communication design, industrial and interior design, fashion marketing, photography and computer-generated arts. Vancouver and western Canada is a hot bed for design technology and digital media, so we are forever collaborating with new people and working to develop ideas that are very ‘today.’ We also have a world class production team that enables us to translate our ideas into viable art mediums, shipped to our client locations all around the world.” FBFA has production partners on both the East and West coasts of North America. “This enables us to meet our clients’ logistical needs regarding the production and shipping timelines on either side of our continent,” Towers explained. Towers says he and his team would like to develop their own brand of Farmboy Hotels. “My partners and I envision how we will develop it and are currently looking for other ‘farmboy believers’ to realize our dream with us.” F&FI

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The “Lewit” collection & Company (established in 1972), acquired Hansen Lamps. Hinson & Co. also incorporates the Mrs. MacDougal Shop that has small furniture pieces and accessories like custom ceramics by Anne Gordon. F&FI improve our profitability.” The new lighting program will result in an annual reduction of almost 50 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. The typical savings per CFL is at least $30 over its lifetime. The incandescent light bulbs will be changed over to CFLs within one year. Over the course of the year, an additional 15,000 CFLs will be distributed to employees of IHG’s companymanaged properties for use in their homes so that they have the opportunity to adopt the same practice being implemented at hotels. The “Chase the Extraordinary” tour will reach 30 states and 12 countries and was launched on May 1 from IHG’s Americas region headquarters in Atlanta. IHG is partnering with TCP, Inc. on this environmental initiative. TCP is a leading lighting manufacturer of CFLs. F&FI

Swarovski Teams with RISD Sipco News Network

EW YORK, New York — Swarovski partnered with 16 students from Rhode Island School of Design to create the “Crystal Connection” exhibit at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair. The exhibition featured the use of crystal in lighting, as well as seating, tables and decorative home accents. The students were given unlimited access to Swarovski’s product and technical expertise to create innovative pieces that re-think the use of crystal in interiors. F&FI

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East Teak Fine Hardwoods Enters Hospitality Market First in N. America toOffer FS Certified, Post-Consumer Recycled Teak by Kelly Hushin

woods,” said Schulman. “It is also the most valuable, at a very high price point.” In addition to reaching out to hospitality, East Teak is also making efforts to attract sustainable product seekers. The company has announced its recent certification as North America’s first and only attractive appearance. “All marine boats are typically supplier of Forest Stewardship teak because it can withstand Council (FSC) certified, 100 perpost-consumer recyweather and elements,” said co- fri cent cled teak and rosewood. Schulman. “But now it has e “Lots of architects become a premium wood are starting to use this of choice for corporate with their LEED certifiheadquarters and upscale cation (efforts),” said homes. It doesn’t rot or decay Mladenka. “The architects are over time.” Hotel designers choosing to using it because it’s FSC-certified incorporate teak will find that it is and because it just lasts forever. “FSC-certified teak is a green a hot but pricey commodity. “Teak is one of the hardest, product. We’re bringing it out of strongest and most durable of all old buildings in Asia. It is postLeft: Matt Mladenka, marketing and sales director for East Teak; Above: East Teak’s 100 percent post-consumer recycled, FSC-certified teak; Kitchen furnished with Sapele, an exotic wood offering from East Teak

who represents East Teak through Michael Burns & Associates, Public Relations, hospitality is a new market for East Teak. “Before last year they weren’t really reaching out to them,” she said. “They saw hospitality as a hot growing market.” Historically, East Teak has held much of its business in residential and maritime design, dealing significantly with the design of boats. Teak has been popular for the boating/marina industry because of its extreme durability and

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ALLAS, Texas — In response to growing customer demand, East Teak Fine Hardwoods, Inc. has begun to market its products specifically to hospitality, in addition to having just finalized an eco-friendly, recycled teak. Before this year, East Teak had not been formally involved in the hospitality industry, despite its frequent work with hotels both boutique and chain. “The hospitality market is calling us,” said Matt Mladenka, marketing and sales director for East Teak. “Traditionally teak has been highly regarded in the marine industry but we’ve been seeing in the last couple years much more play on us from architects, so we’ve tried to make it easy for them to find us.” According to Cherie Schulman,

Brintons Teams with Scotland’s Timorous Beasties Scottish Firm Brings in Unconventional Designs by Kelly Hushin

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TLANTA, Georgia — Brintons, the U.K.-headquartered manufacturer of custom woven Axminster carpet, recently joined forces with Scottish designers, the Timorous Beasties, to create a new line of carpet projects to suit hospitality markets. Timorous Beasties, o- fri founded in Glasgow c e in 1990, is known in the design community as having provocative and surreal textile and wall covering designs. “Ali McAuley and Paul Simmons have been known in the British design scene for a decade now,” said Deborah Adams, vice president of marketing for Brintons. “Through publicity and by insistence from our London-

based senior carpet designer, Brintons pursued a collaboration. We connected two years ago and the partnership began. It is a conscious strategic objective to be a global design leader and invest in design excellence.” After working together on design schemes for the past two years, Brintons introduced a collection of carpet stories named after the Scottish team at this year’s HD Expo in Las Vegas. The first offering in “Timorous Beasties” features nine stories. “The line was inspired by hand-drawn sketches and/or combinations of classical elements using not Pattern on Pattern, a new trend, but an even newer idea of Pattern in Pattern,” said Adams. “Pattern on Pattern is a layered effect of large patterns on patterns. Pattern in pattern is when a medium sized pattern is found in a larger pattern, and skirts in and out of the bigger design. The designs are also, for the most part, large-scale, which lend themselves to open interior spaces, corridors and public spaces.” The woven carpets in the cus-

Deborah Adams, vice president of marketing tomizable, re-colorable collection are made of 80 percent wool and 20 percent nylon. Jonathan Young, the CEO of Brintons America said that Timorous Beasties goes against conventional rules of design, and Adams agreed. “The surprise of naturalistic images of insects, plants and animals in a contemporary graphic style for carpet is a novel approach,” she said. “A lot of the design is also asymmetrical and although this is not novel, using this approach in public spaces is. Probably not for everyone, but it does break the rules for carpet and will appeal to brave new interior designers of which there are many.” Many of the patterns incorpo-

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rate teal, gold and chocolate brown tones. The stories were given exotic and naturalistic names like Iguana, Leaves and Tudor Rose Wood, to match their unique style. According to Adams, Brintons can be considered a company that is making efforts toward green manufacturing. She said from the standpoint of their wool manufacturing, the company could be considered a “very green manufacturer.” “Our premier yarn system is wool, and wool is a renewable resource,” said Adams. “Brintons utilizes wool from one in every eight sheep in the UK for its yarn supply.” Brintons has been in the business of specialty woven Axminster carpets for 224 years. Eighty percent of their global commercial business is in custom work, the core of their business coming from the hospitality industry. “It is imperative that we offer our customers the opportunity to create interiors that are proprietary to them,” said Adams. “The design firms want to set themselves apart from their competition as do the hotels, resorts, restaurants, convention centers and any other venue that competes for visitors.” F&FI

consumer recycled. Our supplier has deals in place and they take down old structures that are either falling down or vacant or they’ve been there 100 years.” Due to the age of many of these recycled woods, each piece of the FSC-certified teak has characteristics of 60-100 years of aging, including more knots, imperfections and richer colors that will give a matured, rustic look. Because there is a limited availability of reclaimed hardwood worldwide, East Teak is working on further developing their FSCcertified woods. “Over the course of the next year, we’ll be greatly expanding our FSC offerings with different price points and different versions of teak; moving toward the green end,” said Mladenka. “This recycled teak is just our introduction to that market.”

“In the upscale market, the trend is dark woods right now, so some of the darker hard woods are really selling. Sapele is beautiful for flooring; it’s in the Mahogany family and it looks similar but it’s about half the cost. “ Both Mladenka and Schulman said that while East Teak’s major selling point is teak, they also offer a variety of woods that make the company unique. “Right now, East Teak supplies almost all the major exotics,” said Schulman. “They sell afromosia, cumaru, garapa. Most of it comes from Asia, some comes from South America.” “We want to make sure our customers know we sell other woods than teak,” said Mladenka. “We’ve also extended our product variety in the last few years. In the upscale market, the trend is dark woods right now, so some of the darker hard woods are really selling. Sapele is beautiful for flooring; it’s in the Mahogany family and it looks similar but it’s about half the cost. For indoor flooring, it would be a very good choice.” F&FI

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Architectural Systems, Inc. Nancy Jackson, president of Architectural Systems, Inc.; Ron Jackson, CEO of Architectural Systems, Inc

badly. But Fusionstone has a layer of glass so any chemicals do not impact the stone, the material won’t stain and it’s more scratch resistant.” Also new, from the company’s decorative surface brand, Lunalite™ was formally released into the public at HD Expo, but introduced at GlobalShop. Lunalite™ surfaces feature materials such as mica and gold flake embedded in materials like glass and acrylic. The Lunalite™ technology can be applied to doors,

windows, dividers, walls, countertops and more. Magna Mosaics™ is third in the list of new products ASI is offering; this one through their specialty products brand. “Magna Mosaics and Lunalite were very well-received,” said Ron Jackson. “The strategy was to introduce them at GlobalShop and continue to introduce them to the public throughout the year.” The natural stones that make up Magna Mosaics are shaped by modern tools and attached to a seamless

backing. Magna Mosaics™ is fully customizable down to the texture and size of the individual stones. At this year’s HD Boutique in September, ASI will take a new approach to their booth design and, according to Ron Jackson; the technology implemented will be unmatched. The booth design is going to be entirely devoted to a new wood paneling product, which is still in the development phase. “The wood panel line has been introduced,” said Ron Jackson. “We know it’s a proven product, but we asked ourselves, ‘how can we take it to the next level?’” To answer that question, ASI developed a four-millimeter solid surfacing material laminated to a medium density fiber board that will

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Maya Romanoff Transforms Walls thing you’d want to live with,” said Laura Romanoff. “All of our products have commercial durability; they’re all made with the idea that they would feel good to be around everyday. Residential has always been about 50 percent of the business, but that has helped us with hospitality. Now, in a lot of residential design, people want to feel like they live in a hotel. We’ve got a really good circle going.” From collections like Bedazzled, (flexible glass bead wall-coverings), to the newer Mother of Pearl, (a hand-inlaid capiz shell tiles line), the company has left no stone unturned when it comes to materials. “Bedazzled is our flexible glass bead wall-covering that is made all in-house in Chicago,” said Laura Romanoff. “It’s an interestDetail of Mother of Pearl wall covering

One of the newest offerings from ASI Specialty products, Fusionstone™ Interior Design’s award of merit for product design in 2006. With experience in some big-business settings, Ron Jackson is happy that his company is now flourishing and expects that ASI has the potential to become a $50 to $100 million company. They are planning further development for their website and hope that by 2008 it will become a fully-functional ECommerce site. “We’re very organized,” said Ron Jackson. “We’ve made a strong commitment to technology and we continue to invest in it. A lot of people that try to do this are not really in the business. We are in it. We understand it. If you come into this industry and you’re just offering a panel and a price but you can’t answer a question; that’s a problem.” F&FI

3form CEO Says Hunter Douglas is ‘A Great Match’ Laura Romanoff many other fashion-savvy designers, the company introduced a line at this year’s HD Expo and ICFF that features Swarovski crystals. Along with Bedazzled, the company uses natural materials like shaved silica mica to create custom walls. They also have continued to work with shells to bring to life Maya Romanoff’s visions in offerings like “Aphrodite,” and “Mosaic.” “We’re still fascinated with the myriad of possibilities of Mother of Pearl,” said Laura Romanoff. “We really love working with these harvested shells, so we’re working on all kinds of interesting geometric and ethnic patterns. A lot of architects don’t like to think about ‘wall-coverings.’ They don’t want to hide the walls — they love the walls! But surfacing materials is something else. People are starting to gravitate toward the warmth and the innate desire to be around natural materials. What

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by Kelly Hushin

PPER SADDLE RIVER, New Jersey — In mid-March of this year, Hunter Douglas announced its acquisition of the Salt Lake Citybased company, 3form. “We had met with Hunter Douglas and they are a fantastic company with a strong global infrastructure,” said Talley Goodson, CEO of 3form. “They have similar values to us. They Talley Goodson have a similar focus to environmental issues. Being a European and sell it again. It was a good fit company, they tend to be focused for us. There were simply a lot of good things for the business which on environmental issues.” why we went with this In 2006, the 310-employee o- fri isoffer.” 3form had sales of $48 mil- ec Under the new agreelion. The company is ment with Hunter known for its Douglas, 3form has environmentally friendly, been operating with high-design resin panels for unchanged management. architectural applications. “They allow us to operate According to Goodson, 3form had not been in discussions with anyone independently and under our own brand management,” said else about selling the company. “Hunter Douglas has a long- Goodson. “They’re a federation of term view,” said Goodson. “They independent operating companies don’t want to buy the company (Continued on page 37)

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ing process because it’s a true combination of high-tech and low-tech. What’s low-tech is that it’s exactly how you would think people would apply glass beads; that part is very straight forward. What’s high-tech is the chemistry, the patent pending process. We have a really good consortium of vendors to work with to create this amazing amalgam and find that sweet spot where it’s durable, flexible and flame resistant. We were a 35-year-old-overnight sensation with the advent of Bedazzled (in 2002.) It really energized our company.” “In hospitality you see Bedazzled in concierge areas, on welcome desks, columns, ceilings, high-roller suites, casinos and hotel stores. It’s also in a lot of wedding chapels because people look really good in front of it when the light hits it. It comes in 17 standard colors and seven different types.” “The offerings have always been very exclusive. The company has been very consistent in its evolution. It has always stayed on the forefront and followed Maya’s dictate that it has to be beautiful. That keeps us from pursuing things that are too trendy or too mercurial.” While steering clear of fads, Maya Romanoff has managed to stay on the cusp of fashion and modernity. Following suit with

incorporate wood to create a “hybrid product.” “From a technical standpoint, no one else can do this,” said Ron Jackson. “It’s an international collaboration and it will be introduced at HD Boutique. It will be wellreceived because people love solid surfacing material, it’s easy to maintain and it’s aesthetically beautiful.” ASI began in 1990 when married couple Ron and Nancy Jackson decided to take their futures into their own hands. They started the company with just the two of them. With a flourishing company that has five branded categories (flooring, wood panels, specialty products, display and decorative surfaces), the couple seems to have successfully disproved that married couples can’t work together. They now have 25 employees at their Chelsea Design Center location, occupy about 25-30,000 square feet of warehouse space and source their materials primarily to retail and hospitality locations throughout the United States. “Hospitality and retail lends itself to the more innovative, competitively-priced materials that we distribute,” said Nancy Jackson. “Architects and designers need to be able to come into our showroom, look at a whole range of materials and be inspired.” In the past few years, ASI has won awards for best new product at 2007 and 2006’s GlobalShop and

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F& FI P H O T O G A L L E R Y

The Ship Was In at

the Seatrade Convention

MIAMI BEACH, Florida — The Seatrade convention spawned a score of parties. Here were two events which saw action from important interior designers for cruise ships. At the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL, it was drinks by the pool and a dinner given by Global Textile Marketing Exchange and Sangiorgio Export. Royal Caribbean also threw a party at Ola at the Sanctuary.

Debra Breslauer and M. Nedge LouisJacques, senior designers will Tilberg Design US, Ft. Lauderdale

Andreea Niculescu-Aron, analyst for hotel and catering design, Ray Evans, design manager, Maria Valentini, senior purchasing agent, Cecilia Nguyen, housekeeping manager; all Carnival Cruise

For more information, please visit: www.YoungLeadersinHospitality.com

The Royal Caribbean design team at Ola: Danielle Camere, architect June Cuadra, Danielle Harvey, Pura Rojas, IMO librarian and Alberto Brito

Kimberly Schryver, textile designer and her friend Monica Chiodo, senior architect, newbuilding & fleet design for Royal Caribbean at Ola

Generation Next! Young Leaders in Hospitality (YLH) is a non-profit networking group of young professionals in the hospitality industry. YLH will organize and produce exciting educational and social networking events. Our purpose is to provide a relationship building platform for tomorrow’s leaders. Membership is FREE!

[

Perspective members between the ages of 18 and 35 are encouraged to apply.

]

Adam Kubryk and Michael Schneider Co-Founders 36

Les Smerek, senior project architect, Royal Caribbean and Patricia Hayes, manager interior design, fleet operations, Royal Caribbean

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Maria and Sergio da Caprile, principals of SN’D Decorator Service Inc., a Miami-based cruise ship fabrication specialist and Bill Jones, principal of Global Textile Marketing Exchange

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F& FI G L O B A L M A R K E T P L A C E

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Contract/HospitalityNews Second Generation Ownership Brings Marsteks to European Market by AnnMarie Marano

URSA, Turkey — According to A. Melih Arslan, export manager for Marsteks, the company now exports 90 to 95 percent of their product. Their main markets are Russia, the Ukraine, Dubai, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia and they expanded even further into the European market approximately two years ago, when he and his sister Zeynep Soylemez, production manager, took over the business from their father, Mehmet Arslan, chairman of the board. “We are a young family company,” Melih Arslan said. “We want to get it quite far because we know how far we’ve come.” The company was started in 1993. They were originally a converter but started exporting after 1998. “Europe always looks for quality, so we’re keeping up with that

Melih Arslan (standing) and Zeynep Soylemez and staying true to delivery times. We have to keep our promises,” Arslan said. He says that the second generation of ownership increased

the capacity in order to take on more European customers. Thanks to Evteks, Marsteks also got involved in the Columbian market, Arslan says. They exhibit at four fairs — London Fabric, Scoperta, Evteks and Decosit. “With the competition, a lot of companies will close eventually,” Arslan said. “So we have to stand up and hold up. We want to become one of the top 10 to 15 that will survive.” The other five to 10 percent of their business that is not dedicated to exports, goes to one of the largest sofa manufacturers in Turkey — Idas. Marsteks produces their own chenille yarns but does not do their own dying and finishing. They offer two brands: Martians® (upholstery) and Stage® (curtains). F&FI

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Acquisition of 3form so they allow us to operate autonomously while providing the support we need. In terms of running the business, not much has changed. We’ll continue to operate as is.” Goodson said that 3form will benefit from this acquisition by way of Hunter Douglas’ worldwide reputation and history of success. “The positives of the acquisition include the additional access to global resources,” said Goodson. “We are expanding sourcing of innovative interlayer materials with them and collaborating on international expansion. It allows us to access Hunter Douglas’ global infra-

Ulusoy General Manager Discusses Company Aims by AnnMarie Marano

Calvin Klein Home Announces License Agreement with Kravet Sipco News Network

EW YORK, New York — Set to launch in summer 2008, Kravet will be manufacturing and distributing a line of designer upholstery fabrics under the “Calvin Klein Home” brand name. The initial offering will include 160 to 200 fabric skus and will be complemented by window fabrics and trimmings. “We are pleased to add

Summer 2007 ■ F&FI

designer upholstery fabrics to our existing lifestyle home offering. By partnering with Kravet, one of the leaders in the fabric and trim industry, we bring our innovative designs together with their expertise in executing upper tier fabric collections and reach a new customer base,” said Tom Murry, president and chief operating officer, Calvin Klein, Inc. The fabrics will range from basic to the couture level and

will include such offerings as waxed linen, embroidered linen, velvet and silk mohair and cashmere. “We are eager to begin a relationship with such a highly esteemed brand name in the fashion industry,” said Cary Kravet, president of Kravet, Inc. “Fashion design is such a perfect complement to home design and Calvin Klein Home will be a great asset to the kravetcollections brand of licenses. F&FI

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structure and expand into Europe and Asia. They provide additional capital so that we can continue development.” Having gained popularity in the United States with their company tagline, “You can do that,” 3form hopes to take their forward-moving technology to other areas. “I think there are potential synergies with their (Hunter Douglas) architectural businesses, particularly in Europe and Asia,” said Goodson. “It will provide additional capital to introduce new products at a more rapid pace. We’re very excited about the acquisition and we think it’s a great match.” F&FI

STANBUL, Turkey — Ugurcan Nazli, Ulusoy Tekstil general manager, says the company’s main aim for the coming months is to synchronize their production with their marketing schemes, which he says are two important areas for any textile company. “When we go on sales visits to customers, we try to have someone from production there as well,” he said. “The two departments (marketing and production) need to be open with each other in general.” “We’re very happy with the level of synchronization we have come to.”

Before being promoted to general manager a little over one year ago, Nazli served as an assistant general manager and was also responsible for factory operations. He said they are trying to improve their service to the customer, especially in the embroidery division. “We can fulfill the request and deliver it all in one week, up to ten days,” he said. Ulusoy realizes up to 94 percent of delivery dates. Their main product offering is in curtains, with “Ceys” being the brand name. “Within two years, we hope Ceys will be known worldwide,” he said. F&FI

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F& FI C A L E N D A R June 1-3 Hospitality Match Dubai Park Hyatt Contact: Michael Schneider Sipco Publications & Events 1133 Pleasantville Road Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 Tel: 914-923-0616, ext. 14 Fax: 914-923-0018 E-mail: mschneider@sipco.net Website: www.sipco.net Match is a new and innovative way of conducing business. Invited, qualified buyers are matched with high-end FF&E suppliers through a one-to-one meeting format. There’s no wasted time and effort as with a traditional booth and aisle show and the meetings are guaranteed. Over one weekend, you will develop outstanding relationships that would normally take a lifetime to achieve.

3-5 The Hotel Show The Dubai International Exhibition Centre Dubai, U.A.E Contact: dmg world media Dubai Ltd Al Moosa Tower 2, Sheikh Zayed Road, PO Box 33817, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0)4 331 9688 Fax: +971 (0)4 331 2496 Email: gimag@emirates.net.ae; sunita@dmgdubai.ae Website: www.dmgdubai.com The Hotel Show is an essential showcase for hotel, leisure and related products, services and technologies. The 2007 event will occupy seven halls at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. For local and international suppliers to the hotel, leisure and hospitality industries, The Hotel Show 2007 gives access to a booming region and a growth industry that has no equal. It is the established meeting place for all professionals, specifiers and buyers in the industry.

3-6 Showtime High Point, North Carolina Website: www.itma-showtime.com Tel: 336-885-6842 E-mail: itmashowtime@northstate.net International Textile Market Association’s High Point Semi-Annual Fabric Market.

11-13 NeoCon The Merchandise Mart Chicago, Illinois Contact: Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. Suite 470, The Merchandise Mart Chicago, IL 60654 800/677-6278 Executive Management Mark Falanga, Senior Vice President Tel: 312-527-7685 Fax: 312-379-6116 NeoCon is the annual platform for the best in commercial interior design. Attendees can find thousands of new and cutting-edge products, the latest knowledge and trends in the industry and the opportunity to network with thousands of industry peers and fellow professionals.

25-28 HITEC 2007 Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL Contact: HFTP Global Headquarters 11709 Boulder Lane Suite 110 Austin, TX 78726-1832 USA Tel: (800) 646-4387 Fax: 001 (512) 249-1533 Website: www.hitec.org HITEC 2007 offers top-notch hospitality technology education from industry experts as well as a trade show showcasing the latest products and services from over 300 companies. More than 5,000 participants are expected to attend from hotel companies, hotel and resort properties, clubs, casinos, restaurants and other businesses.

July 30-3 Las Vegas Market World Market Center Las Vegas, Nevada Contact: World Market Center Las Vegas 495 S Grand Central Parkway Las Vegas, NV89106 Tel: 702-599-WMC1 (9621) Fax: 702-599-WMC2 (9622) Market is a host to 530 permanent showrooms in two world-class buildings with more than 2.9 million square feet. In addition, there are nearly half a million square feet of temporary exhibits at the Pavilions and Cashman Center

August 8-10 38th Annual Conference Asheville, NC at Grove Park Inn www.groveparkinn.com Contact: NADFD Headquarters Website: www.nadfd.com Opportunities for Mill Tours, great networking opportunities, hot topic speakers and informative and interactive discussions.

22-23 NeoCon Xpress 2007 The Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, CA Contact: Exhibitors should contact Jenniel George, manager, NeoCon Exhibit Sales E-Mail: jgeorge@mmart.com Website: www.merchandisemart.com More than 150 manufacturers will represent a range of products for commercial interior environments. All exhibitors must feature new products to ensure fresh and distinct experiences for attendees.

29-31 Intertextile Shanghai Home Shanghai New International Expo Centre 2345 Long Yang Road Pudong Area Shanghai, China 201204 Contact: Ms Wilmet Shea - Trade Fair Manager Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong E-Mail: wilmet.shea@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is China’s most comprehensive and international fair for the interior fabric industry. The fair offers a professional marketing platform where textile manufacturers can access China’s booming home textile market.

September 7-10 Textiles d’Interieur Premiere (tip) Tour & Taxis Brussels, Belgium Contact: The Trade Link Company E-mail: tip@trade-link.co.uk Website: www.tipexpo.com Tip is one of the main routes to market chosen by manufacturers of interior fabrics and ready-made collections. The show makes for a blend of the traditional and the emerging.

8-11 Expofil Deco

17 The Specifiers’ Club Luncheon

Brussels Expo Brussels, Belgium Contact: Press contact: Marie-Odile Verrier Tel: 33 (0) 170387002 mverrier@expofil.com Expofil Deco offers yarns and fibers for the furnishing and decoration markets. Exhibitors are spinners and fiber producers with a varied and qualified offering of linen yarns and fibers, fancy yarns, twisted and covered yarns, high performance yarns and chenille yarns.

Santos Miami Beach, Florida Contact: Michael Schneider Sipco Publications & Events 1133 Pleasantville Road Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 Tel: 914-923-0616, ext. 14 E-mail: mschneider@sipco.net Website: www.sipco.net The Specifiers’ Club Luncheon brings a panel of hospitality designers together in front of a mixed audience of design and manufacturing professionals to speak to industry trends.

8-11 Decosit Brussels 18-19 HD Boutique

Brussels Expo Brussels, Belgium Contact: Textirama Poortakkerstraat 90 BE - 9051 Gent Belgium Tel: +32 (0) 9 24 38 450 Fax: +32 (0) 9 24 38 455 Website: www.decosit.com Decosit Brussels is the leading specialized trade fair for the upholstery sector.

Miami Beach Convention Center Miami, FL Tel: 703.488.2700 Website: www.hdboutique.com Discover the latest trends and innovations in hospitality design. A unique and intimate show floor makes for a personal and “boutique” experience.

18-20 HotelWorld Expo Las Vegas Convention Center For attendee information, call 1-800679-3684 For Exhibitor Information, Sales Manager Marsha Dover Tel: 216-706-3772 E-Mail: mdover@questex.com The exhibit hall will be packed with new products and solutions for Luxury, Full-Service and Limited-Select-Service industries.

8-11 Indigo Brussels Expo Brussels, Belgium Contact: MAISON / HOME FURNISHING Sabrina Thurin-Amice Tel: +33 (0)4 26 99 26 10 Fax: +33 (0)4 26 99 26 11 Indigo is a leading international exhibition, specializing in textile design and creation. With three editions per year, two for the fashion market and one for the furnishing market, Indigo inspires both exhibitors and visitors alike, offering the newest in trends.

23-26 Decorex International 2007 Royal Hospital Chelsea London, England Contact: Ian Thompson Associates Tel: +(44)-(20)-78333373 Decorex, and Hotel Decorex are the leading resources and forums for interior designers architects and specifiers in the UK.

17 The second annual boutique DESIGN awards Santos Miami Beach, Florida *To run alongside the Specifiers’ Club Luncheon Contact: Rebecca Goldberg E-mail: rgoldberg@sipco.net Website: www.sipco.net As Sipco’s new and fresh take on the traditional awards ceremony, the boutique DESIGN awards will honor the best boutique hotel, spa, restaurant and project of the year, along with a number of other “specialty categories” during the Specifiers’ Club Luncheon.

25-27 Seatrade Europe CCH-Congress Center Hamburg, Germany Contact: Website: www.seatrade-global.com Seatrade Europe Cruise, Ferry & Rivercruise Convention 2005, included 134 exhibiting companies from 35 countries and 1,400 visitors from 62 countries.

Mail or FAX this form with your credit card information to: (914) 923-0018 (USA) Sipco Publications Inc., P.O. Box 161, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510, USA. Order online at: www.sipco.net

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