Fabrics & Furnishings - Spring 2014 Issue by Fabrics & Furnishings International

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Volume 24, Number 2

Spring 2014

The Global Home & Contract Furnishings Newspaper

The Arora’s Turn D’Décor Into One Stop Textile Shopping Mall Company Soars Past $200 Million Sales Mark Sipco News Network

UMBAI — “Our goal is to be a one stop shopping center for the wholesaler of home fabrics in both curtains and upholstery,” says Ajay Arora, General Manager of D’Décor. Ajay, Sanjay and their father, V.K. Arora, Chairman

Spanish Focus p.14

(continued on page 12)

Giulia Fumagalli Heads New Imatex Team Fumagalli, CEO of Imatex, p.22 Giulia Nibonno, Italy with Stefano Guidotti, Art Director. Pattern: Diadema

Juan Climent, Alahambra President

Calico is testing a slightly smaller retail store format with this Glen Mills, PA (USA) 3,000 square foot outlet. “We are still evaluating this new store concept,” says Jan Jessup, director of merchandising for Calico. “The new fixturing and floor plans will be incorporated into several existing Calico stores that are slated to move to new locations within the next year or so,” she added. Calico is one of the largest specialty fabric retailers in the world based in Kennett Square, PA. (mother and daughter working on a decorating project with Glen Mills Store Manager Karri Zakis-Shearer (far right). )

What’s Up in India • p.12

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FF&FI FI NE L EW T TSE R S The Global Home & Contract Furnishings Newspaper

Letter to the Editor AITEX Helps Contract FR Textile Makers Stay Competitive I wanted to call the attention of your readers to AITEX Textile Research Institute, a private nonprofit association which was set up in 1985. Based in Alcoy (Alicante) Spain, it has more

than 1,000 member companies and more than 2,000 client companies. We aim to provide tools, infrastructure and resources to them, in order to become more competitive (Continued on page 10)

520 West Avenue, Suite 701, Miami Beach, FL 33139 USA Website: www.fabricsandfurnishings.com Telephone 001.917.251.9922 | ISSN: 1523-7303 Publisher & Editor | Eric S. Schneider Associate Editor | Marc Weinreich Art Director | Roxanne Clapp, RoxC LLC Corporate Secretary | Gail Goldman, PhD. CORPORATE CONSULTANTS

Table of Contents

Printing/Distribution | Interprint Web Printing Web Design | Synthovation

F&FI Spring 2014 | Vol. 24, No. 2

E.U. Legal Counsel | Herman Nayaert

Irwin Joins Abercrombie, Vice President, Sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dicitex Digitally Prints Bedding, Curtain Lines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alps Industries India Makes Strong Comeback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wadhwa Brothers Add Walnut Cut Order Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juan’s World: Wine, Tapas, Sea, Alicante and Beautiful Fabrics! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aquaclean® Brand Moves Upholstery Worldwide For Pascual Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jover Cuts Fat, Adds Product, Faster Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comersan Hangs Tough. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vilber Readies Digital Prints, Wallcovering Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reig Marti Sees European Buyers Coming Back to European Fabrics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crevin Makes Plains in Spain, But Pushes Export Beyond EU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kentex Mills Establishes U.S. Division, BellaHome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Giulia Fumagalli Heads New Imatex Team, USA Jobber Becomes Major Sales Target . . . . Increased Export, Sharp Prices Grew Aznar’s Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Mitchell Group Enters Residential Market in USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solarium® Sets New Sales High, Richloom Spins Off New Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dawson Buys Rufflette Group; Crew Joins to Lead Expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zhejiang Shengli Starts Up Business in 20 Square Meter Retail Shop in 1999 . . . . . . . . . Rockland Mills Expands Factory, Testing, Innovation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Haufe Retires; Fradin Follows Him!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pattern Club Offers Virtual Sampling, Cuts Production Time, Sampling Cost . . . . . . . . . . Riban Named Brooks General Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manufacturers Push Premier Print Business Up 30 Percent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Former Imatex Execs Open MODE Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contract/HospitalityNews Rubin Says Crypton’s Nanotex Acquisition Puts Combined Company on New Growth Curve. . . Crypton Hires Fulltime Brand Strategist, Elizabeth Friedman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10 12 12 12 14 14 16 16 16 16 18 18 22 22 24 24 25 25 26 26 29 30 30 34 28 26

DESIGN

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Photo Gallery - Weekend in Delhi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo Gallery - Showtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo Gallery - Heimtextil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertiser Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

India | S. Vishwanath U.K. | Geoff Fisher Belgium | Jan Hoffman USA | Marc Weinreich EDITORIAL & PUBLISHING

EDITOR & PUBLISHER USA, EUROPE & CHINA Eric Schneider Tel: 001.917.251.9922 E-Mail: eric@sipco.net

ART DIRECTOR Roxanne Clapp Tel: 001.813.991.1860 E-Mail: rox@sipco.net

ADVERTISING SALES

TURKEY INDIA ITALY, GERMANY, SPAIN, FRANCE Sevim Keskinci Rekha V. Isa Hofmann Tel: 90.532.236.25.24 Tel: 91.80.26685821 Tel: +49 611.890.59640 Fax: 90.216.390.20.27 Cell: 91.93.42821379 Fax: +49 611.87086 Email: skeskinci@gmail.com Email: info@ihofmann.com Fax: 91.80.26684670 Email: s_wishwanath@hotmail.com

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Subscriptions to Fabrics & Furnishings International are US$125 prepaid for four issues. Mail or fax orders (US Dollar, Check or International Postal Money Order for payment ONLY) to Sipco Publications, Inc. 520 West Avenue, Suite 701, Miami Beach, FL 33139 USA Fabrics & Furnishings International is shipped via air mail to 82 countries. ©COPYRIGHT 2013 by Sipco Publications Inc. All U.S. and International Rights Reserved.

Hiking the Trade Show Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Departments

SIPCO NEWS NETWORK

13 36 37 38 38

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Subscribe online at fandfi.com/subscribe Subscriptions in India Get & Gain Centre is the official subscription agent for Fabrics & Furnishings International in India. The price of a subscription in India is $200.00. Please contact Get & Gain Centre, 301, Sagar Shopping Centre, 3rd Floor, Opposite Bombay Bazaar Store. 76, J.P. Rd., Andheri (W) Mumbai – 400 058. INDIA Tel. 091-222677/23. 2677 6023 Contact: Vasant Jain mobile. 09820720189 or Manoj Jain. 09664198254. Email: info@getdesignbooks.com/vasant14feb1967@gmail.com

corrections see page 10

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Irwin Joins Abercrombie, Vice President, Sales Textile veteran returns to industry after three year lapse Sipco News Network

LIFFSIDE, North Carolina — Jeff Irwin has joined Abercrombie Textiles as Vice President of Sales for the residential, hospitality, healthcare, and contract segments of its’ business reporting to John Regan, CEO and principal. Irwin rejoins the textile industry after a three year hiatus. He was formerly involved with Chatham Fabrics before the company was sold to Interface. Irwin has more than 25 years of experience in the textiles industry. He started his career as a sales representative in California with Milliken & Company. He was promoted to a Market Manager position within Milliken in LaGrange, GA and then joined Interface Americas as Vice President and Director of Marketing. He also served as Vice President of the Furniture Fabrics Division of Interface, responsible for the commercial as well as residential business units. He remained with the Interface Fabrics Group after that division’s sale to Sun Capital Partners, serving as Managing

Director of True Textiles (Ningbo) Ltd., the company’s Asian hub as well as Vice President of Business Development for True Textiles corporately. Jeff and his family live near Elkin, NC where he will be in close proximity to many of the Abercrombie customers. Abercrombie Textiles is a domestic weaver of upholstery fabrics for a wide range of industries, including the residential, hospitality, contract, transportation, healthcare and specialty industries. The company is the combined result of Regan purchasing the Abercrombie facility in Shelby, NC in 2006, and the Cone Decorative facility in Cliffside, NC in the spring of 2011. Abercrombie Textiles has added three new representatives to their sales team to support their growth in the furnishings market. Jeff Irwin, V.P. of Sales for Abercrombie Textiles, is proud to announce the following additions: Paul “Buddy” Fairley joined Abercrombie team in November and will represent our company in Mississippi and surrounding

markets. A native as well as current resident of Tupelo, Buddy has been in the furniture industry for thirty six years. In addition to his passion for furniture, Buddy is an avid sportsman – one who may occasionally be found supporting Ole Miss but only on days ending in y! Mike Morgan joined the Abercrombie Textiles sales team on December 2nd as their new West Coast Representative. A lifelong Californian and resident of Orange County, Mike began his career in the textile industry representing fabric distributors as well as Stevens Linen and Chris Stone before joining Craftex Mills. Mike represented Craftex for the last ten years. When not selling textiles Mike can be found hiking, skiing, or restoring classic cars. Robin Hoff also joined the Abercrombie Textiles team on December 2nd, and “we are proud to welcome her to our South Eastern sales team.” Robin is a 10 year industry veteran with experience as a manufacturer’s representative for Huntington House & Drexel Heritage. Robin’s background in sales & upholstery

organization when welcoming them aboard, and wishing them every success,” Irwin said. F&FI

CORRECTIONS

(Continued from page 8)

Letter to the Editor AITEX Helps Contract FR Textile Makers Stay Competitive in International Markets in international markets through the quality certification of its products, the development of R & D projects, training, and generally, all sort of tasks, which provide added value to them. The Institute is the most outstanding Spanish textile research organization and, internationally speaking, is ranked among the top textile research centers. About 30% of AITEX income is from international sources. AITEX has its own offices in eight countries, including USA. It has a unique R&D infrastructure concerning textile industries, with 30 laboratories and the highest-level equipment to test textile products, including, Fire Reaction Lab, Thermotex, MYST camera, Electric Arc, and other top facilities; besides 27 experimental plants, dedicated to research and develop new products with advanced features. Concerning home textiles, AITEX offers companies a comprehensive certification laboratory service to ensure the quality of their products in international markets. For example, in regard to the evaluation of the fire reaction of home-textile products, AITEX offers a wide range of tests according to the requirements of the international and U.S. legislation. However, AITEX activity is not just restricted to FR testing. The Institute offers certification and R&D services to every kind of textile-based products (clothing, technical textiles, etc..), including all kind of companies of the textile industry value chain, thanks to the availability of the most advanced equipment, Vicente Blanes Julia, General highly specialized research staff and a determined commitment Manager, Aitex,the textile to companies in order to solve their needs. testing laboratory in Alicante —Vicente Blanes Julia, General Manager

merchandising allows her to immediately identify trends in the fashion industry that complement the world of textiles & design. Most recently, she was a sales representative for Se7en and Paragon Textiles. “These three individuals bring a wealth of industry experience and ability to Abercrombie Textiles; we are pleased they have joined our company and Jeff Irwin look forward to growing our business with them. Each is a leader in their respective markets, a valued resource to their customers, and a true sales professional. I speak for the entire

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

In a story concerning Trevira in the winter issue of Fabrics & Furnishings International, we call attention to some incorrect facts printed: 1. “To further streamline these operations, Trevira combined filament and staple fiber production into one facility in Guben”. This is not correct. Only the filament capacities were transferred; the staple fiber plant remains in Trevira headquarters in Bobingen. 2. “Trevira said it has a workforce of 750 employees in six locations in Europe, Turkey, Brazil and China. This is not correct. This information was given in our presentation for our shareholder Sinterama, not for Trevira. Trevira operates two production plants and a marketing and sales office in Germany as well as some international sales offices. The total workforce is 1140.

This is James Ryan, Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Walfab

This is Mark Woodman, previous President of The Color Marketing Group

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What’s Up in India Dicitex Digitally Prints Bedding, Curtain Lines Sipco News Network

UMBAI, India — Dicitex Furnishings Pvt. expects to introduce a new line of digitally printed bedding and curtains at Proposte. The company has purchased a $500,000 Reggiani digital printing machine for this purpose with first production expected in April according to Rajnish Aroraa, principal. “We have presold the lines to an important buyer up to 45,000 meters per month. We did this once before in 2007 with jacquard fabrics sold to a major retailer. It’s a great way to start the business,” he says. He would not identify his initial customer for the digital printed lines. The initial collection will be printed on cotton and linen with 35 designs. Minimums are 300 meters per color, he says. The digitally printed designs will feature 12-16 colors utilizing Huntsman and DuPont inks. “In the near future, we expect to digitally print viscose and any other natural fibers. Within two years time, we expect to order another two Reggiani machines for

that purpose,” he says. On another front, Rajnish points to “We’ve made a habit of weaving success” as his latest advertising campaign for Dicitex Furnishings. In terms of weaving, Dicitex Furnishings is making wide width linen fabrics for the home. This is ending up in linen madeups, curtains and throws. “We’re already selling these collections in the USA. Other products include embroidered curtains, velvet jacquards, chenille and damask upholstery,” he says. “Through an American wholesaler, we recently scored a big contract for a 120 unit hotel chain. This includes polyester bedding; made-ups, throws and bolsters. On other subjects, Rajnish noted that commission agents who purchase yarn in India are disappearing as mills try to go to yarn suppliers directly and cut out the middle man.“Indian mills are also going direct to Indian retailers, bypassing the fabric wholesaler domestically. Dicitex Furnishings is one of the few mills not going direct to the retailer in India. We still sell through the wholesaler.” (continued on page 31)

(Continued from Front Cover)

The Aroras Turn D’Décor Into One Stop Textile Shopping Mall Company Soars Past His equal partner, brother and Co-General Manager is Sanjay Arora. Ajay runs the upholstery business while Sanjay handles the curtain and drapery business. Their father is also active in the business. He is a specialist in yarn purchasing and dyeing. “Three years ago, we hit $200 million in sales and now we’re approaching $250 million,” Ajay says. That’s a 25 percent increase over the three years. D’Décor’s business is able to produce small batch and large batch dyeing. . We’re very versatile. We’re even printing on embroidery. Can you sell more than that? The history of the upholstery business is big, bigger, bust! We’re dedicated to do better than that,” laughs Ajay. “We weave to order. We have four to five week lead-times and if you take care of these guys (the wholesaler), they don’t go anywhere else,” Ajay emphasizes. We have a two step distribution systems. We share the risk with the wholesaler. It’s a partnership. We’re producing 120,000 meters a day.” This is the strategy which has propelled D’Décor from a small textile producer in 1999 to the largest home fabrics weaving mill in the world today. “Every three months, we bring out 200 new multipurpose plains. We weave cotton, polyester/linen and polyester/cotton. D’Décor has made significant investments in its business the past few years. For example, it has recently put into service a third Autohome warehouse system. It has added 34 embroidery machines, 24

$200 Million Sales Mark

dobby looms bringing the total to 400 looms. Sanjay utilizes 200 embroidery machines for curtains. D’Decor has a greige weaving mill in Tarapur right next to its finishing plant. “We’re growing at a rate of 10-15 percent a year in dollar terms. Europe is back to normal. From 2008-2013, we heard the R word but in 2014, we’re no longer hearing that. Indonesia and South Africa are down. China is becoming expensive and China is more focused on the domestic business. Chinese suppliers are not as diversified as we are.”

Sanjay Arora with his new line of multipurpose fabrics

“Europe is back to Normal” “Can you manage the ups and downs of this business?,” Ajay asks. We’re doing 80 percent of our business with eight countries with a total of 50 companies. We’re still trying to increase out export business to other countries and still grow our business with existing customers. Our domestic economy is growing at a rate of just under five percent where before it was growing eight percent. We’re more focused on export than ever. Ajay says The UK and Australia represent the highest per capita consumption of fabrics. We produce everything in wide width but velvets. Our two companies are D’Décor Home Fabrics which is the export division that covers upholstery and jacquard curtains, velvets and

V.K. Arora, Chairman of D’Décor and father of Ajay and Sanjay readymades. “D’Décor Exports is our original company which covers our curtain and drapery line; sheers, embroidery and curtain plains. We’re a weaver of multipurpose fabrics with separate sales teams. “We’re also selling made ups to importers of ready mades but that’s another world. The importer is selling to the bedding retailer. The sheeting business opened our eyes. Our bedding lines are focused on Europe because they understand digital printing.” F&FI

Alps Industries India Makes Strong Wadhwa Brothers Add Comeback Decorative Blackouts, Cotton Plains Walnut Cut Order Line By Vishwanath.S

EW DELHI--Alps Industries Limited, India has made a strong comeback in furnishing fabrics exports by increasing

& Contract Segment to Drive Its Business Forward

its business by 60-70 percent in the last two years, according to Amitabh Sen, Senior Vice President. Alps Industries derives 60% from piece goods and the balance of 40% from readymade by exporting to 30 countries, he said. “Our largest market continues to be United States. We have consolidated our market in terms of market positioning and expanded production Amitabh Sen, Senior Vice President simultaneously to cater and Nafis Saiyed, Assistand Vice to a select market President, Alps Inudstries Limited segment that is less

competitive but technically demanding.” Alps has chosen to be focused on its own range of select product line tailored for exports and says it doesn’t wish to follow others in the crowded market of suppliers that are predominantly in polyester and polyester blends mostly catering to residential segments. Further, Alps industries have expanded its customer base and the most important contributor to win more customers has been a high level of color consistency that it maintains against Chinese suppliers, Sen added. (continued on page 31)

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Sipco News Network

EW DELHI, India — Seasons Furnishings Ltd. Has launched a new cut order line under the name ‘Walnut.’ Jasmer Wadhwa, 26 is handling domestic sales of Walnut while his brother Sumer, 28, is responsible for export sales. Both young men are the sons of Inderjeet Wadhwa, Managing Director of the local Seasons mill here. Inderjeet is responsible not only for the mill but also for the export sales. That makes him the supplier to his boys! His brother, Mandeep handles retail sales for the six Seasons retail showrooms in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Chandigarh and Delhi. “Our mill business was stable in 2013 which proved to be one of our

Sumer Wadhwa (28), handles export business while Jasmer, Sumer’s brother (26), younger son of Inderjeet Wadhwa covers the domestic India market for Walnut best years in business,” Inderjeet said. He expects that 2014 will be ahead of last year by 30-40 percent. (continued on page 28)

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Weekend in Delhi Here’s S. Wishnawath, F&FI’s 14 year man from Bangalore with friend Pramod Shah, owner of Universal Overseas, an up and coming convertor of polyester and silk fabrics

In Mumbai, Vish celebrated his birthday with Rajnish Aroraa, principal of Dicitex Furnishings Pvt. Great chocolate cake!

Here’s Sonhalal Jain and his wife with Eric Schneider, publisher of F&FI. Jain is the founder of Get & Gain Centre, the official subscription agents for F&FI in India.

If you’re in Delhi, stop at Kalpana for the most beautiful handmade Merino and Pashmina wool shawls and sarees you ever saw. Not cheap!

These two were cooking in front of the bakery

They’re eating it up, including our man in India, Mr Vish

This was a very nice Muslim man from Kashmir who sold Eric Schneider a beautiful, handwoven shawl

Dahi Papadi Chatt. Made of yoghurt, potato fried pieces of wheat flour. Very Yummy.

V.K. Arora’s desk holds a beautiful statue of Ganesha

The Indian girls and boys play basketball in the park

Delicious baked goods at a chat

Spring 2014

This was the cutest Jack Russell terrier I ever saw hanging out on our street in Delhi

I ate my way through Delhi and lived to tell the tale! Delicious veg Samosa

A local fruit seller in Delhi travels the neighborhood with a pushcart just like the early days in New York

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Spanish Focus Juan’s World: Wine, Tapas, Sea, Alicante and Beautiful Fabrics! For Many Mills, Climent is The Big Fabric Buyer from Alicante, Spain By Eric Schneider

LICANTE, Spain — In just 40 years, Juan Climent has built a successful textile conglomerate called Aurea Group which holds Lizzo, Pepe Penalver and Elite Décor, a distributor of 20 brands in Spain alone. Since 2001, Jose, his younger brother by 14 years, is General Manager of Lizzo, a top end editeur brand. Jose is also Juan’s full partner in Aurea while Juan owns Alhambra Internacional, the less expensive (16-50 Euro range) line behind Lizzo which is 70-100 Euros). Alhambra is selling in 105 countries, Juan says, with 75 percent of his sales outside of Spain including sales to Russia, Brazil and China. “This year 2014 is off to a good start for us,” Juan says. Although he admits to working 20 hours a day, Juan still manages to create his business world

Juan Climent, President, Alhambra Internacional

while still enjoying the good life in Alicante, his home town where he began life as a converter, then as a mill and now as a convertor and designer of products made by other mills. His business, which also includes Décor Elite, a wholesaler of up market brands, accounts for $40 million in sales today, making him one of the largest customers of European mills in Spain, Belgium and Italy as well as mills in Turkey and India. He says he is doing 80 percent of his business with 20 mills today. Alhambra and Lizzo offer same day service. If you order before noon, it can ship goods by four o’clock that same day, he says. ”We had a great success at Heimtextil this year with Alhambra and Deco Off was very good for Lizzo, which had more hot colors in its collection than ever before.” Every May, it’s no accident that you’ll see Juan breezing around Como during the Proposte Fair

Luisa Soler, Marketing Director, Alhambra with Javier Antuna, Operations Manager, Alhambra

because he has relationships with many suppliers as well as wholesalers worldwide. Anyone who knows him will say that he does business with a certain style, like that of a Spanish nobleman with a soft touch but you still know he means business! He just enjoys the ride so much…all of it! (Ask him to tell you the story about a Spanish horseman who rolled into Alicante one night long ago looking for a night’s lodging which he was denied because he was soiled and dusty. As a result, he built a hotel across the street which blocked all of the light to the other hotel.) In the last few years, with his purchase of Pepe Penalver of Spain in 2010, he got heavily involved in the retail business with the Maison Décor chain that he then sold to KA International, the decorating specialty group. As of 2011, Juan owns a minority interest of 10 percent of KA which also bought Banak Import last year, 160 more stores based in Valencia. Juan is an advisor on all of the KA activities.

Jose Climent, General Manager of Lizzo

With Pepe Penalver, Juan has five shops and a 15,000 square foot warehouse in Madrid; but it was this purchase that rocked his world; Penalver sales plummeted in one View of Atlantic from Amelia Hotel in year’s time (2010) Alicante, Spain from about $13 million in sales to under $5 million. He is in the process of working out a solution with his investors and a solution should be forthcoming, he says. At the same time, he has a business to run and he is heavily involved in the design aspects of his Alhambra showroom in Alicante. Alhambra Collection. He spends most of his time either on the road or in his Alicante studio as part of a sizeable warehouse and head office in Alicante. His warehouse manager Javier Altuna says there are 25,000 pieces on the shelf in Alhambra’s 33,000 square foot warehouse in Alicante. What little time he has left in his day is devoted to his family, wife and children. He loves to sail when he can--off the coast of his beloved Alicante. Alhambra participates in Heimtextil, Decorex and private road shows with his partDeco Off. “This last show in Heimtextil and Paris were both ners—wholesaler around the world one of the best shows of the last who sell Alhambra and Lizzo F&FI five years,” he says. He also does Collections.

Aquaclean® Brand Moves Upholstery Worldwide For Pascual Family, the Largest Producer In Spain Sipco News Network

Javier Miro, export department and Rafael Pascual, General Manager, AquaClean

URO DEL ALCOY, Spain — The Aquaclean Group is reaping the benefits of a branded strategy for easy clean fabrics developed by Rafael Pascual, Jr., the President and second generation owner. He has a business degree from Bernard Baruch College in New York City where he completed his education and recognized the need to innovate a branded strategy for his company in the face of a highly competitive upholstery market. “Aquaclean® fabrics have been

sold for the past eight years to more than two million families in more than 70 countries,” Rafa says. He tries to partner with a key furniture manufacturer offering the Aquaclean brand in each country of the world. Total turnover in 2013 surpassed US $80 million (€60 million) according to Pascual. Antecuir and Interfabrics are the best known companies of the Aquaclean Group, a vertical textile conglomerate. “Aquaclean Group is the largest textile employer in

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the Valencia Region with around 320 people in six companies,” Rafa points out. Manufacturing activities were initiated by Rafael’s father and founder, Rafael Pascual Sr. in 1962 and now include yarn warping, weaving, flocking, dying, printing and finishing. “The main focus for us is on manufacturing and marketing cleanable and durable upholstery fabrics. Aquaclean fabrics, which account for 85 per cent of our sales today are protected by proprietary

formulas and manufacturing processes all developed and produced in our factories, in Spain,” Rafa says. “The key is giving fabrics not only liquid repellency but also the capacity to release tough stains using simply water. We have a large selection of plains and features with more than 1.000 sku’s in stock. All fabrics comply with the highest product health and environmental requirements (Ökotex, (continued on page 24)

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Summer 2013

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Spanish Focus

Jover Cuts Fat, Adds Product, Faster Service, Sells Hotel Market Sipco News Network

OCENTAINA, Spain—“We suffered four to five years in the domestic market but things seem to be improving in Europe this year,” says Francisco Pastor Jover, principal of Jover, one of the big names in Spanish fabrics today. His brother Oscar is his partner and they represent the second generation of family ownership. The company produces wide width goods for drapery, about 70 percent of its business with the balance in upholstery. “The domestic market has stabilized and we’re increasing our local service as well as pushing more export and diversity,” he says. “One

JHover has developed a line of window shade fabrics and mechanisms for the retailer

cannot compete with Turkey or China in this business today. We’re offering a big range to the domestic retailer and increasing service. Our export business to global wholesalers is dead. It used to be 95 percent of our business. Now, we focus on retail, contract and manufacturers. In addition, our yarn business, ‘Commercial de Urdidos’ is profitable.” “We’re also focusing on hotel business which the foreign competition cannot handle as well from a long distance. We can produce 2,000 meters on our looms for a hotel project in two weeks time.” Jover said he can do all textile operations including finishing, warp printing, transfer printing and crushing of fabric in his factory with 120 employees and 50 looms. This is a plus when serving the contract specialist in Europe, he says. “We concentrated on the domestic retail market where the crisis has been the toughest. We have developed a new concept in Jover Deco which allows our domestic customer to calculate confeccion on the computer and then we can deliver tailor-made product to the retailer. We also

AVERNES DE LA VALLDIGNA, Spain — Textiles Vilber, a converter of 10-12 screen prints on 15 different basecloths, expects to move into digital printing in 40-50 colors according to Paco Vila, principal. “The timing is good because prints in general are coming back strong, he says. Vilber does three collections a year with 1,500 new items annually, Vila says. His son, also named Paco has been in the business five years helping in sales and design. Paco’s brother Jacinto handles the business administration for the firm. It’s very much a family business which is a strong suit for many Spanish companies. “Customers seek out Textiles Vilber because of its design expertise for walls, floors, and tabletop says Vila, the second generation owner of this print fabric converter. He sees the European market changing rapidly with fewer wholesalers and distributors in the fabric business and more of his sales to

retailers. The price of the line is between 6E and 15E for prints and for jacquards, the price range is 8E to 12E, all with one piece minimums. Vilber is a supplier of curtain and upholstery fabrics but plans to launch a line of wall coverings this year which will boost its overall export business. The wall covering will include classic designs in a better product range in a textile product and a lower end range on nonwoven substrate in more modern styling, he says. “Vilber Fabrics will coordinate with the wall covering lines.” Vilber is also reaping the benefits of growing its export business in the USA since taking his own warehouse in Chicago seven years ago. Vilber is represented in the US through High Five, the High Point, NC sales agency. Vilber is also seeing gains in Russia and sells wholesalers in Turkey. The forerunner of this company was started by his father along with two brothers in 1948 in Albaieda, Spain but by the time the father

Courts Hotel Specialist Sipco News Network

Francisco Jover Pastor (center) with his two sons, Borja, 27 and Alejandro, 23 have a new sampling program for the shops,” he adds. Jover is also developing some new technical fabrics in the form of soundproof panels and antibacterial bed coverings for hospitals. His two sons are helping out with the new programs. Alexjandro has just finished school while Borja has been with the company for one year and helped with the Jover Deco software project. F&FI

Vilber Readies Digital Prints, Wallcovering Lines Sipco News Network

Comersan Hangs Tough

Francisco Vila married in 1951, a new company was formed called Textiles Vilber, and amalgam of his parent’s names Vila and Beringer. The current owner was born in Alebaieda and lived over his father’s mill. The original business was the weaving of blankets, bedspreads and interlinings for apparel . Some bedspreads are still sold in Europe but the mill was closed three years ago. In 1975, the mill was making curtain and upholstery for export and today, those products are a 40/60 mix. “My toughest competition today is the Spanish companies themselves,” Vila says. F&FI

OCENTAINA, Spain — There is a 60 percent decline in Spanish textile production but Comersan is still holding its own in upholstery and wide width curtain fabric” says Jorge Sanjuan, General Manager and second generation owner of the 45 year old company. Nicolas Sanjuan, his brother, is responsible for the design and sales of the business. The two boys are full of enthusiasm for their future. By improving its delivery, quality and design, Comersan has survived but with an increase in its export and contract business, it hopes to thrive again. “Residential is just not growing but contract is,” he says. “We think we can grow our export business even beyond the 70 percent it is today. It could be as much as 95 percent of our business.This residential market has been shrinking for ten years. Many customers have gone to China and Pakistan for product.” Armed with a ten man design studio, Comersan says it can produce a custom made fabric for the architect in one day for a model room. “About 20 percent of our business today is customized product,” he says. “You can come here in the morning and by the evening, you can have samples of jacquards, prints, embroidery and confeccion for contract use. If there is a problem with the hotel room, we can fix it. The price is secondary.” About 15 percvent of Comersan’s

business is now contract with the balance in residential, he explains. The company has 60 looms, jacquard and dobby. Average prices are in the 10Euro range The business is split between sales to retailers-20 percent; 35 percent to wholesalers; 20 percent to manufacturers and 20 percent to architects and designers of hotels and five percent to technical textiles. One recent development is a Comersan’s motocross tire warmer, used to increase the speed of racing motor cycles. Even the circuit board has been designed by Comersan. Other applications of the technology are employed in heated mattress pads and heated carpets for public areas. Comersan sells to the wholesaler in Portugal, Romania and Italy. It owns its own wholesale distribution in Spain, Germany and USA in Doral, Florida. F&FI

Reig Marti Sees European Buyers Coming Back to European Fabrics Sipco News Network

LICANTE, Spain —“Some big retailers are buying fewer Chinese items and coming back for European fabrics,” says Antoni Borderia, Chief Executive of Reig Marti, a 65 year old bedding supplier founded by his uncle, Rafael Reig. “We do not make commodities. China can sell curtain panels for two Euros. That’s not our business! We clean our wastewater and meet high standards of production. There’s a big difference in what we (continued on page 18)

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The brothers, Nicolas and Jorg Sanjuan

Antoni Borderia

Spring 2014 n

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Spanish Focus

Crevin Makes Plains in Spain, But Pushes Export Beyond EU By Eric Schneider

ARCELONA, Spain — Crevin, S.A. is one of the few mills left in Europe dedicated to upholstery and not just any upholstery because 85 percent of the line is double woven plain goods, the hallmark and pride of this company. “Crevin is a specialist in jacquard woven plains with interesting surface effects and double woven for great strength and stability,” says Uulco Baljet, the Dutch born International Sales Manager of Crevin. “In ten years, plains will still be the best seller in this industry worldwide. We make plains which sell as a starting point to the high end manufacturer. We do not coat our fabrics with latex because they are double woven,” he adds. “Over 1,000 colors of plains are available including varieties with polyester chenille yarns. Part of our future is to make higher value products,” Baljet reasons. Europe is 70 precent of Crevin’s export business but Baljet stresses the importance of moving on to additional markets because Europe is a flat business environment today. “We invest in partnerships with the wholesaler wherever we work,” Baljet explains. We protect our wholesale distribution. This is a human to human business—not business to business.” Crevin is also a regular exhibitor at MoOD and at Proposte. Baljet works closely with Pepi

A sample of the Crevin jacquard front and back

Costa, Export Manager and team coordinator and Santi Cortez, 30 year member of the Crevin export team. A fourth member of the team has just been added as Crevin seeks to expand its export business in the USA, Mexico, Japan and Korea, its newer export markets. Crevin is also selling its jacquard woven plains to accounts in India and Turkey, Baljet says. The goal is to increase exports to 80 percent of overall sales by seeking these new markets, he says. Recently, Crevin Uulco Baljet and Pepi Costa, the ‘Prince’ appointed Jeff Rocque and ‘Queen’ of Plains as the US agent for the furniture industry based in North Carolina. as a converter of knitted velours in The 75 employee mill does 1976 and became a full fledged mill everything yarn forward under one with all of the necessary equipment roof . Like several other mills and within ten years of formation in converters, Crevin has a close work- 1986. It has been a pioneer in the ing relationship with yarn spinners in use of propylene beginning in 2002. Spain and Italy. It pays close atten- Jordi Dinares and Joan Perez are tion to the development of novelty the second generation family ownyarns for its line of jacquard plains. ers of Crevin. The company is free These yarns are usually woven of debt and financially stable accordwith various blends of polypropyl- ing to Baljet. So while the slowdown ene including cotton, polyester and in Europe affected company sales, more recently, a wool/polypropyl- Baljet says it can stay the course ene blend for contract grades with because of its debt free situation. a minimum of 50,000 rubs on the (The owners were away on business Martindale for 15 Euro per meter. and not available for this interview.) Some qualities are specified for as F&FI much as 100,000 on the Martindale, Baljet says. Softer versions are made with viscose, microfiber and cotton. Crevin offers one piece minimums in 1,000 stock dyed colors but for two piece minimum, you can have any color you want. Many qualities start at eight Euros per meter and go up to plain, 13 Euros a meter, Baljet Crevin 3D effects says. Crevin started life

Kentex Mills Establishes U.S. Division, BellaHome Sipco News Network

IGH POINT, North Carolina —Ten year old Kentex Mills based in Shanghai and Hangzhou has opened a U.S. division under the name of BellaHome. The U.S. division is based in permanent space in Market Square Tower and just finished its second Showtime under the supervision of Mary Cranford, Vice President of Design and Merchandising. Cranford was previously with American Century for three years. Before that, Cranford logged 12 years with Mastercraft selling directly to upholstery manufacturers. “Our business goes several ways,” said Doris Deng, principal of Kentex and BellaHome. “We sell China to China; consolidated shipments from China to the USA and direct shipments from China to the USA FOB High Point. The bulk of our business today is in the USA where we have sales agents in the Southeast, Midwest and Canada. We also do confinements for U.S. converters,” she added. Before starting Kentex, Deng headed up a retail operation under the Victoria brand in China so she has a feeling for the retail pulse.

BellaHome offers residential upholstery for as little as $2.50 per yard in body cloth to a high of $7.50 per yard in all polyester chenilles; novelty yarns in dobby construction and multi colored jacquard warps. The line is distinctly contemporary which is where Cranford feels is BellaHome’s greatest opportunity. BellaHome is also starting to sell some contract grade goods but more than 50 percent of the line today is polyester chenilles for the residential crowd. “We offer the customer a sofa, loveseat and chair body cloth in three different colors. Then the consumer can pick a color plus a jacquard design pillow, Cranford explained.” BellaHome requires 300 yard minimums with 30-45 day delivery and copyrighted European designs in the jacquard. The best sellers so far for this new entry is ‘Sentiment’ in 30 colors for $2.95, a chenille basket weave plus Fresco, an Ikat design for $4.95. The initial line is 55 designs but BellaHome expects to produce 150 designs a year. Kentex produces all of the plain dobby cloths but the jacquards offered are commission woven in China. F&FI

Doris Deng, owner of Kentex Mills, Shanghai and BellaHome the U.S. division with colleagues Peter Xie and Mary Cranford, Vice President of Design and Merchandising

(Continued from page 16)

Reig Marti Sees European Buyers Coming Back offer compared to the Chinese.” “The readymade business is growing but the roll goods business is declining for us,” Bordeira says. He still sells a lot of rolls for bedding to manufacturers in Europe,

Russia and South America. The mix is about 50/50 between the two today. Reig Marti has about 12,000 sku’s in its inventory –many in stock, including fancy designs and eco friendly Oeko-Tex products.

“We’re more into the contract market today with a line of FR bedding and curtains,” he says. Reig Marti is a jacquard weaver with finishing but sources out the confeccion. The company services major retailers either directly or

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through agents with residential bedding and curtains. L Many Spanish manufacturers have sourced out the stitching in order to reduce fixed overhead. Like so many other Spanish manufacturers, he wishes the Euro would be

devalued slightly because he is at breakeven in his business. “We had to reduce employees, production costs and stock in order to survive the crisis in Spain. Even so, we still have 200 employees and maintain three shifts. F&FI

Spring 2014 n

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Giulia Fumagalli Heads New Imatex Team, USA Jobber Becomes Major Sales Target Sipco News Network

in every department including R&D, marketing and production, alongside her uncle Elio and her father Luigi, two of the three founders in 1960. She is now running the business. Nicoletta, Giulia’s sister is working in the accounting department and c o u s i n Isabella is involved in R&D at Imatex. “In order to renew Imatex, we needed more enthusiasm and a change in our management was necessary,” she explains. Imatex is still one of the largest jacquard mills in Italy a n d one of the biggest in Europe with 110 employees, the same number of people who worked for the company six years ago. Giulia stresses that Imatex is a yarn forward vertical mill with dyeing and finishing in house. Made in Italy is a big part of Giulia’s The Imatex Team: Giulia Fumagalli, CEO (front) Elisa Fumagalli, Sales Division enthusiastic push. (left) and to her right is Paola Rigamonti, Sales Division; Stefano Guidotti, Art This includes Director (right); Andrew Molyneux, UK Agent Italian taste and a

RANKFURT, Germany— Giulia Fumagalli, the new CEO of Imatex has firmly taken over the management of the $35

million plus family owned company and was very much in evidence at the Imatex stand at Heimtextil 2014. “We are first and foremost, a family business at Imatex and I want to keep it that way,” she emphasizes. Giulia, 28 years with Imatex, says she worked

high standard of service. “We will control our quality and delivery even if the order is one to three meters in the USA or anywhere else. Giulia is shooting for a two to 15 day delivery for all orders. About 30 percent of her business is domestic with the rest devoted to export. The UK and Europe in general, specifically Germany and France are her largest markets today. “The USA will become even more important to Imatex in the future,” she says. “By becoming more aggressive, we hope to do more business in the States with the jobbers whom we will follow more closely than before.” She takes control after a management change which saw the departure of first Pietro Bertarini, the longtime General Manager of Imatex followed by Marco Guggi, Export Manager, this past October. Finally, Marco Fumagalli left Imatex at year end 2013 with his ownership share now in the hands of Giulia and Grazia Fumagalli, Elio’s widow. Elio was one of the original three partners, all deceased. While Grazia has

ownership, it is Giulia who is now involved in the business day to day. Giulia is the daughter of one of the original three founders of this 50 year old mill. Guggi, previously export manager for 16 years was considered the international face of the company but Giulia is taking over that responsibility and plans to personally call on her jobber customers, especially in the USA where she wants to pay more attention to the business. “By focusing in on the jobber, we hope to reduce the time it takes to give them the custom products they require,” she says. She expects to travel and work closely with Maria Garber, the longtime Imatex agent in the USA. In addition to bringing in a management consultant to help her run the marketing side of the business, Giulia brought in Stefano Guidotti as Art Director. He is responsible for developing the new designs required by Imatex customers. This is a new position and is also tied to developing the image for the company, he says. F&FI

Increased Export, Sharp Prices Grew Aznar’s Business While European Competitors Declined Sipco News Network

ALENCIA, Spain — Aznar Textil, S.A., a 130 year old textile manufacturer has increased its turnover by 16% in the last five years during one of the worst downtowns Europe has ever seen, according to Eduardo Aznar, General Manager. “We produce Plains, Jacquards, Sheers, Printed Fabrics, Flame Retardant fabrics, Green Products and Smart Products. Our competitors are mainly from Italy and Turkey. Our

design and quality are better than the Chinese, we don’t have a minimum order and we have our references in stock, so our delivery time is fast. (You don’t have to wait five to six weeks for production plus another 4 weeks for transportation). Aznar said he now plans to develop more upholstery lines which at present, is only five percent of his business while still managing Aznar’s huge business for Bon Drap® drapery fabrics. In addition, Aznar said the company has increased its export

sales from 65% of turnover to 75%. Our Key to survival has been to change and focus on New Products, New Concepts such as Green Products or Smart Products, New markets: new countries and contract business. Also we have worked a lot internally to improve our service, investing in IT technologies and improving productivity in the company. “We also intend to open our B2B web for our customers where they can place orders and check our stock positions,” Aznar

stressed. Aznar’s success is based on a mix of variables; “our team, company values, over 130 years experience and our product catalogue. We manufacture and export to over 85 different countries. Our minimum order is one roll with competitive pricing and an allyear-round service without interruption,” Aznar adds. “Our business has grown in exports, mainly improving crossselling to our customers in markets where we are already selling: Europe, USA, Latin America,

Eduardo Aznar

North Africa and the Middle East.” Aznar’s price range covers 2€ to 8€ in 140cm, and from 4€ to 16€ in 280/300/310cm. F&FI

warehouse

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

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The Mitchell Group Enters Residential Market In USA Sipco News Network

HICAGO, Illinois — The Mitchell Group of Niles, Il., has entered into an agreement with Zhejiang Tonghui Textiles of Zhejiang, China, to be the company’s exclusive North American distributor, according to Bill Fisch. President of Mitchell. The arrangement represents Mitchell’s first foray into the residential soft fabric business. It allows Mitchell to supply polyester bodycloth to furniture manufacturers in the $3.95-$6.50 price range, Fisch said. “We will also be able to sell the furniture manufacturer our line of faux leathers.”Residential is only two percent of Mitchell’s

business he said, so there is room for growth. We expect to double our business with the Chinese line addition.” “Our agreement with Tonghui provides Mitchell an incredible opportunity to bring greater diversity to our line that will result in offering significant values in soft goods, as well as Mitchell’s numerous categories of faux leather looks. In addition, The Mitchell Group will be able to offer customers China-to-China sales as well as FOB,” Fisch said. The Mitchell Group was cofounded by Bill Fisch and Ann Brunett. The Niles, IL based Mitchell Group is an importer

and converter for furniture manufacturers and retailers, contract and hospitality, boating and RV markets. The Mitchell Group’s collection includes Sta-Kleen®, a dry-erase urethane upholstery. Mitchell’s ReCast® collection is an engineered, bonded leather product available in a wide variety of patterns and colors, many exceeding 100,000 double rubs for abrasion. Mitchell’s sister company, Big Kahuna Fabrics, is a leading textile converter of Hawaiian-influenced tropical prints suitable for upholstery, bedding and window treatments. Zhejiang Tonghui Textiles specializes in the production of

Solarium® Sets New Sales High, Richloom Spins Off New Website Sipco News Network

EW YORK, New York—Solarium is having a field day in terms of business growth with a seven figure business in outdoor fabric spurred by the comeback in prints, especially in throw pillows, considered a quick way for the consumer to refresh the home. Hospitality and Outdoor are the two fastest growing categories at Richloom today with 2013 a record year for Solarium, says Charles Zaberto, Vice President of Solarium. Solarium was started at John Wolf which Richloom acquired about 12 years ago along with Zaberto who was part of that original business. Chuck Zaberto Solarium is

growing faster than the five to ten percent for the category as a whole, Zaberto points out. “It’s a perfect storm situation. We are also catching a big wave in the print cycle. There is also a trend to bring the indoors outside. Fashion and design is being thrown out to the public like never before,” he feels. “Everyone has become an interior designer, principally in the U.S. market.” Based on this boom, Richloom Fabrics Group has developed its Solarium division of outdoor fabrics to the point where beginning May 1, it will have its own website, www.Solarium.com. The new website will house the library of Solarium designs and will display our new logotype. Solarium has a dedicated three man design team in the outdoor fabrics category headed by Lori Shea but the trio can also draw on the complete Richloom design studio. Zaberto says. Richloom is also an important supplier in the outdoor fabrics category to Target and Pier 1. “Retailers can choose Richloom designs on an exclusive basis, Zaberto says, “or they can pick from our open line.” Zaberto notices that “retailers are regionalizing design and is therefore identifying more consumer market segments by design as a result. However, the bulk of Solarium business lies with the manufacturer.” (continued on page 30)

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polyester fabrics including, suede, artificial leather, velboa, panne, tricot brushed, and corduroy, Fisch explained. “They have extensive printing and embossing capabilities that supply the company’s product groups: furniture fabrics and leather, and decorative fabrics.” Zhejiang Tonghui Textile was founded in 1980 as a large fabric manufacturer, located in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang province, China. According to Fisch, “Tonghui has a warp-knitting company, and three Bill Fisch, principal of Mitchell dyeing houses -- dyeing knitting Fabrics, Chicago, Ill. fabrics, woven fabrics and cotton fabrics separately. It owns 40 Karl- company employs some 1500 workMayer warp-knitting machines ers. Recent exports sales reached imported from Germany. The $20 million,” Fisch said. F&FI

(Continued from page 14)

Aquaclean® Brand Moves Upholstery Worldwide Made in Green, ISO14000) and are engineered to withstand private or public use, so clients can enjoy a large variety of applications.” “We consider ourselves value providers. Our aim is to build each market together with our client so we can all protect value and enhance the world of fabrics and upholstered furniture. We are not afraid to become the main supplier of every single client we deal with. This approach demands a high level of responsibility to deliver top product and service performance to our clients.” F&FI

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Dawson Buys Rufflette Group; Crew Joins to Lead Expansion Sipco News Network

anchester, UK – Rufflette Ltd., founded in 1882, is still manufacturing in the Manchester area under the new ownership of Phil Dawson, MD. Dawson bought the company and the Rufflette brand in December 2012 and Matthew Crew, a well known UK based textiles marketing executive became Sales and Marketing Director last November. Dawson also recently purchased another textile mill in Rochdale Lancashire with 120,000 sq ft of production space. The company is in the process of moving its existing weaving set up to Rochdale with 80 narrow width looms, warping and finishing on one site, Crew said.

“Rufflette created the world’s first curtain tape back in 1928 – and continues window dressing business in an ever changing market,” Crew said. The group business also owns a large CMT operation in Bolton, which produces finished made to measure curtains to the trade and contract sectors. Their clients include John Lewis and a variety of brands operating in the hotel and leisure industry, Crew confirmed. “With the launch of high specification tracks and suspension systems and a new blinds division which embraces digital printing and personal image transfer to finished product, the group has a virtual vertical service offering. This will be completed with the introduction of Rufflette’s own furnishing fabric collections to be launched at

Matthew Crew Heimtex 2015,” Crew added. “Rufflette is committed to investing in the North West, a traditional textile manufacturing area, which has witnessed a terrible decline with the Asia invasion. With new apprentice schemes we will invest in youth and bring back lost skills in weaving and production.” F&FI

Zhejiang Shengli Starts Up Business in 20 Square Meter Retail Shop in 1999, Now Weaves Nearly Five Million Meters Adds six more Dornier jacquard looms 2014 to meet the increasing demand By Vishwanath.S

RANKFURT—Zhejiang Shengli Textile Co., Ltd., a specialist in decorative fabrics in Haining Zhejiang, province in China began weaving clothing fabrics in 1999. The company is now a highly focused jacquard weaving mill. “When I was 18 years I had an option to join my father’s textile mill that produces fashion fabrics but my heart was in furnishing fabrics and in 1999 I ventured on my own by opening a retail store for furnishing fabrics in what was a 20 square meter show room,” recalls Yunsong Yao, President. Zhejiang Shengli Textile Company. In 2003, the company started to weave jacquards and bagged the first export order from France. “Now the Shengli mill is spread over 50 acres of land; the construction area covers 45,000 square meters all in a span of 11 years. The annual installed capacity of the factory is 4,800,000 meters. The company has more than 130 employees with 36 Dornier looms. We do nothing else except weave jacquard fabrics that reach markets in America, Asia, Europe, Korea, Japan, Middle east, and Australia”, he said. . (Curtain

Spring 2014

fabrics and readymade products includes cushions, bedclothes, curtain are all in jacquards). The company’s collections in jacquards of high warp density, are used for both drapery and upholstery. In order to meet the changing market needs the company started acut length business in 2008 in the domestic market and has also added a 2,000 square meter show room in Hangzhou. “In 2011 we took an important decision and began to produce 30 meter rolls to the export market too and it is faring well,” said Yousong. During Heimtextil Frankfurt the company had displayed its three ranges of jacquard collections catering to middle to high end segments. The company has so far developed more than 10,000 kinds of patterns offering a wide choice in the marketplace. “The markets need attention and segmenting the prices in terms of quality, pricing and styles. This was very crucial and we have accomplished this well through our three brands like Shengli, Buckingham and Senza”, explains Yunsong. Shengli at middle end is sold between $6 to wide widths at $18, Buckingham collections towards middle to high end are tagged at $10-18 a meter

Yunsong Yao of Shengli but some collections in these two brands can be ordered by rolls and some by a minimum of 300 and 600 meters depending on widths. Senzza is clearly segmented at high end. Our Spanish designed collections start at $10 for 140 cm width and sells up to $50 a meter; can be bought roll wise and is in ready stock always. “We are marching forward because the acceptance of our designs as well as quality in the marketplace are highly encouraging. We are adding six more Dornier jacquard looms this year to meet the increased demand”, added Yunsong. He says the company has an in house design studio manned by 10 designers and has an exclusive arrangement with an outside Spanish design team too. F&FI

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Rockland Mills Expands Factory, Testing, Innovation New Products Boost Domestic, Export Sales Sipco News Network

ALTIMORE, Maryland— Rockland Mills, Inc., the makers of Roc-Lon® drapery lining is undergoing a major expansion from 250,000 to 300,000 square feet in Bamberg, S.C. to accommodate its wide width, 140 inch ranges of blackout drapery linings. As part of the expansion, Rockland is pre-testing all products in-house to make sure they pass all flammability tests in the EC according to Stan Fradin, President. Fradin recently announced his retirement but indicates he will stay connected in some meaningful capacity with Rockland. He says that Rockland has had a long history in the blackout lining business. The company was founded in 1832 but it has been under the same family since 1947, The Lederman Family. Zandy Lederman, the founder who passed some years ago, discovered a way to replace vinyl backing in drapery lining in 1967so the product could be washed or dry cleaned in residential or contract applications. In the mid 90’s, Rockland introduced solid color linings instead of just white and ivory. “We still keep our technology close to ourselves because we are not interested in training foreign manufacturers in making our products,” Fradin says. “Ours is a highly automated manufacturing process—not a sewing operation.” As textile manufacturing slowly comes back to the USA, Fradin feels that many producers will look to Rockland to coat textile products in its Bamberg plant. We’re opening up other opportunities for manufacturers and converters who want to export by offering our coating services. “There have been too many accidents in Bangladesh and India. Suppliers will turn to the States in the future,” he feels. “Quality is the nature of our business.” “We pack every roll of goods in a special box to eliminate crushing,” says Darren Fradin, Vice President. We have brought more innovation to the market in the last eight years than we have in the past 40,” he maintains. “Every major workroom in the U.S. is now using wide-width blackout drapery lining from Rockland. Everything is now wide because it saves fabrication and installation cost,” Fradin says. Rockland works with polyester, poly/cotton and poly flax base fabrics in 300 yard rolls ready for printing. “The customer can provide their own designs or use our archives,” Stan points out. Roller shade fabric from Rockland is now a major new product opportunity for the company. “It is

designed front and back. It is an extra wide textile product—not PVC. It is a sandwich with a decorative front and back. The designs can be different on each side,” Stan says. One piece blackout is also offered with a printed face inside the hotel room and an energy saving foam back which saves heating and cooling costs. It’s especially popular in the Middle East hospitality arena,” Stan says. “We have also gone to the expense to install testing equipment in our Bamberg, S.C. plant to make sure our improved, state of the art products pass all FR tests in Europe before they are actually tested in the field,” he says. “Of course, Roc-Lon passes the California flammability standard NFPA 701. When’s the last time you’ve heard about a hotel fire in the USA?” he asks. “Our products are self extinguishing in the presence of a flame—not fireproof. Our products are fire retardant.” He points out that Rockland is the

last of its kind in the USA. “We foam, coat and produce drapery linings six days a week. Who else is better equipped to design and test drapery linings than Rockland? We pass the Boston and California tests and are on the cutting edge of innovation. I challenge off shore products from Asia to beat Rockland. Imported products have to prove they are safe. Theirs are made with chemicals which are not always safe.” “Roc-Lon has changed its formulation to pass all tests effective January 1 as per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Fradin points to his business with Valley Forge and Marriott International in illustrating the acceptance of Roc-Lon in the USA. “The use of new chemicals opens up new doors for Roc-Lon in the export market,” Fradin maintains. The quality of our components is safe according to current U.S. standards.” “We will continue to test imported

“Roc-Rol”TM Roller Shade Fabric products to make sure they are safe in terms of formaldehyde levels and other standards,” he says. “The imported products are not always 100 percent blackout and there is sometimes a problem with delamination of those products after dry-cleaning.” Fradin says that often, levels of chemicals in imported blackout are not correctly

formulated. “You as the purchaser are now liable for any problems with those imported products in the field. RocLon is chemically marked so if there is a problem we can determine if it is out product or not. Most of the time, when there are problems, it is not our goods but an import that fails.” F&FI

Haufe Retires; Fradin Follows Him! Sipco News Network

RANKFURT—Rockland Mills Inc. hosted a retirement dinner for Henner Haufe at Gasthof Steinernes Haus January 7. After 59 years in the textiles industry, Haufe, founder of Creative Furnishing Fabrics in Sulzburg, Germany says he plans to spend a great deal of time at his vacation home on the Costa Blanca, the Southern coast of Spain with his wife Haide. Henner Haufe and Stan Fradin Haufe had a long and successful career in fabannounce their retirement. Henner rics with his special ability to introduce American Phillippe and his two brothers Olivie and is going to the Costa Blanca in fabric lines to European buyers. Those lines Laurent (not shown) are the second generation Spain and Stan will work in some included Lanscot Arlen, P/Kaufmann and more managers of Indetex. The founders and parents capacity at Rockland, just not as a recently, Roc-Lon® from Rockland Mills Inc. of the boys, Jean-Pierre Debie and Marianne fulltime President. “Very few reach the top of the industry like Debie are pictured here with their grand-daughHenner Haufe,” Fradin said. “Nobody could ter Marie-Helene Debie. (Phillippe’s daughter) appreciate what Henner has achieved unless they were there with him like I have been. There was no printed blackout when we started with Henner. He made it happen for us!” Fradin has logged 48 years with the textile business, nearly all of them with Rockland. At the same time, Rockland President Stan Fradin utilized the event to announce his own retirement June 1. However, Stan admitted he will continue with Roc-Lon in some capacity even if it isn’t fulltime employment. Here’s a peek at who was at this farewell party!

Mark Berman, President of Rockland Industries, Inc., the Baltimore based owner of Rockland Mills and Roc-Lon® blackout linings. That’s Philippe Debie, principal of Indetex, a Kortrijk, Belgium based wholesaler of drapery linings, especially RocLon®. Debie’s parents started the business in a garage 30 years ago and now work out of 8,000 square meters in the same town.

Brad Levy, sales manager with his boss, Mark Kresel, Vice President of Sales for Roc-Lon.

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Justin Parmentier and his dad, Guy, the newly named sales agency for Rockland Mills in European Union. The Parmentiers have moved to Ibiza from Belgium. Good luck to them!

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The Finest Fabric Show is in Brussels, September 9-10-11, 2014 International Trade Fair for Producers of Upholstery, Window & Wall Coverings Moving to the gorgeous Hall 5, the Patio and Hall 8

moodbrussels.com

facebook.com/moodbrussels

twitter.com/moodbrussels

MoOD is organised by Textirama vzw, Poortakkerstraat 90, BE-9051 Gent, Belgium Phone +32 9 24 38 450 - fax +32 9 24 38 455 - email: info@moodbrussels.com

Spring 2014

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Contract/HospitalityNews C/HNEWS I Rubin Says Crypton’s Nanotex Acquisition Puts Combined Company On New Growth Curve Sipco News Network

EW YORK, New York — Crypton’s acquisition of Nanotex from W.L. Ross and other partners, (January 6) will produce a stronger, more diversified company according to Randy Rubin, Principal and Founder.

Her husband Criag invented Crypton in 1993. Randy is the marketer and brand strategist of Crypton and now, Nanotex including Aquapel® one of the products made by Nanotex. “We are eager to work with

Burlington, a division of ITG also owned by W.L. Ross,” she says. “We have had a longstanding relationship with ITG.

Burlington has finishing and dyeing facilities in China and Crypton can become a customer of ITG in the China market. In fact, there are 70 licensees of Nanotex in China, she says. It puts the combined company solidly in the apparel business which is something new to Crypton. an entrepreneurial brand strategy for Crypton. Apparel is a much ‘Bon’ was the Senior Brand Marketing Manager larger market than at PepsiCo. for eight years. After her PepsiCo post home furnishings and she was an entrepreneur, independent branding and contract fabric; apparel innovation strategist. Immediately prior to taking the actually dwarfs home Crypton position, she handled the marketing and furnishings in size, branding for Hiller’s Markets, a Michigan grocery she explains, “so the chain. potential is that much She went to UCLA for her undergraduate degree greater.” However, and attended University of Michigan for her postNanotex represents s a graduate work and earned her MBA from there. F&FI

Crypton Hires Fulltime Brand Strategist

Elizabeth Friedman, Previously PepsiCo Executive Sipco News Network

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI—Crypton Corp. has named Elizabeth ‘Bon’ Friedman Vice President, Marketing. Friedman joined the company January 6 and reports to Randy Rubin, Co-Chairman of Crypton. Rubin has been the longtime marketer and sole brand strategist for Crypton since the company’s founding by her and husband Craig, the inventor of Crypton. In her new post, Friedman will help Randy develop

(continued from page 12)

Wadhwa Brothers Add Walnut Cut Order Line Sumer says that most of his business is now in the USA for Walnut but this should expand, he says. He’s also doing cut length

Sumer Wadhwa and his bride Ananya

in Southeast Asia. “The customer is not adding vendors easily. They are cautious.” “We’re adding export markets

The Walnut Collection: the new cut order brand from Seasons

rapidly for Seasons. These include Australia, UAE and Saudi Arabia in addition to the USA and Europe. In fact, we’re doing very

well in Europe. This business has been driven by our FR product line that we started up seven years ago. If we hadn’t specialized in FR, it would have been harder to \ grow since the residential business is so competitive,” Inderjeet said. Seasons has a two piece minimum requirement with 2,500 sku’s in solids and jacquards in the 5Euro-10Euro price range FOB. The FR line is sold through contract specialists throughout Europe. The Wadhwas, first and second generation will attend Proposte and will show their line at The Palace Hotel. F&FI

One of the new items from Seasons

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Randy Rubin

smaller percentage of the finished cost of the garment than Crypton represents as a percentage of the finished fabric, Rubin points out. There are other synergies as well. For example, “the technologies of Crypton and Nanotex are compatible in that both are non fluorinated, fabric treatments but Nanotex is geared more to the apparel business while Crypton is more geared to home furnishings,” she says. However, Nanotex also has sales in the bedding, outdoor seating and cushion business, she says. “Over 90 percent of the current Nanotex business is apparel related,” she adds. “It’s possible that sales of Nanotex can eventually exceed sales of Crypton because of the much larger size of the apparel business and this certainly broadens our world. Mark Brutten is Vice President of Sales for Nanotex in the new set-up with Crypton acquiring 27 employees in China, India, .Japan and Hong Kong as part of the deal. F&FI

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Pattern Club Offers Virtual Sampling, Cuts Production Time, Sampling Cost Sipco News Network

Pattern Club sells designs like this one on its website

Antoine Doubacis

Cotton/Wool Twill Mix

REFELD, FDR—‘Pattern Club’ has found a niche in the marketplace as one of the first independent pre-loom service bureaus producing virtual samples of jacquard and dobby upholstery fabrics and any other type of woven textile. The system actually can replace the expensive process of weaving samples. Depending on the complexity of the design, Doubacis, General Manager and owner, says he can generate ten different designs in ten color ways each in just one day at a cost of about 680Euros a day. “It’s three times faster than conventional sample weaving and is less expensive to do it this way,” he says. “Our business has really progressed to the point where we have ten clients—including Schoepf Velvets and Gerster Trimmings-- in just the last three years,” says Antoine Doubacis, General Manager and founder (2008) who specializes in weaving and previously worked with EAT Software in Germany. PatternClub uses real data for the front and backend of jacquard weaving design using the customers’ designs or Pattern Club’s on-line library of copyrighted artwork for textiles. PatternClub also works on a commission for independent artists but that is a separate business from the virtual sampling. Pattern Club sells the artwork on a commission basis. Once the designs are produced as a virtual sample, the customer can go ahead to produce the finished product on a loom using the CD provided. The system is based on EAT software. Doubacis is a textile designer who works with small mills and converters who use his service instead of doing it in house. The service includes virtual sampling of the yarn through the fabric. “I have a customer who converts in India and uses Pattern Club for all virtual sampling. The finished Design is then produced in India. F&FI

virtual sample of woven cotton/wool twill design

Spring 2014

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Riban Named Brooks GM

(Continued from page 24)

Solarium® Sets New Sales High, Richloom Spins Off New Website Solarium fabrics are made from an assortment of fibers including spun and filament polyester in piece dye, solution dyed and printed varieties in up to 12-15 rotary screens “The customer base includes manufacturers and retailers of window curtains, replacement cushions and

outdoor furniture,” Zaberto says. “We sell highly textured piece dyed fabrics for the motion furniture business,” he adds. One area not interesting to Richloom Solarium is the commodity awning and boat cover business, Zaberto points out. “We are an outdoor fabric fash-

ion house and not interested in commodity nor industrial applications of outdoor fabrics,” he explains. “We have no idea all the places where Solarium goes. We only know that we are seeing a domestic printing wave with Solarium fabrics and we also are printing in Taiwan and

Sipco News Network

China. We weave our cloth with several different mills.” Zaberto points to Showtime twice a year as Solarium’s best market. This past Showtime, Solarium introduced 105 sku’s including ‘Rave,’ a solid in 35 active colors for $8.95. F&FI

Eran Riban

OS ANGELES, California— Eran Riban, 37, has been named General Manager of Brooks Fabrics, the commercial division of Ribenks Inc., a converter and importer of upholstery fabrics to the U.S. furniture trade. Brooks specializes in designing and importing upholstery from China to the U.S. furniture trade. Riban reports to Joseph Moran, principal and founder of Ribenks. Riban’s post is a new one for the company. Prior to joining Brooks less than a year ago, Riban was CEO of an Israeli newspaper company with offices in Los Angeles and New York. He was with the firm for six years before joining Brooks which reportedly grew sales in double digits in 2013. Riban just logged his second Showtime event in High Point, NC and he said that it “energized him.” As a result of Brooks’ growth this year, Riban is actively looking for additional sales reps in California, Texas and Mississippi to supplement his sales force in Kansas, New York, North Carolina and Texas. “This industry changes all of the time challenging us. At Brooks we answer this challenge by coming up with excellent products to allow a continuous flow and vitality on the retail floor offering new fabrics, designs and colors. The Brooks line includes 2,000 sku’s with about 30 percent turnover of the collection each year, Riban pointed out. The line is mostly all polyester with some blends in linen and rayon as well as polyurethane and leather. Thanks to a recently completed proprietary software program developed in-house, Riban is able to analyze what the customer buys each month so that a one month supply is warehoused and is available when that customer needs it. Riban said “the stock levels are reliable and solid.” He said he keeps daily communication with the company’s China offices. Riban received a B.A. in Economics from Tel Aviv University and was an instructor in the Israeli Air Force prior to coming to the U.S. ten years ago. He lives in Redondo Beach with his wife and two children. He is an avid mountain climber with climbs in Yellow Stone and Yosemite Parks under his belt. F&FI 200x254.indd 1

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Manufacturers Push Premier Print Business Up 30 Per Cent Sipco News Network

HERMAN, MS — Premier Prints is riding a wave of increased demand for wet prints by every segment of the fabrics industry according to Zeke Hodges, one of the three brothers who started the business in 1991. The company is adding 22,000 square feet to its warehouse, bringing it up to 50,000 square feet and the possible addition of a second Stork Rotary Screen Printer. Zeke, 58; Johnny, 66 and Billy, 64 run the business with their children, nieces and nephews. It originally started as a supplier of foam, fiber and nonwovens to the furniture trade but 12 years ago, the trio bought a Stork Rotary Screen Printer and their lives have never been the same since. In fact, Zeke said they are considering the purchase of a second Stork printer to meet demand for their line of 800 prints in seven to eight colors. “We could print up to 12 colors but the

Hodges Bros. - Johnny and Billy Hodges (seated) Zeke Hodges (standing) customer is happy with the seven to eight,” Zeke pointed out. The print line sells for $4-$7.00 a yard. Recently, an outdoor line of prints was added which Zeke said is water repellant. Sales have increased every year, Zeke said. Premier competes with the likes of Brittany, Santee and Swan. There is actually a reduction of print suppliers in the USA so with any uptick in business, Premier benefits as it is

doing so now. It supplies prints to the children’s furniture business; outdoor awnings, party rentals, dog beds, drapery, bedding and handbag manufacturers. “We are very diversified and that is our strength,” Zeke said. He I considering expanding his growing export business as well. Premier does business in Russia, New Zealand and Australia currently. F&FI

(continued from page 12)

What’s Up in India (continued from page 12)

Alps Industries Makes Strong Comeback Alps Industries also says it has developed a three pass Blackout with decorative designs and will join just a few approved suppliers in the market. (A ‘3-pass’ blackout is produced by applying a layer of white foam to the fabric first, then a layer of black foam followed by the third and final layer of white or light-colored foam). “We are the only supplier from India in the contract blackout segment and this has a considerable share in the market as well,” Sen said. “We are adding 280 cm width soon that will enhance our reach in the international market”, said Nafis Saiyed, Assistant Vice

President. Alps Industries FR blackout for contract segment will be sold to leading convertors. In 100 % cotton Blackouts, the Alps range is offered in 60 colors and is priced at $2.50$6.00 a meter. Alps are a cotton decorative fabrics company and the big push is increasing sales by 60-70%,” Sen said. He feels that Alps’ future lies in reaching more wholesalers. He is now ready to deliver additional quantities that are expanding the mills capacity regularly. Aside from the Blackout lines, Alps is also offering embroidery on natural fabrics. “Continued innovations in Blackouts,

jacquards in wider width, cotton plains and a focus on the contract segment will drive us further and we will remain as a niche player in cotton Blackouts that offer 50,000 rubs, he said. Alps Industries has crossed a turnover of $ 20 million in 2013 and derives its business from upholstery as well from curtains equally. The mill has been very successful in creating value added products in jacquard and cotton blackouts. “Contract and Hospitality business has a good requirement for blackout curtains and Alps is positively placed in the market”, Sen concluded. F&FI

(continued from page 12)

Dicitex Digitally Prints Rajnish also sees problems in China with labor as the Yuan increases in value. “If I buy yarn in China, it is more expensive than buying it in India; be Indian, buy

Spring 2014

Indian” he says. “In the coming five years, India’s economy will continue to grow.” F&FI Rajnish Arora

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F FI D E S I G N

Hiking the Trade Show Trail by Jennifer Castoldi

The first quarter of 2014 was chock full of international exhibitions. Here are some highlights to keep you in the know.

(CELC, Masters of Linen member Deltracon)

PARIS, FRANCE - For the occasion of Paris Deco Off, Masters of Linen presented ‘Linen Lux’ where European linen lit up the streets of Paris. Large lampshades decorated with the latest linen collections swung gently back and forth in the cool winter breeze. To bring some warmth to the air, Masters of Linen also shared its Spring/Summer 2015 design directions, one of which is On the Quiet. “To escape daily frenzy, colors are filtered through the delicacy of natural white, the sensuality of skin tones, and the chalky paleness of neutral hues. Lightness opens to dynamic simplicity, to subtle flexibility. Surfaces experiment with matt or delicate luster coatings. Minimal crispy textures in linen/PA or linen/viscose are knitted or woven. Pre-washed 100% linen weaves, heat-shrinkable linen blends enhance a natural refined look.”

COLOGNE, GERMANY - Held concurrently with imm cologne was LivingInteriors, a trade show specifically catering to bathrooms, floors, walls and lighting. This year, at the end of the new “Trend Avenue” one came upon “The Rooms”. These areas were defined by traditional spaces: the dining room, the bedroom, the bathroom, and the living room.

PARIS, FRANCE - Ateliers d’Art de France

of the first blossoms, and to the richness brought to

unveiled its trends at Maison&Objet under the theme

mind by a tea ceremony. In honor of Japanese crafts,

‘Territories of Creation’ to encapsulate the wide-

the Levant invites us to discover Japan’s delicate and

ranging talent of the artisans and their multiple product

fragile ceramics and raku, or the art of bamboo and

categories in time-right application. The direction

paper folding.”

seen here is ‘The Levant’. “In the diaphanous light of spring, the East awakens us to the contemplation

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Spring 2014 n

F FI D E S I G N HANOVER, GERMANY - On 1st Rug Avenue, during Domotex, eight white houses looked the same from the exterior, but within diverse stories were told through interior design to support the classic handmade rugs that adorned the floors. Historic tidbits mixed with contemporary room settings. For example here is ‘Kilim goes Fifties’. “Distinct outlines, a rather smooth surface and natural wool, dyed in lively colors: these are the characteristics of the flat woven Kilim. Kilims were traditionally made by farmers and nomads who used the light, pileless rugs and carpets to decorate floors or animals. In this modern townhouse, the Kilim is combined with furniture from the 1950s. Its distinctive geometric pattern stands in harmonic contrast with light surfaces GLOBAL - Why take a trip to the museum to

and plain, organic shapes,

view the old masters when the latest bedding, bath,

such as those of kidney-

window treatments, and fashions boast a painter’s stroke

shaped tables and wicker

of genius? Florals with a watercolor-like appearance have

chairs. The hand-woven

been popular the last few seasons. While those continue,

textile unobtrusively adds

we also see the rise of what looks like gloopy oil paints

color to floors and walls,

covering the canvas of home fashions as seen with this

and works well with

bedding from Valeron.

natural materials such as bamboo, wood, or sisal.”

FRANKFURT, GERMANY - In seating tufting is making a return, from upcycled worker’s wear by Carolin Dietmann at Heimtextil, to Mars Architects’ Water Bench: a polyethylene, outdoor chesterfieldstyle piece of furniture that collects rainwater via the button inlets created to aid in irrigation of Mumbai’s parks in the dry season.

After the trade show round up you may need some rest. The creative group over at Studio Aisslinger worked on a concept for the newest 25hours hotel opened in Berlin at the end of February. The furniture is often modular allowing for diverse situations from work to play to complete and utter relaxation. Being spoilt for choice there are also hammocks and swinging sofas to rest or work upon throughout.

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

Spring 2014

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NEWS FROM PROPOSTE Former Imatex Execs Open MODE Business Expect Weaving in Italy, Convert Elsewhere Sipco News Network

ULCIAGO, Italy — Pietro Bertarini and Marco Guggi, former Imatex General Manager and Export Manager respectively for many years, have started operations under the name MODE with a third, as yet unidentified third Italian partner who owns the jacquard mill that will make the MODE collections. The pair said they will start traveling from mid-

February onwards with the first developments, They expect to launch the first MODE collection during Proposte 2014 in Cernobbio, Como. “The company has a unique set up, in fact, whilst we cannot be defined as a pure manufacturer; MODE has joined hands with a third shareholder who owns a state of the art weaving mill in Italy,” the pair said in a jointly written letter over their signatures. “This will allow MODE to freely

develop on his premises the latest trends 100% Made in Italy but with the flexibility to convert elsewhere items which due to their manufacturing complexity and cost are not viable for production in Italy. A drapery range instead of medium lightweight fabrics will be introduced at a second stage,” they said. “This set up will allow us to be extremely competitive in an ever-changing market.” Bertarini and Guggi said they are investing in IT and logistics

“to offer in the shortest possible time a quick and easy way to Marco Guggi access information on orders, deliveries and shipments. As we are a very skilled team, our general policy will be to offer a much personalised one-to-one textile experience, which we are sure will satisfy the most demanding and exacting needs.” F&FI

Pietro Bertarini

PROPOSTE 2014 - LIST OF EXHIBITORS EXHIBITOR STAND

A Johan Van Den Acker Textielfabriek (NL) Alcantara (IT) Albert Guegain & Fils (FR) Algemene Two (BE) Athenea – Texathenea (ES) Aznar Textil (ES)

EXHIBITOR STAND

G 58 - Ala Cernobbio 80 - Ala Regina 94 - Pad. Centrale 81 - Ala Regina 63 - Ala Cernobbio 37 - Ala Cernobbio

Gaetano Rossini (IT) Gassa V (ES) Giber (IT)

11 - Ala Lario 43 - Ala Cernobbio 28 - Ala Lario

Haezebrouck (BE) Hield (GB)

10 - Ala Lario 8 - Ala Lario

B & T Textilia (BE) José Bartual Castellets (ES) Baumann Dekor (AT) Bayart Vanoutryve (FR) Bergerot (FR) Velours Blafo (FR) Bruvatex-Sagaert & Speyer (BE)

72 - Ala Regina 70 - Ala Regina 16 - Ala Lario 89 - Pad. Centrale 87 - Pad. Centrale 42 - Ala Cernobbio 79 - Ala Regina

I Imatex (IT) The Isle Mill - Macnaughton Holdings (GB) Italtessil (IT)

25 - Ala Lario 55 - Ala Cernobbio 23 - Ala Lario

C Canepa Divisione Arredamento (IT) Casalegno Tendaggi (IT) Mario Cavelli (IT) Clerici Tessuto & C. Divisione Luna Home (IT) Crevin (ES)

93 - Pad. Centrale 14 - Ala Lario 5 - Ala Lario 83 - Pad. Centrale 66 - Ala Cernobbio

Lemaitre Demeestere (FR) Libeco - Lagae (BE) Limonta (IT) Lodetex (IT)

74 - Ala Regina 7 - Ala Lario 31 - Ala Lario 64 - Ala Cernobbio

M Manifattura Tessile Di Nole M.T. (IT) Manuel Revert (ES) Martinelli Ginetto (IT) Matisse Tissage (FR) Molteni Vincenzo Tessitura Jacquard (IT) Monti Napoleone (IT) Morton Young & Borland (GB) Muguet (FR) Müller Zell (DE) Gebr. Munzert (DE) Muvantex Bekaert Depla Fabrics (BE)

24 - Ala Lario 35 - Ala Cernobbio 48 - Ala Cernobbio 88 - Pad. Centrale 45 - Ala Cernobbio 3 - Ala Lario 12 - Ala Lario 84 - Pad. Centrale 49 - Ala Cernobbio 6 - Ala Lario 68 - Ala Regina

78 - Ala Regina L

D Danzo (IT) 61 - Ala Cernobbio David Walters Fabrics (GB) 36 - Ala Cernobbio Delius (DE) 2 - Ala Lario Deltracon Linen Fabrics For Interior Decoration (BE) 71 - Ala Regina Gustavo De Negri & ZA.MA. Manifattura Tessile (IT) 91 - Pad. Centrale D’Etoffe (IT) 77 - Ala Regina Devantex (BE) 9 - Ala Lario E E. Boselli & C (IT) Engelbert E. Stieger (CH) Escolys (BE) Europ Marchini (IT) Evento Arredamento By Limonta (IT)

J Francisco Jover (ES)

73 - Ala Regina 95 - Pad. Centrale 52 - Ala Cernobbio 32 - Ala Lario 30 - Ala Lario

N Nelen & Delbeke (BE)

4 - Ala Lario

EXHIBITOR STAND

Q Quenin by Tassinari & Chatel (FR)

90 - Pad. Centrale

R Ratti D Divisione Ratti (IT) J. A. Raymakers (NL) Real Seta Italian Silk Fabrics (IT) Redaelli Velluti - a division of Marzotto (IT) Rossini Della Quercia (IT)

26 - Ala Lario 40 - Ala Cernobbio 1 - Ala Lario 22 - Ala Lario 29 - Ala Lario

S Schiatti Tessuti (IT) Schmitz-Werke (DE) Seteria Bianchi (IT) Sirio Tendaggi (IT) Mario Sirtori (IT) Solbiati (IT) Spinelli Vincenzo (IT) Standfast & Barracks (GB)

82 - Pad. Centrale 17 - Ala Lario 92 - Pad. Centrale 19 - Ala Lario 38 - Ala Cernobbio 67 - Ala Cernobbio 13 - Ala Lario 56 - Ala Cernobbio T

Manifatture Toscane Ta-Bru (IT) Telor (IT) Ter Molst International (BE) Texao (IT) Texital (IT) Texnova (IT) Thistle Mills (GB) Tissages de Gravigny 2 Plus (FR) Tissus d’Avesnieres (FR) Torri Lana 1885 (IT)

46 - Ala Cernobbio 44 - Ala Cernobbio 47 - Ala Cernobbio 60 - Ala Cernobbio 27 - Ala Lario 41 - Ala Cernobbio 69 - Ala Regina 86 - Pad. Centrale 85 - Pad. Centrale 76 - Ala Regina V

O.J. Van Maele (BE) Weverij Van Neder (BE) Angelo Vasino (IT) Verstraete & Verbauwede (BE) Viganò (IT) Textiles Vilber (ES)

65 - Ala Cernobbio 54 - Ala Cernobbio 62 - Ala Cernobbio 59 - Ala Cernobbio 34 - Ala Cernobbio 21 - Ala Lario

P F Fibertex (BE) Fidertessile (IT) Fiorete (IT) Froca (ES)

50 - Ala Cernobbio 51 - Ala Cernobbio 39 - Ala Cernobbio 15 - Ala Lario

Parà (IT) Pongs Velours (DE) Pozzi Arturo (IT) Pozzi Industria Tessile (IT) Prosetex (IT)

33 - Ala Lario 20 - Ala Lario 18 - Ala Lario 53 - Ala Cernobbio 57 - Ala Cernobbio

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Y Yutes - Natural Fabrics (ES)

75 - Ala Regina

Z Zanchi Tessitura Serica - Rubelli (IT)

96 - Pad. Centrale

Spring 2014 n

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See Mercedes Benz Museum, Stuttgart, Germany Sipco News Network

ust get to Frankfurt a day or two earlier than Heimtextil, take the train for 90 minutes to Kircheim Teck. Walk to the Museum. This is the place to be if you like the history of Mercedes, really the first automobile ever produced. (No, Henry Ford was not the first car producer.) The Museum is well worth the trip and is as interesting as a building can be. It is a double helix structure. You start at the top and work your way down. The complete history of Mercedes unfolds. F&FI

Mercedes 500K Special Roadster

Mercedes SSK

Mercedes advertisement designed to appeal to women

July 22 - 24, 2014 Javits Convention Center New York, NY For more information: www.HomeTextilesSourcing.com

40 hp Mercedes Simplex, the oldest Mercedes still in existence.

Karl Benzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first automobile called Victoria

1957 300 SL

Spring 2014

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

Showtime Showtime Goes On In Spite of Bad Weather! HIGH POINT, NC—Showtime was hampered by rough weather in the States, especially in Dallas, Texas which kept some fabric buyers from attending but in general, the Show was well received and ahead of December, 2012 in terms of appointments and placements. Here were some of the participants’ faces, both buyers and sellers. —Eric Schneider

Don Greene (thinking of a number between one and ten) and his partner Wayne McNeely, principals of Heritage Fabrics LLC, Concord, NC with customer Calico, Kennett Square, PA. namely Jennifer Mayer, Merchandise Manager and Susan Distel, Buyer of trimmings, hardware, and hard window treatments Fabrics; Donna Lanney, Regional Manager

Wilma Pascual, General Manager and Ben Golshani, CEO of Noveltex, Los Angeles based linen converter

Luc Callens, President of Algemene, Belgium with customer Guy Hill, Director of Design for Thayer Coggin, a contemporary upholstery maker with an improving order outlook according to Hill.

Wade Oppliger, President of Supply & Demand, consultant to Calico’s furniture division with Sloan Caplan, President of Keystone Weaving Mills, Inc., Lebanon, PA.

Gail N. Richard, Senior Designer Marlatex, Belmont, N.C. weaving mill with customer Jeff Svicarovich, principal of Kimlor, a top of bed manufacturer in Orangeburg, S.C

Joel Lessem co-principal of Michaels Textiles, Petersburg VA jobber; Brett Rubin, co-principal of Edgar Fabrics Inc., Hauppauge, NY converter with Shelly Delsack, co-principal of Michaels Textiles and Jeff Rubin, Brett’s partner and brother

Kara Roberts, director of merchandising of Corona, CA. upscale catalog retailer Smith + Noble with Keystone Weavers Northeast sales agent Reuben Lentz and design and marketing director Rae McKinnon, also of Keystone fame.

Javier Sanchez, principal of Jonathan Louis, Gardena, CA upholstery funiture maker with Valdese Weavers CEO Mike Shelton and coworker, Bob Walters, Vice President, Customer Relations

Howard Yesovitch, principal of FabricMaster, 125 store chain in Canada, based in Toronto with Zeke Hodges, a principal of Premier Fabrics, a rotary sceen printer based in Sherman, Mississippi

Heimtextil

Ted K. van der Linden Kortenhoef, The Netherlands based contract consultant with Max Baumann, the Gmund, Austria based hotel/cruise specialist and Mandeep S. Wadhwa, Managing Director of Seasons Furnishings Limited, New Delhi, India, now with five showrooms.

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Andreas Nowak, Key Account Manager, J.A. Raymakers & Co., Helmond, The Netherlands with Stefanie Kerpen; Heiner Sebastian, Product manager, W & L Jordan, Kunzell Germany and Jorg Baumhofener, also with Jordan, a wholesaler.

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Heimtextil 2014 Takes First Place Again! Heimtextil Rolls On, Bigger Than Ever Before! A stronger turnout of wall covering exhibitors beefed up the hallowed halls as more fabric buyers look to coordinate window and wall décor. Nothing seems to dampen the spirits of Heimtextil as the greatest textile show on the face of the earth. Even the weather was beautiful this year. Do you remember all of the Arctic winters we labored through in past years? Thank G-d for Global warming. Frankfurt itself is a city that just keeps improving and that doesn’t hurt Heimtextil a bit! I actually enjoyed myself, taking a side trip by train *before the Fair) to the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart. Next year—it’s on to the Porsche Museum! —Eric Schneider

Heimtextil

Patrick Geysels, Director of MoOD, Brussels Exhibition in September with colleagues Marie-Claire Beckers and Katrien Galee, Messe Benelux Sales & Marketing Manager, Brussels

Roland Henao and Albert Paquet, principals of Elfa International, Inc., New York based decorative piece goods importer.

Richard Atlas, Market Manager, Architex, Northbrook. Ill. (USA) contract specialist with Bob Korn, Director of Marketing and Keith Gordon, President. That’s Yasef Deitsch, principal of Deitsch Plastic (New Haven, CT. USA) and distributor of Flocktex in the USA on the right.

Neil DeKort, principal of Reynaldo with his supplier Yunsong Yao, President of Zhejiang Shengli Textile Co., Ltd., Haining, China Feras Al Bachat, General Manager of Bin Rashid Group, Emirates based wholesaler of home textiles, wallpaper, curtain accessories with supplier Sanjay Arora, Managing Director of D’Décor, Mumbai

The fabric wholesaling Brothers Dib: That’s Eduardo Dib and Cristian Dib Maluk, both based in Santiago, Chile

Richard and son Travis Storch. principals of Storch International, Middleton, Wisconsin, USA window blinds components importer.

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Archie Tchernov, Principal of Galleria Arben, Moscow; He’s looking to build a major new showroom in Moscow to house the entire decorative fabrics industry.

EuropaTex International crew: Fred Makar, sales agent; Melissa Mosko, hostess with the mostess; Greg Kiriakou, Manager and Vlad Goldenberg, sales agent–all with EuropaTex International, manufacturers and wholesalers of trimming based in Jersey City, NJ (USA)

Howard Yesovitch, principal of FabricMaster, a Canadian chain of fabric outlets really gets around! He was previously seen by F&FI at Showtime and here he is in Frankfurt, Germany! Next, Ishwar Bharwani, owner of Al Wilayah Carpets & Curtains in Dubai with Nimish Arora, co-owner of Dicitex Fabrics, Mumbai, India and Pawan Lalwani, Associate Manager of Al Wilayah Carpets.

Ahmet Sapmaz, Vice President, Sourcing of Valley Forge Fabrics Inc., the contract specialist based in Pompano Beach, Florida with Eric Schneider, publisher of Fabrics & Furnishings International (center) and Michael Dobin, President of Valley Forge.

Prof. Bettina Gottke-Krogmann picked the winners of Trevira® ‘Fabric Creativity Competition 2014. The winners are: Backhausen, Creation Baumann, FIDIVI, Kinnasand, Lelievre, Gebruder Munzert, Rubelli, Sahco, Svensson Markspelle and Velours Blafo

Ira Kleinhaut, principal of Eden Hall Decorative Fabrics based in Lindemhurst, N.Y. He’s an uptown jobber.

Roland Salem, principal of Saletex, Montreal, Quebec jobber with colleague Rudy Nakhle, President of Sana Designs Inc., also Montreal based.

Karen Keating, Vice President, Design with Robert Duban, Vice President, Kravet Contract, Bethpage, NY

Ismail Arslan, Vice President, Business Development, De Leo Textiles, High Point, NC with Epengle Principal Huseyin Gergerlioglu, Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey. The pair are successfully penetrating the transportation textiles market in the USA Mr. & Mrs. Henk Veldhuis, owners of Texco Home Textiles, Almelo, The Netherlands with Logistic Manager of Texco, Bert Gerritsen. Watch them roar!

Gianmarco Zamaroni, Managing Director of Fiorete Textiles, Fino Mornasco, Italy with customer Christoph Haussler, CEO of Sahco Hesslein, Nurnberg, Germany

Angelique St. Germain, Account Manager, and Judy Dobin, principal, Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc., Pompano Beach, FL (USA)

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F FI C A L E N D A R April 01 – 04 Decotex Russia Home Textiles & Furnishings: Decotex is the leading one stop resource and forum for interior designers, architects and specifiers in Russia. Products offered by exhibitors include textiles floor surfaces, wall coatings, window decoration, finishing fabrics, domestic fabrics, stunning fabrics, imaginative lighting, luxurious bed linen, innovative furniture and bespoke products and services. Expocenter Krasnaya Presnya Moscow, Russia 14, Krasnopresnenskaya nab. 123100 http://www.mosbuild.com/exhibitions/design--decor/decotex building@ite-exhibitions.com +44 20 7596 5000 +44 20 7596 5111

industry trade show in the world, bringing more than 85,000 people to High Point every six months. Serious retail home furnishings buyers can be found in High Point twice a year because if you can’t find it in High Point, it probably doesn’t exist. Trade Visitors: include importers, agents, wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors, major retailers of advertising, home furnishings and interior design, gifts, games, hobbies, and toys and general public are the target visitors. Profile for exhibitors include those from the following sectors: real estate; intelligenceoriented community; city planning and publicity; gardening and virescence; bathroom ceramics; kitchen utensils; window and cabinet systems; glass products; floor material; chemical coating; energy-saving construction; electrical lighting; housing decoration; sports and leisure products; household electrical appliances; furniture, kitchen apparatus; office furniture; hotel furniture.

5-10 High Point Market High Point Market is the largest furnishings

Advertiser Index For more information about one of our advertisers, see the page number listed:

Aqua Clean Fabrics . . . . 17 Classical Elements . . . . . . 1 Covington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Crevin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 D’Decor. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 DiNole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Dicitex Furnishings. . . . . 39 Express Air Freight. . . . 29 GM Fabrics. . . . . . 20 & 21 Kravet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Lead2Design. . . . . . . . . . . 8 Marcovaldo . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Messe Frankfurt. . . . . . . 35 MoOD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 The Patternclub . . . . . . . 24 Proposte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

High Point Market Authority Downtown Showroom Shuttle High Point, NC PO BOX 5243 United States Of America 1-800-874-6492 Dawn Smith +180-087-46492

20 – 23 Hong Kong International Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair Organised by the HKTDC and held at the HKCEC, the Hong Kong International Home Textiles Fair offers a wide range of high quality products such as bathroom textile, bedroom textile, kitchen textile, carpet and floor covering. It is a specialist trade platform giving exhibitors and buyers of home textiles immediate access to markets in Asia and beyond. Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong S.A.R.) Customer Service Line: (852) 1830 668 Vivian Lam: (852) 2240 4189 June Wong: (852) 2240 4622 hktdc.com/hkhometextilesfair

May 7 – 9 Proposte Como Proposte Expo is a dedicated event showcasing the finest in homeware products. This captures the imagination and fuels a demand, which encourages visitors to return year after year.

Raymakers. . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Richloom Fabric Group.15 Rockland Mills. . . . . . . . 2, 3 Vilber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

The fair is not open to the public. Visitors to Proposte access the fair only if invited by the Operative Secretariat of the same fair, and rigorously chosen among the following categories: textile editors, producers of upholstered furniture, wholesalers, wide

distribution chains, converters, contract operators.. Exhibitors feature thousands of product lines showcasing a wide array of lifestyle merchandise including gifts, fine furniture, tabletop, collectibles, floor coverings, lighting and home decor, decorative accessories, stationery, holiday items, gourmet foods, floral, linens, paper products, bath and body items, apparel, children’s giftware and handcrafted products. Proposte SRL Viale Sarca, 223 - 20136, Milan, Italy (39)-(2)-6434054

14-16 - HD Expo Las Vegas The 21st Hospitality Design Expo is the largest expo that originates innovative and creative designs in the hospitality sector. Over 900 leading manufacturers and artisans from all five continents will gather under one roof and offer the latest and best inventions and ideas related to hospitality industry. It maintains strong relationships with leading firms incuding The American Institute of Architects (AIA), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and many more. Hospitality Design Expo will invite more than 7,000 design professionals and interior designing companies from all around the world.. More than 80 percent of attendees will be key decision makers in decor and design purchasing. Nearly 80 percent of visitors will be from foreign countries including Australia and those from Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East. The 20th Hospitality Design Expo will witness over 900 exhibitors from all over the world. Leading manufacturers and artisans of accessories furniture, amenities lighting, appliances seating, art signage, bath and spa software, bedding tables, building products tabletop products, fabrics wall covering, flooring window treatment and more will participate at the expo as exhibitors. It will be a great networking place for the exhibitors to interact with the potential buyers. Mandalay Bay Convention Center Las Vegas, United States Of America Nielsen Business Media, USA Contact Person: Mr. Jeff Brown +1-770-2915435 1145 Sanctuary Parkway Suite 355, Alpharetta United States Of America 1)-(646)-6545000/4934100

21 – 25 Evteks Istanbul More than 1,000 exhibitors and 100,000 professional visitors will become the part of EVTEKS from all around the world. The show will discuss the latest designs and products to

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create the most effective business platform for the industry.. EVTEKS will witness showcase of products and service like decorative fabrics and trimmings, wall coverings, floor coverings, interior decoration and handicrafts, deco contract, trade publications, curtains & tulles and embroidery, bathroom products, and towels, kitchen textiles, table linens, decorative pillows and carpets and rugs. The event will invite national as well as the international visitors for the show. EVTEKS will invite many visitors from all over the globe. The main visitors will be importer, exporter, wholesaler and distributor, agent and buying office. Apart from these some other important visitors will be owners of department stores, chain and specialty stores, design and lifestyle store. Interior designer, mass merchandiser, premium buyer will also become the part of the show.. Manufacturers of upholstery fabric and leather, bed linen and blanket, bathroom products and towels, kitchen textiles, table linens, decorative pillows, carpets and rugs, solar-protective materials and curtain accessories will be exhibiting in the EVTEKS. Exhibitors will provide their different types of services like decorative fabrics and trimmings, wall coverings, floor coverings, interior decoration and handicrafts, deco contract, trade publications, curtains and tulles and embroidery. CNR Expo Center Istanbul, Turkey I. T. F. Istanbul Trade Fair CNR International Exhibition Center Ataturk Havalimani Kars isi D.T.M., Istanbul, Turkey (90)-(212)-4657475 Fax:+(90)-(212)-4657476

18 – 20 SURTEX SURTEX is the annual trade show for the surface design industry, bringing together the owners and creators of surface design (artists/ designers/ studios/ agents/ brands/ licensors) and manufacturers, retailers, marketers, etc., that utilize surface design for their product development needs. The show also serves to connect, educate, inspire and support this community on a year-round basis through webinars, newsletters and other activities. Since 1986, SURTEX has been the single event and global resource offering the full scope of art selling and licensing under one roof. Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York, NY United States Of America 11th Avenue & 655 West 34th & 38th Street 1133, Westchester Ave. White Plains, New York, United States Of America (914)-4213200 Fax (1)-(914)-9482867Contact Organizer

Penny Sikalis 914-4213297

30- June 1 India International Home Textile Exhibition India International Home Textile Exhibition is the perfect platform for the leading suppliers who are going to target the domestic as well as international markets. This event is going to invite both national and international buyers who are going to take full advantage of the exhibition that is going to take place in this event. India International Home Textile Exhibition is going to hold a business networking forum as its important highlight which is going to invite the Chairmen, Managing Directors, Directors, CEOs, General Managers, Sourcing Manager, Purchase Manager, Marketing Head and Merchandisers and more benefit from it. Palace Grounds Bengaluru, India Jayamahal Road Bengaluru, Karnataka, India SS Textile Media Private Limited No. 34, Second Floor 17th Cross, Cmh Road, Laxmipure Bengaluru, Karnataka, India (91)-(80)-41151841 / 25544711 Fax: +(91)-(80)-25544711Contact Organizer Contact Person: Event Manager +91-80-25544711 +91-9845446570 +91-80-25541841

June 9 – 11 NeoCon Chicago Neocon 2014 will display a large collection of furnishing products and accessories such as art, architectural products, building products and services, carpet/flooring, ceiling systems, casegoods, flooring, furniture, lighting, seating, stone and ceramic tile, sustainable products, technology / textiles, wall treatments and more. More than 40,000 attendees will attend Neocon 2014 and discover the latest furnishing concepts. It will cater to both commercial and residential furnishing sector. Visitors can get an array of furnishing products for home and office at one single place. Attendees can make some fair deals at the expo and get some discount as well. Newly born companies will get innovative business deals and forge some new business contacts at the expo. Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. Victoria Kas +1-312-5277599 Suite 470, The Merchandise Chicago, IL United States Of America (1)-1-800-677-6278 (1)-(312)-5277980

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