Fabrics & Furnishings - Summer 2015 Issue by Fabrics & Furnishings International

Fre

ec at opie Sho s o wt f F& im FI e

Volume 25, Number 3

Summer 2015

The Global Home & Contract Furnishings Newspaper

$100 Million Coulisse Expands Roller Shade Business in Americas With Unique, Fabtex MD Jop Vos leads charge as hotel trade moves away from draperies alone Sipco News Network

IAMI, Florida —Coulisse B.V., a $100 million plus window coverings converter and hardware supplier, is capitalizing on the trend towards roller shades with a major expansion in the USA and South American markets. Jop Vos, who joined Coulisse in 2006 covering the Eastern European market, relocated from his native Netherlands to the USA in 2011. He is now the Managing Director of Coulisse North America based in new offices on Brickell Key where he covers the USA and an increasingly impor-

tant South American market. He reports to Morris Roetgering, one of the two principals based in Enter, The Netherlands, about an hour from Amsterdam. There, Coulisse has a 170,000 square foot warehouse and design center which supplies 7,000 sku’s to the world market, shipping a container of window shades and mechanisms to the USA on a weekly basis. Coulisse says it has a motor solution for each of its 7,000 items, made mostly of 100 percent polyester, including Trevira®CS as well as natural roller shades of jute, paper and linen. Coulisse also supplies blackout and light filtering

Valdese Turns 100;

PAGE

shades. The company in its expanding export effort, now has sales offices in Singapore, Shanghai, Guangshou, Taipei, Warsaw Poland and Moscow. Coulisse also supplies jacquard fabric shades to its customers that coordinate with its Berlin collection of 119 solid colors. Prints are also a part of the offering too but more of the business today is done in plains and textures, Vos says. Coulisse deals with

10 Major Celebrations Planned

Mike Shelton, President & CEO, Valdese Weavers with special Centennial Collection

(continued on Page 10)

Coulisse Head office

Jop Vos

Coulisse warehouse

D’Décor Kravet Expects Big Sales Boost From To-The-Trade Only Targets Window e-Commerce Website Blinds PAGE

Todesco Looks to Elevate Redaelli Velutti Once Again 24

PAGE

Cary Kravet

USA Office and Showroom 4 1 1 Av i a t i o n Pa rk w a y Morrisville, NC 27560 Te l . ( 9 1 9 ) 2 3 4 . 8 0 2 5 Fa x ( 9 1 9 ) 2 3 4 . 8 0 3 0 info@classicalelements.com w w w. c l a s s i c a l e l e m e n t s . c o m v i s i t u s a t S h o w t i m e M a y 3 1 - Ju n e 3 r d Booth # SMS 1-635 USA • Italy • China

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

Roc-lon Blackout Drapery ÂŽ

Contact your local selling agent for more details and information regarding our complete program of Roc-lonÂŽ products. We have sales representation in every major world market.

Rockland Mills Division, Rockland Industries, Inc. P.o. Box 17293 BaltImore, mD 21297 PHone: 1-410-522-2505 Fax: 1-410-522-2545

InternatIonal Customers Please Call 1-410-522-0088 e-maIl: maIl@roC-lon.Com www.roC-lon.Com

Fabrics and Linings... The World’s Standard of Excellence The Rockland Mills programs of Blackout drapery linings and fabrics are truly world class. Our customers in over 80 world markets, both commercial and trade, know that they can rely on the quality, variety, delivery and performance built into every yard of fabric. That’s because every yard is manufactured with strict quality control, using the finest textiles and best technology available. There’s over 40 years of manufacturing know-how and expertise in every product produced by Rockland’s South Carolina plant. Whether for residential or commercial use, for total Blackout or Dim-Out, with or without flame resistant finish, there is a Rockland product for the job. Rockland Mills’ Blackouts are available in widths from 54 inches (137 cm) up to 110 inches (280 cm), and in every color of the rainbow, in plain or textured fabrics. Our Blackouts are even available with printed designs from an extensive pattern library, or if you prefer, we can use your custom designs or colors. When only the best will do, discerning customers ask for Roc-lon® brand linings and 100% blackout drapery fabrics.

Performance FABRICS

where style follows function

©R ock la

Ind

ust

ries

, In c.

201

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

Table of Contents 520 West Avenue, Suite 701, Miami Beach, FL 33139 USA Website: www.fabricsandfurnishings.com Telephone 001.917.251.9922 | ISSN: 1523-7303

F&FI Summer 2015 | Vol. 25, No. 3

10 DD’Décor Targets Window Blinds, MTM Draperies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Softex Imports YongShun Three Pass Blackout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Yumusaklar Replaces Eagle at F. Schumacher & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Gans/Sapmaz Duo Lead Valley Forge’s Roller Shade Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Maria Kremer Garber Slows Down, Resigns Imatex, Lodetex, Gierlings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Emirates Furnishing Markets Expect Improved Days Ahead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Kravet Expects Big Sales Boost From To-The-Trade Only e-Commerce Website . . . . . . . . 22 MoOD acquires Indigo Brussels Home Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Elite Adds More Upholstery Lines to Multipurpose, Curtain Mix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Todesco Looks to Elevate Redaelli Velutti Once Again. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Michael’s Executive Karen Hayes, 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Larry Robbins, 84. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Italians Start Forerunner to Valdese Weavers 100 Years Ago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contract/HospitalityNews

12 Small Orders Keep Specialty Mill R&D Weavers Alive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Corrugated Box King Michael Feterik Buys Fabtex, Inc. from Robert Snyder . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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 WEB DEVELOPER Rocco Cerullo, Artisian Designs Tel: 001.954.914.4758 E-Mail: recerullo@artisian.com DISTRIBUTION Mike Panella E-Mail: mikep@apc-pli.com

DESIGN

ADVERTISING SALES

Bleeding-Edge Designs From Around The Globe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27

Departments

Photo Gallery - Proposte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29

30 Advertiser Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TURKEY Sevim Gunes Tel: 90.532.236.25.24 Fax: 90.216.390.20.27 Email: skeskinci@gmail.com

ITALY, GERMAN AREA Isa Hofmann Tel: +49 611.890.59640 Fax: +49 611.87086 Email: info@ihofmann.com

INDIA Rekha V. Tel: 91.80.26685821 Cell: 91.93.42821379 Fax: 91.80.26684670 Email: s_wishwanath@hotmail.com

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

CLARIFICATION: Anali Arora has been named Manager of the DC Tex bedding division of Dicitex Furnishings Pvt., Mumbai, India. Her first name was incorrectly stated in the Spring edition of F&FI. We regret the error. Limonta Labs’ invention of COEX(r) is said to make natural fibers flame retardant by adjusting the molecular composition of the natural fiber. This process is not designed for synthetic fibers.

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

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.

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

Summer 2015

F FI NE W S

Summer 2015

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com 9

F FI NE W S

Italians Start Forerunner to Valdese Weavers 100 Years Ago Anniversary Book Commemorates its American history and growth Sipco News Network

ALDESE, North Carolina—As part of its 100th year, Valdese Weavers continues its five year $31 million capital improvement program started in 2012, unveils its Centennial fabric collection at Showtime in June and will soon publish an anniversary book to commemorate its first 100 years in business according to Mike Shelton, President & CEO. The celebration will continue at Neocon in Chicago and other events are planned including community celebrations, employee events, a charity golf tournament and customer events in New York and Chicago, Shelton says. This book will document its founding by Italian Protestants from the Cottian Alps of Northern Italy who came to the North Carolina hills to escape religious persecution 100 years ago. The book will also explore its story, highlight Valdese brands and “give credit to the thousands of

employees that have made Valdese Weavers what it is today, the largest decorative jacquard mill in North America,” says Mike Shelton. Shelton joined Valdese in 1988 and was named President in 1997. In 1935, as America began to recover from the Great Depression, this Italian immigrant company, originally called Waldensian Swiss Embroidery, would eventually become Valdese Weavers with nearly a million square feet of manufacturing capacity today and approximately $175 million in sales, F&FI estimates. “One hundred years is a landmark anniversary most companies never achieve,” Shelton continues. “We are the leader in the design and manufacturing of jacquard fabrics for residential and commercial markets; six branded companies: Valdese Weavers, Valdese Weavers Contract, Circa 1801, Home Fabrics, Valdese International Products (VIP) and Dicey Fabrics,” Shelton adds. He says Valdese com-

panies develop fabrics from value to high-end price points and cover the residential, contract, hospitality, health care and specialty markets. The Valdese name is derived from the Waldensians, pre-Reformation Protestants from the Cottian Alps of northern Italy who arrived in North Carolina in 1893 to try farming in America but found the rocky terrain of the foothills less than fertile for the cultivation of crops. They turned to textiles, establishing manufacturing as a way of life for themselves and generations to follow. Twenty years after the company began, North Carolina businessman Harley Shuford purchased the company out of receivership when it faltered during the Great Depression of 1935. He changed its name to Valdese Weavers Inc., introducing jacquard woven fabrics to the company’s product line. For the next 30 years, Valdese Weavers served the U.S. residential furniture and fabric industries as a sup-

plier of decorative jacquard fabrics. As the company’s domestic business expanded, it began to develop opportunities outside the U.S. Initially, international sales were limited to English-speaking countries, but business grew steadily and by 2006, Valdese Weavers was supplying its fabrics to 24 countries around the globe. In 2015, Valdese Weavers hired Reinhard Backhausen to manage business development throughout Europe. Based in Vienna, Backhausen is a sixth generation textile maker and former president of Backhausen Interior Textiles GmbH, a 165-year-old textile producer in Austria. “Valdese Weavers reached beyond its residential roots in the late ‘90s and began developing fabrics for the contract industry, mainly the office and hospitality trades,” Shelton says. “Throughout the 2000’s, the contract business experienced substantial growth in sales and market share, which

prompted the creation of a separate branded company to manage the market, Valdese Weavers Contract. By 2008 Valdese Weavers Contract had become, and remains, one of the largest suppliers of fabric to the contract market. Valdese also wanted to supply complementary fabrics they did not manufacture, such as silks and velvets. In 2005, Valdese International Products (VIP) was created to produce these products on a global level, and source them directly to manufacturers. “Valdese Weavers expanded again in 2007, acquiring the Circa 1801 and Home Fabrics companies,” Shelton adds. “With the addition of these brands, the company enhanced its position in the boutique and high-end residential markets. The company grew once more in 2015, with the acquisition of Dicey Fabrics, a maker of performance plains and Jacquard designs. “The Dicey (continued on page 25)

(Continued from Front Cover)

$100 Million Coulisse Expands Roller Shade Business in Americas With Unique, Fabtex several different fabric and hardware suppliers worldwide to build its collections for the fabricator. Coulisse will also use its brand name or make private label for the customer depending on the situation. Family Distributors Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, FL is distributing the Coulisse lines in the USA. This same company owns Unique Wholesale Distributors, Inc., a fabricator that is currently supplying some retail accounts in the USA. Fabtex, Danville, PA is another key fabricator for Coulisse, specializing in the hospitality industry that expects to cover as much as half

of its windows with roller shades in the years ahead according to industry watchers. Coulisse also counts Lutron and Shades Online as two important customers in the US market. Christiaan Roetgering founded the company in 1992 and his brother Morris who originally was an international trader, joined sometime after that. “We didn’t get into the roller shade business until 2000,” Vos says. “Initially, the company just followed the trends in window coverings filling the need for existing products with European do-it-yourself chains;

then we decided to be a trend leader, getting more creative with hardware and fabrics.” With that decision, that’s when Coulisse’s business really took off, “ he figures. To give an idea how the shade business has grown for Coulisse in the USA, Vos doubled sales in 2012 and grew the business another 20 percent in 2014. The company as a whole expects to produce $110 million in sales in 2015 with 84 percent of the business in Europe and the balance of sales are going worldwide, Vos says. He points out that the fastest growing market is in the USA today, which is expected to

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Design Studio account for 25 percent of company sales within five years time. Germany by the way, is the single biggest market for Coulisse, which has no less than 50 distributors showing its lines at Heimtextil Frankfurt each year.

Every third year, Coulisse exhibits its lines at R&T in Stuttgart, Germany, with a 20,000 square foot booth that serves 300 dinners a night to its customers who also are treated to live music and entertainment. F&FI

Summer 2015

F FI NE W S

Contract/HospitalityNews

C/HNEWS I Corrugated Box King Michael Feterik Buys Fabtex, Inc. from Robert Snyder Sipco News Network

ANVILLE, Pennsylvania — Michael Feterik, who made his fortune in the corrugated box industry, has purchased Fabtex, Inc., considered to be the largest fabricator of hospitality industry bedding and window treatments in the USA with $50 million in sales. “However, Feterik expects to build this business to $300 million through growth and acquisition of supply chain vendors and competitors,” according Adam Jurlin, newly named President of Fabtex. He was previously Vice President of Operations and will continue to focus on operations at Fabtex, he says. Jurlin, joined Fabtex three years ago to help find a buyer, he says. Fabtex is also seeing a growth trend in hard window treatments in the hospitality industry, supply-

ing motorized solar shades and other products. “Boutique hotel and casino owners want easily cleanable window treatments,” Jurlin says. “Right now our hard window treatment business is 15% of our total vs. 85% for draperies. The trend is moving more towards a 50/50 split. That’s why our investment in new manufacturing ways and expansion is a key component for Fabtex.” As owner, Feterik has assumed the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the Danville, PA, based company specializing in hotels, healthcare, cruise lines and government. About 95 percent of the business is devoted to hospitality, Jurlin says. Glenn Halterman, former CEO will also remain with Fabtex. Jurlin and Haltermann are also partners with Feterik. The 300 employees are being retained with three manufacturing plants in

Danville (corporate headquarters), Lumberton, NC and Orange, CA. Jurlin says. Feterik’s announcement signals a major expansion strategy for the company. It also continues a consolidation process among vendors in the hospitality supply industry. Founded in 1986 by Robert Snyder, the former owner, “Fabtex has experienced recent rapid growth and is poised for further expansion, according to Jurlin. Jurlin says Feterik’s ownership and leadership “is perfectly timed given Feterik’s many years of financial management and acquisition experience.” A legend in the transportation, corrugated box and container industries, Feterik launched Orange County Container Group in 1981. Starting with only four employees, Feterik built Orange County Container Group into a $500 million business with more

than 2,700 employees. Feterik has a BA in Business Administration from California State University Long Beach and an MA degree In Industrial Psychology and Counseling from the University of Michigan. He also is a former owner of the Canadian Football League (CFL) Calgary Stampeders of Calgary, Alberta. In addition to fabricating proprietary hotel brands and its own exclusive lines of bedding, drapery, curtains and hardware, Fabtex has developed a host of related companies. The Fabtex corporate family includes FabriLux, durable easycare luxury fabric; FabriViron, environmental fabrics; Pure Shade, motorized window treatment systems based on NASA solar science; the Coulisse/Fabtex

Michael Feterik collection of Euro designed shades; Spec-Tex , wide width textile solutions, and FabriSafe, powerful environmentally-safe microbe protection for textiles. Coulisse, based in Enter, Netherlands, is an independent company which produces and imports hard window fabrics which it sells exclusively through Fabtex in the USA. F&FI

C/HNEWS I Small Orders Keep Specialty Mill R&D Weavers Alive As

Imports Continue to Erode American Market in Home and Contract Fabrics By Yvonne Pesquera

LLENBORO, North Carolina –– R&D Weaving, a small North Carolina mill, is launching its first jacquard design line “in exchange for

R&D jacquard design

replacing business that’s been lost to offshore,” according to Richard Dobbins, President. He further explains that R&D is in the contract fabrics market and the imports have crept more into contract fabric from home furnishings. He says R&D is still feeling the effects of the imports, even though there has been an industry-wide decline in offshoring in

the USA. In referring to the move to jacquards he says, “it’s not really growth. For example, R&D used to make 5,000 yards a week of cubicle fabric for Bush Industries. Now the entire cubicle product line including the fabric is produced in China. When you go into Staples and Home Depot and see those Bush Industries cubicle displays, those are now 100 percent Chinese.” “Back then, the regulations said you could bring in just the components, like the fiber to make your own yarn. Now the regulations say you can bring in complete

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

furniture,” he says. At the end of the day, R&D remains focused on its small but highly specialized niche business. “We have a niche: we offer the small customer a reasonable minimum. Most of the big companies have built in China. But we’re a small company with a specialty product or color in a smaller run of 500 yards,” says Dobbins. For contract work, R&D Weaving does 100 percent polyester, polyester blend, and 100 percent olefin products. Their price point is about $5-7 per yard. “We have customers wanting a small order without having to buy tonnage. For example, we

Placemats, novelty items have a coordinator of Civil War Reenactments. He buys less than 1,000 yards. We run the wool fabrics in a natural state of cream color. And he uses vegetable dyes to make the uniforms,” says Dobbins. With about a dozen employees and $2-3 million in sales per year, they operate under the radar. But since 1988, their long-running success can be attributed to one (continued on Page 25)

Summer Summer2015 2015 nn

F FI NE W S

D’Décor Targets Window Blinds, MTM Draperies Expects $50 Million Business Within Five Years Sipco News Network

UMBAI, India — D’Décor is aggressively pursuing a new line of business, D’Décor Blinds with roller binds, Roman blinds, panels, verticals, shutters and sheers according to Sanjay Arora, one of the principals with his brother Ajay and father. D’Décor estimates it could eventually produce a business worth at least $50 million at cost within five years with many of its current fabrics produced in lighter weights for the new program. The window program also

includes blackout for contract applications. “We have added a separate 50,000 square foot weaving area to produce the 320 –cm width required for blind fabrics and a coating line,” he says, referring to D’Décor’s Tarapur, India manufacturing campus. The operation starts out with 40 employees in June 2015. The company purchased stitching equipment to produce the MTM draperies and expects to produce $10 million in revenue in its first year. Export is estimat-

ing another $10 million in sales its first year. “As a result of this investment, we can now offer the Indian retailer readymade blinds as well as made to measure drapery/curtain products in our domestic market through 100 outlets for the residential and contract market,” he adds. The MTM line is priced at $8-$9 per meter in wide width. The fabrics are woven and D’Décor also offers digitally printed designs. Other formats include wood, color coated wood and aluminum. D’Décor produces some of these

products while a third party under the D’Décor brand supplies others. The products are seeking distribution internationally through converters and jobbers. So far, Ashley Wilde has exclusive distribution rights in the UK, Sanjay says. Decor Blinds expects to tie up a well-known Australian distributor for the program very soon, Sanjay says, with more to follow. The complete program is Sanjay Arora designed in the UK and manufactured in India. The company offers a shop in retail outlets currently, Sanjay shop concept at over 100 Indian points out. F&FI

Softex Imports YongShun Three Pass Blackout Sofka, lining pioneer, is back in the business Sipco News Network

OS ANGELES, California — Softex Fabrics Inc. a long time player in the U.S. window covering business, is importing LITESAFE,® a new three pass blackout lining from YongShun China. The first shipment was shown at the Hospitality Design show in Las Vegas in May by Fabtex and Jay Dash International. John Sofka, Principal at Softex, started doing Business 45 years ago as a convertor of drapery linings and says that he “developed the very first coated blackout lining!” Sofka sees a new opportunity to compete in the sizeable blackout market that he estimates to be at over 90 million yards annually. Blackout Lining is a fundamental product sold through manufacturers-workrooms-convertors and jobbers in the USA. “Three pass coating technology has elevated itself in the past few years and the YongShun Mill has made the necessary investment in this technology”, Sofka says. The mill is vertical yarn forward to finishing and printing, Sofka adds. The new linings were developed in conjunction, with YongShun and manufactured in its Allbright Home Textile Division. YongShun is a $70 Million Dollar Textile Company, based in Shaoxing, China. YongShun was founded in 1995 by the Hu Family, Guo Rong Shang and his wife, Xiao Ping Hu. Mrs. Hu is now Chief Operating Officer. The three divisions of YongShun are as follows: Zhejiang YongShun Window Decorations Material Co., Ltd., a coating factory, which covers an area of 430,000 square feet. YongShun is also a shade cloth producer.

Zhejiang Allbright Home Textile Co., Ltd., established in 2005, is the home textile company. It includes product design, fabric weaving, transfer printing, embroidery and ready-made processing. It produces home textile fabrics and finished products including bedding sets, curtains, shower curtains, and cushions. The manufacturing area is 800,000 square feet Zhejiang Hoteam Textile Printing and Dyeing Co., LTD. is a home textile fabric color dyeing and printing company. The company contains two separate branch plants for dying and printing. The manufacturing area is about 1.5 million square feet. The Allbright Division of YongShun which produces the blackout, also has substantial dobby and jacquard capability which Softex hopes to bring to the USA market in the near future. In addition to the Allbright Division, YongShun has a print division titled “Hoteam”. This division offers digital, rotary screen and flat bed screen print capability. “Hoteam is also capable of printing its own paper inhouse for its heat transfer print option,” Sofka says. Printing widths include: 54-72-118 inches and are available in all methods. The new blackout fabric is produced under the LITESAFE® Brand name developed by Softex. Sofka says the blackout is available FR or non FR; is water repellant, and approved as a base for printing either transfer, digital or screen. “The three pass coating utilizes the newest combination of poly acrylic foam which is then enhanced with a flocking to give it a softer cotton like hand,” Sofka points out. “This finish allows

workrooms time saving sewing steps in production,” he adds. In addition to YongShun, Softex also represents weaving from Mexico through its association with Corporativo Atelier and Rahga Mills based in Mexico City. F&FI

Allbright Weaving

John Sofka

YongShun Shade Fabric Production

Jacquard Weaving

YongShun Corporation

Yumusaklar Replaces Eagle at F. Schumacher & Co. Sipco News Network

EW YORK, New York — Timur Yumusaklar has been named President and CEO of F. Schumacher & Company. Yumusaklar reports to Gerald Puschel, Schumacher Chairman who retired from the CEO post in 2010. The German borne Yumusaklar was previously CEO of Zalando, an online shopping destination said to offer over 1.500 brands of fashion and shoe items to over 14 million customers. Timur Yumusaklar F&FI speculates that

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Yumusaklar was hired to get Schumacher further along the learning curve in online marketing and sales. (Note Kravet’s efforts on page 1 in this arena) He replaces Terri Eagle in February who left Schumacher after five years in the same position. This is the third time in 35 years that a non-family member has held this position. Prior to Zalando Yumusaklar was a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group and a graduate of Columbia Business School, New York. Like his predecessor, former jewelry executive Terri Eagle, he has no experience in the textile or fabric jobbing business. F. Schumacher & Co. began life in 1889 by French ex-patriot Frederic Schumacher. F&FI

Summer 2015

F FI NE W S

Gans/Sapmaz Duo Lead Valley Forge Roller Shade Team

Roller shade business looks like a $30 million bonanza Sipco News Network

OMPANO BEACH, Florida — The market for fabrics used in roller shades is about $300 million according to Jason Gans and Ahmet Sapmaz, the brains behind Valley Forge’s roller shade business said to have achieved $13 million in sales in 2014. The fabrics represent just a quarter of the total value of finished roller shades or about $1.2 billion annually in the USA, the pair figures. “We actually had seven figure accounts/projects in the roller shade business,” the pair says. “We’d be happy to have 10-20 percent of the business—or about $30-$60 million,” they said. The two men say this business is finding great success especially in Saudi Arabia where many new hotels are being built, in Mecca and a booming US hotel market. “Russia is dead but Europe is starting to pick up again,” Sapmaz says. “Dubai is somewhat active but not what it used to be,” he points out. “Draperies are not going away. Roller shades are a plus business for Valley Forge. Sometimes roller shades re a better solution to the customers’ need especially in high temperature areas where windows face East and West,” Gans says.

Gans, Product Director, also runs the Valley Forge roller shade business with a total of nine employees. He joined Valley Forge in 2007 directly from running a three-store fabric retailer in Florida. He’s been the brains behind Valley Forge leading edge product launches, namely, the ‘Spa Curtain followed by the bedding business. Ahmet joined Valley Forge around the same time. He was previously involved with Kucuculik, the drapery manufacturer based in Turkey. Gans says he likes starting up new businesses with Ahmet who is the sourcing expert “with many more ideas to come,” Gans says. Ahmet Sapmaz Before they had a roller shade business, they studied the market to find out what the our roller shade program at designer and owner of hotels Valley Forge including alumiwanted including the drawbacks num backed fabrics used in high and potentials. ”We needed sun areas. These fabrics can partners. We vetted key roll- actually lower room temperaer shade fabricators as well as ture by 20 degrees,” he points drapery oriented workrooms out. Valley Forge also supplies getting into roller shades for the the low voltage or high voltage battery mechanism, which can first time,’ Gans explains. “The roller shade is a very last up to 35 years, Gans says. In terms of sourcing these technical product. Every effect can be seen in the weave and fabrics or all fabrics, for that can easily appear as a defect matter, Sapmaz says that Valley once the sun hits the fabric. Forge is still big with Turkish Roller shade fabric is subject goods as well as fabrics from to problems with color fastness Taiwan, Korea and China in that and cupping once attacked by order. The USA is also becoming more important. Sapmaz, the sunlight,” Gans says. “We now have 600 sku’s in (continued on Page 23)

Maria Kremer Garber Slows Down, Resigns Imatex, Lodetex, Gierlings by Eric Schneider

LAUVELT, New York — Maria Kremer Garber, mill in Santo Tirso, Portugal. In the wake of her departure, Imatex owner and CEO a longtime, well-known American agent, (GarberTex International) has happily reduced her load of Giulia Fumagalli has appointed her son Jacopo Mazzola, principals with her resignation from Italian lines Imatex a former golf professional based in Miami, Florida, director of the North American and Lodetex which she represented market. in the USA and also Gierlings-Velpor He will continue to work with of Portugal. Paola Rigamonti at the mill. She continues to represent In the case of Lodetex, Luca Swadeshi of Bangalore, India. Faranghi, a principal will handle sales Garber says she wants to spend in the USA. more time with her family, especially Those who wanted to wish Maria with Grant and Blake, her grandsons well, found her at Proposte, still and wishes to just take life just a little bit representing Evimteks and Swadeshi easier than she has for the past 25 years. Silk in the USA. She represented Imatex Maria says she will now be (Nibionno, IT), an upholstery weaver spending more time with her two for 15 years and Lodetex (Busto grandsons and family in New York Arsizio), a curtain fabric weaver for Maria Kremer Garber and Delaware. F&FI 14 years and Gierlings-Velpor, a velvet

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Summer 2015

F FI NE W S

Emirates Furnishing Markets Expect Improved Days Ahead; Reducing the Inventories is Now a Big Priority Chinese credit limits gets squeezed between 30-60% by Vishwanath.S

RANKFURT — During interaction with wholesalers in specific from United Arab Emirate’s distributors during Heimtextil show in Frankfurt, expressed that they are waiting for improved market conditions ahead. Shopping during the show was limited as the business confidence is not as in the recent past months. Emirates

Subash Asar (right) and Renuka Asar, partners BBL Enterprises, LLC, Dubai.

furnishing markets always bullish in the past has now turned cautious. The conflict in Iraq, which slowed down the momentum was followed by restrictions on trade with Iran imposed by the West has added to weak market conditions. According to reports trade reports over $4 billion of revenues held abroad is currently blocked from access to the Iranian authorities are likely to be realised will boost the business sentiments further. “The Emirates is a successful export trade hub in the Middle East, which depends on domestic economy development; it is intact but the news happening is in the loss of value of Russian currency. This may have some negative effects as the UAE’s trade of decorative fabrics with the Russian Federation is reduced”, said partner, Subash Asar, BBL Enterprises, LLC, Dubai. Also the Chinese who were dependent on Dubai trade to reach African markets are catering directly ignoring its earlier Dubai base that takes away the market share enjoyed

earlier by UAE furnishing community. But hopes are alive that withdrawal of sanctions and reopening of trade would assure Dubai market to regain the earlier glory. New residential projects in UAE continue to grow and hotel projects add to steady demand of Decorative Furnishings, he added. ‘However Expo 2020 Dubai is a positive happening and is likely to attract 25 million visitors, 70 percent of which will be from overseas that would boost the demand of decorative fabrics. The import of European furnishings for fancy villas, ultra luxury homes is steady and will continue in the niche market segment, added further Subash. China, a major supplier, is facing its new problem from January 2015 as its credit limits are squeezed from its bankers. “According to my suppliers, their credit facilities have been cut between 30-60% and they fear as to how long they can stay in business”, said Subash, Chinese suppliers who work on very low profit margin must re-strategize

their way of conducting business as lately Turkey and India have been able to compete with Chinese prices but Chinese suppliers are not realizing this fact . Credit squeeze is an additional problem, which can become serious and many small and even medium level Chinese exporters may have to wind up their business observed Subash. It is also known to business circles that borrowing money from private lenders in China, which carry a very high interest rate, can be suicidal. Visit to Heimtextile was more a ritual than dozens of earlier trips to Ishwar Bharwani, Partner, Ultra Furnishing Fabrics, a leading whole seller in Dubai. ‘This time at Heimtextile, I was more watchful and focussed more on searching for new fabrics than placing orders’, said Bharwani. In UAE in the recent year’s entry barriers to begin retailing home furnishings has become easy and a small outlet that can hold a dozen sample books can start the business and the global exporters are in queue to

Ishwar Bharwani book the orders. UAE market has about 30 wholesalers and 700-750 retailers. Those who can hold more sample books with small storage area can become wholesalers too. ‘The business is steady but the inventory levels with most in the business are adding up and we are very cautious to add new stocks but is engaged in reducing the inventory’, said Bharwani further. Another large importer and distributor who requested anonymity said UAE markets, which depend on neighbouring global markets as well as local business ( limited but steady) is forcing the exporters on limiting the stocks in ware house and is waiting for improved conditions. F&FI

Kravet Expects Big Sales Boost From To-The-Trade Only e-Commerce Website By Leveraging Existing Resources

CuratedKravet.com features finished products designed into room settings by iconic designers Sipco News Network

EW YORK, New York — Cary Kravet, CEO, Kravet Corp., expects a substantial sales boost from Kravet’s newly launched e-commerce site for finished products but he says he won’t know how big the gain will be for several months. “It depends upon how we evolve the model once we learn from our customers about how they are using and reacting to it.” Kravet also says he is “certain that what we are putting out…will need to be adjusted.” The site is the result of hiring two people from ‘One

Kings Lane’ several years ago. “They have hired their administrative staff and will leverage many of our existing operational resources.” CuratedKravet.com, a to-thetrade only e-commerce site launched April 20, is geared to designers. It features a selection of distinctive home furnishings and accessories across a variety of styles and product categories; the selection can be expanded at will. “Many of the products will also be sold in our showrooms,” Kravet adds. “The advantages of selling on line are space, cost, flexibility and speed.”

“New products are continually introduced and designed into stylized spaces, creating a complete ‘shop-the-room’ experience,” Kravet notes. Initially, the site features Alexa Hampton and Nick Olsen styled rooms that are fully merchandised with CuratedKravet.com furniture and accessories. Future curators include Barbara Barry, Barclay Butera, Candice Olson, Jeffrey Alan Marks, Jonathan Adler, Nate Berkus, Thom Filicia and more. All merchandise is presented in a room designed by these designer icons. Much of the product is immediately available and much of it is exclusive, Kravet says.

Leveraging relationships that span continents and decades, Kravet has coordinated tastemakers and manufacturers to provide finished goods in product categories available for the first time through Kravet. Designers will be able to shop CuratedKravet.com by category, trends, or curated rooms “Our hope for CuratedKravet. com is to provide designers with an inclusive solution for all of their design needs,” Kravet says. “The goal of the site is to combine reliable service and quality with unique items Across a broad range of product categories, simplifying the sourcing

process and saving designers time and effort.” Kravet’s Ready to Ship Upholstery program online is said to deliver the goods without the wait. The program feature best selling Kravet sofa, chair, and ottoman frames and finishes outfitted in Kravet fabrics purposefully paired to each piece, packed and ready to ship. The Kravet team assigned to the online effort is expected to continuously scout the global design market. This team hand selects the most unique pieces, offers them made-toorder or in stock and ready to ship at the click of a button. F&FI

MoOD Acquires Indigo Brussels Home Edition Sipco News Network

RUSSELS — Textirama vzw, the fair organisation of MoODMeet only Original Designs, has acquired Indigo Brussels Home Edition from Première Vision S.A. “This acquisition is a new step in the strategic positioning of MoOD - Meet only Original Designs,” according to Patrick Geysels, director of MoOD. “Textirama considers the takeover of Indigo Brussels Home Edition as a logical evolution, but also as a strategic choice for the

expansion of the unique position of MoOD. MoOD is the only show in the trade fair market that focuses on direct contact with producers of upholstery fabrics and window and wall coverings. In doing this, quality and creativity play a key-role. Therefore, the choice for Indigo Brussels Home Edition, the absolute market leader with regard to textile design, is a strategic asset for the organization,” he says. “Première Vision S.A.’s choice to sell Indigo Brussels Home Edition to Textirama is the result of a stra-

tegic refocusing of all its activities by concentrating exclusively on the fashion industry,” according to Gilles Lasbordes, General Manager of Premiere Vision. At the same time, the decision is also the logical consequence of more than 10 years of partnership, in which MoOD and Indigo Brussels Home Edition were organized side by side and during which both fair organizations supported each other intensively, Geysels and Lasbordes say. As a result of that cooperation, Première Vision’s man-

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

agement considers Textirama to be the natural acquirer of Indigo Brussels Home Edition and stresses the importance of the strengthened future synergy between both fairs, that will even increase the interaction and the efficiency. MoOD management stresses it will ensure the continuity of this recipe for success and will strengthen it in the future. The sister fairs were already organized together when MoOD was still known as Decosit. Back then Decosit concentrated exclusively on upholstery. In 2009 how-

Patrick Geysels ever, the product range was extended to window and wall coverings. After Decosit’s name was changed into MoOD - Meet only Original Designs, both fairs remained linked inseparably. F&FI

Summer 2015

F FI NE W S

Elite Adds More Upholstery Lines to Multipurpose, Curtain Mix Twenty year old converter is branching out aggressively Sipco News Network

OS ANGELES, California —Elite Textile, an importer and manufacturer of fabric which specializes in woven jacquards, sheers, embroideries and fire retardant products for hospitality industry has fueled its growth as a horizontal textiles source by adding upholstery fabrics to its mix, starting in mid 2013. Founded in 1995 and operat-

ing out of a 50,000 square foot warehouse, Elite Textile services North and South America in the hospitality, interiors and readymade markets. Elite plans to expand its upholstery line with retailers and upholstery jobbers, which compliments current lines of curtain fabric and readymade drapery along with pillows, table clothes and runners. “Since the inception of the

business, we have concentrated our efforts first in apparel fabric imports and then into all kinds of home furnishings fabric,” says Arman Demir, Elite Textile’s Founder and CEO, who with his team has expanded manufacturing globally. In the last five years, Elite has concentrated its upholstery fabric development with multi-purpose multi-colored fabrics, with varying qualities within

several lines such as velvet, canvas and damask. “We are so excited to have the opportunity to expand and showcase our upholstery line at the High Point Showtime. It compliments our existing knowledge and experience to launch our presence and growth in the Furnishings market” says Arman Demir. F&FI

Arman Demir

(Continued from Page 20)

Gans/ Sapmaz Duo Lead Valley Forge Roller Shade Team who is Vice President of Global Strategic Business Development, says the roller shade fabric suppliers grew out of Valley Forge’s drapery fabric resources. “Many of our drapery suppliers got into roller shade fabrics,” Sapmaz says. Still, Sapmaz points out there is a list of roller shade fabric resources that is totally different from the typical weaving mills known to the upholstery and drapery fabric buyer. They are part of the R&T Trade Show in Stuttgart every four years but there is a roller shade exhibition almost every year in Shanghai, Istanbul and Australia. “We were skeptical about the roller shade market in the beginning. We also did not want to damage our relationship with our fabricators so we put them in this business. We used our sourcing skills and put more contemporary decorative fabrics in the roller shade offerings to hotels. The typical roller shade fabric had always been highly technical and highly utilitarian that sits on the shelf,” Sapmaz explains. “We wanted to appeal to the hotel owner and designer with our designer oriented roller shade fabric collections.” F&FI

Summer 2015

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com 23

F FI NE W S

Todesco Looks to Elevate Redaelli Velutti Once Again Marzotto Lab CEO looks to preserve the old and bring new life Sipco News Network

OMO, Italy — Giorgio Todesco, newly named CEO of Marzotto Lab, a Company owned by Marzotto Group, is responsible for management of Redaelli, a famous velvet and corduroy mill in Guanzate, Italy acquired at a bankruptcy auction after

Riccardo Redaelli it was first sold in 2011 and then fell on hard times. In January, Todesco was promoted to his current position from Marzotto Wool Division, a $250 million apparel producer. He wants to re-invigorate

the old business with new ideas and management techniques. Redaelli, like so many other Italian family owned textiles mills fell on hard times and went out of business completely. However, Redaelli Sales Manager Riccardo Redaelli, 32, says he is still involved passionately in the

Giorgio Tedesco business as an employee. His great grandfather Alfredo started the business in 1893, four generations back. “This company is my passion for 20 years now when I started in weaving. If you don’t have passion, you

can’t do work, We’re now back on track and have become a great name and company again,” he says. Together with Ratti d, another Marzotto Group acquisition made in 2010, the company is producing $30 million annually in upholstery with more growth to come, Todesco says, following 30 percent growth in 2014. The ownership of Ratti d is very different from Redaelli. Ratti d is 20 percent owned by the Ratti d Family today; 14 percent by others outside the family; 33 percent owned by Marzotto Group; 33 percent owned by Society of Marzotto, a private company owned by Antonio Favrin, President of Marzotto Group. Building on the passionate culture of the Redaelli family for velvet production, Todesco hopes to breathe new life into this venerable producer by keeping the Redaelli culture in tact; yet he hopes to make just enough changes to keep it thriving and moving forward, Todesco indicates. He also has the leverage of Marzotto business systems and management to fall back on, a powerful tool against

Ferdinando Lescio, Manager Home Division of Ratti d caresses the real love of his life—‘Bellini’ (get one at Como’s Harry’s Bar with the strawberry) or buy this one, a warp printed silk and cotton (60/40) fantasy for $63 at cost; $400 for retail sale in Europe and $240 per yard in the USA. A major American jobber thought it was the best new introduction at Proposte this year. Lescio has been with Ratti d for 3.5 years and prior to that, he was well known Ferdinando Lescio, at Mario Sirtori for eight years. The Manager, Home Division of man is a consummate salesman and Ratti d, Guanzate, Italy well liked by his customers. F&FI the formidable competition out there. With the acquisition of Redaelli, Marzotto Group, is now a $510 million textile holding group producer (said to be the largest in Europe today) with three divisions: Marzotto Lab, a $150 million division which includes Redaelli velvet, cotton corduroy and Trevira(R) velvet for contract; Girmes fake fur and Sandrio cotton fabric for apparel; Lanerossi blankets; Marzotto Wool, a $250 million producer for apparel fabrics and Ratti d, a $110 million apparel and furniture fabric supplier. At Proposte this year, one could feel a spring in the step of the Redaelli employees, especially with

Todesco, a bright young manager, eagerly approaching his task to make Redaelli a viable business again. Under Todesco, Redalli introduced two new collections of yarn dyed jacquards and contract velvets and made some noise about it, quoting F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ in the process; “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” This itself was unique because Italians tend to slave away with their blinders on when it comes to marketing, willing to die with their secrets instead of actively marketing their strengths. F&FI

Michael’s Executive Karen Hayes, 49 PETERSBURG, VA.—Karen Kathleen Tyo Hayes, 49, passed away February 14, 2015 after a long illness. She was Vice President of Michael’s Textiles, Inc., a fabric jobber here. She was the fabric buyer for Michael’s, where she worked for over 25 years. “We will remember her most for her great smile,” said Jeff Rubin, principal of Edgar Fabrics, Inc., one of Michael’s longtime suppliers. Hayes was born in Ft. Benning,

Larry Robbins, 84

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

GA. She is survived by her husband, Alfred Todd Hayes and two sons; Randall Hayes and his wife Brandy and Jeremy Hayes, one grandson, Landon Todd Hayes, three sisters, Linda Maitland, Patricia Vaughan and Kelly Tyo, three brothers, Kenneth R. Tyo, Michael Tyo and Richard Tyo. Contributions may be made to Crater Community Hospice, 3916 S. Crater Road, Petersburg, VA 23850.

Larry Robbins passed away Sunday, May 3, 2015. He was 84 years old. Larry was formerly with Riverdale Drapery and Rockland Mills. Larry lived life to its fullest. He was a movie actor, played pro football, sky dived and was a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother. Larry was admired by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Summer 2015

F FI NE W S (continued from Page 12)

(continued from Page 10)

Small Orders Keep Specialty Mill R&D Weavers Alive

Valdese Weavers

mindset: “We are not big, but we are special,” says Richard Dobbins, principal. R&D does contract fabrics, specialty weavings, gifts and promotions. In fact, its conrtact fabric work runs the gamut from church pews to casino gaming table tops––and any other conceivable industry in between. For the military, R&D weaves fabric that is inherently fire retardant. “It is not a finish,” Dobbins stresses; selfextinguishing sulfur is actually woven into the molecular structure of the yarn. It’s for transportation planes for the Air Force,” Dobbins says. R&D also creates the fabric used in stealth fighters, he says. A California seat company won the contract and R&D makes a 900-yard special order fabric in a special color/texture weave with a special weight, as the ounces were specified per square yard. “For one of the naval submarines either the USS New Mexico or USS Arizona –– we wove a jacquard upholstery in a Southwestern theme because that’s the design they wanted,” Dobbins explains. Ninety percent of R&D Weaving’s work is in the U.S. They do have one military contractor in London, as well as some manufacturers in Mexico and Colombia. Robert Martin, who is still with the company and answers the phone himself, founded the company. “Our owner started in a small building across the street. He kept the looms and got involved when Mastercraft, a former division of the now defunct Collins & Aikman, which had a 26-week backlog at the time. It wasn’t hard to get a loom running in the 1980s. We did commission weaving. As business went on, we started offering the finished product,” Dobbins says of the company’s history. R&D has done fabric for Cineplex’s and auditorium-type seating. It has also done fabric for acoustical panels, sound booths, and sound dampening ceiling panels. In classrooms, chalkboards have evolved into fabric boards (with Velcro® and push pins), which R&D Weaving manufactures. Most of the casino gaming table fabric is solid black, “but some orders are for earth tones, too,”

Summer 2015

says Dobbins. For gifts and promotions, R&D weaves Afghans for schools, churches, town bicentennials, high school graduating classes, and school fundraisers. It also weaves nylon, rayon, chenille, and polyester yarn. F&FI

acquisition also brought on the capability for yarn making, further enhancing Valdese Weavers’ vertical integration,” Shelton says. Valdese recently completed a two-year capital improvement campaign focused on its Burke County, North Carolina, facilities, Shelton says. “Launched in the summer of 2013, the campaign keeps the company and its six brands at the leading edge of textile design, weaving and finishing

through upgrades to machinery and technology. The company upgraded existing looms and purchased 30 new high-speed Dornier looms in 2013, the most reliable, productive and versatile weaving machines on the market. New looms brought not only increased speed, but also automatic filling capability,” he points out. “You have to evaluate every aspect of the manufacturing environment for potential

improvements,” says Shelton. “The machinery doesn’t operate in a vacuum, but works in concert with building systems.” Shelton indicates that although the two-year project is completed, plans for the next round of improvements are already in the works. “We’re not in the business of being static. We make significant investments in the company an ongoing priority,” he says. F&FI

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com 25

F FI D E S I G N

BLEEDING-EDGE DESIGNS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE By Jennifer Castoldi

Apelt

Ă&#x2030;litis

rom advances in home textile manufacturing technologies to innovative materials and fresh ways of creating surface interest, Trendease brings you design trends from the world at large that help you maintain a competitive advantage.

ollowing the importance of indigo and batik as design trends it is no surprise to see that tie-dye and bleed effects are growing in importance on the design scene. Tie-dye, bleeding colors, watercolor smears, however you wish to describe this look, there is no doubt that it is running rampant as a key design direction for the next couple of years. Key elements to keep an eye on: Zigzags, Chevrons, Squares, Crosses, Lattices

ara is an excellent specimen of digital printing in home textiles! Shown at Proposte, the 2015-2016 collection is centered around the world of art and painting. Six artists were chosen for inspiration: Lascaux (unknown artist of cave drawings), Henri Rousseau, Toulouse Lautrec, Giacomo Balla, Egon Schiele, and Piero Dorazio.

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

t Comocrea Liina is keeping up with the changing times, shifting from only analog creations to now include digital options with some of her ranges. INTO C::D::Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection of knits and weaves have been translated into high-resolution photography for digital wallcoverings.

Summer 2015

F FI D E S I G N

ow to explain iridescent? The way we often explain it is by citing a bubble that a child blows through the air, you know that rainbow of color on the bubble, kind of like the hues you see in gasoline floating on water behind a boat? That is iridescent. Key the word into Google and the resulting definition is “showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles”. However you wish to define it one thing is for sure, iridescent is an increasingly popular choice for designers, including the new textiles with Lurex threads spotted during Milan Design Week from Studio Sybrandy.

t Techtextil we discovered Qmilk; as the name suggests, it is made from milk—the milk protein casein to be more precise. Microbiologist/ fashion designer Anke Domaske explains that the fabric has no smell, feels like silk, and uses far less water in production than cotton. The raw material casein is produced from raw milk which is no longer saleable and in line with legislation rules, should not be consumed as food.

iffus Design has created SpacEmotion, a modular arrangement of fabric discs that have been embroidered with conductive yarn to produce sensory outputs including light, sound, and even smell in customizable room dividers and curtains.

nimals found in the tropics and within the jungle are popular motifs for the coming seasons. The embroidery technology from the Japanese firm Tajima brings animals to life with embroidery boasting different textures, heights, and thicknesses.

rinting on demand and items that can be individualized and sold with reasonable price tags are trends in manufacturing. Brother showcased such technology at Texprocess on Converse shoes, but sneakers could easily be replaced with pillow cases or cushion shells—any textile that fits within the machine!

Summer 2015

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 forwardthinking articles are presented on www.Trendease.com each month, additionally videos and podcasts are available on www.Trendease.TV.

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com 27

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

Proposte #23 Braved First Day Rain, Second Day Sunshine; The Party Goes ON!

Proposte

COMO, Italy European exhibitors had an even better offer this year due to drop in Euro with many new designs to choose. Scott Kravet feels the bottom of the market already dropped out leaving solid players at Villa Erba, Sheraton Grand and Spazio Shed. International Observatory organized the outlying exhibitors for the first time and the shuttle buses were rolling back and forth between the buildings. The Turks have arrived on the shores of Lake Como with the Chinese and Indian players not far behind. Here are some of the happy faces at this year’s exhibitions!

First Impression showroom owners from Mumbai Anoop and Meher Malani visit with Proposte exhibitor Luca Ferrari, Principal of Di Nole velvets, Nole, Italy Los Angeles based Decor de Paris Corp. showroom owner Benjamin Ravan visits Kaya Cinoglu, Marteks of Turkey, one of three Turkish mills invited to exhibit at Proposte for the first time.

Isi, Maria Rosa and Jordi Viladomat, Ontario Fabrics, a book jobber for editor collections, Sabadell, Spain

Marco DeBenedetti, Export Director for Boselli, Olgiate, Italy with U.S. agent Elaine Taylor Gordon and customer Bill Jones, a cruise ship specialist based in the Miami, Florida area.

Max Bauman re-joins Bauman Dekor, Gmund, Austria weaver, dyer and finisher after a three plus year absence. He is Marketing and Sales director and working once again with his nephew Clemens Siller (wholesaler/furniture accounts sales manager) and Max’s sister Regina Siller. New owners bought the company April 21, heading off a liquidation, Max says.

Pietro Terragni, Principal of Torcitura Lei Tsu, the Bellusco, Italy based yarn producer who throws a big party every year for his friends and customers. Over 150 people turned out at the Miralago Hotel the second night of Proposte

Ms. Anne-Floor Legters, Stylist, Textaafoam, Goire, Holland based upholstery distributor with colleagues Michiel Van Der AA (Buying Director) and Mark Van Der AAA (Director) Sleepy guy in third position is Murat Tasman, Principal of Penelope, Proposte exhibitor for the first time.

Diego Vercellino, Sales Director for Sirio Tendaggi, Magnago, Italy with Felice Pessi, Milan based stylist for Marcato, the Italian wholesaler Cynthia Tella, Miyung Berger and Scott Kravet, Kravet’s A Team for fabric selection dry out before braving the rains outside the Villa Erba. What did they see inside the hallowed halls? Colored textures! Galleria Arben purchasing and logistics specialist Olga Martusevich with Director of Galleria Arben in Moscow are still doing curtain business in Russia even though the projects may be smaller these days.

Jacopo Giulio Mazzola of Imatex and the Boss, Giulia Fumagalli with Matthew Cave, Alstons of England furniture maker, Colchester, Essex, UK. Imatex is taking its quality level up a notch, Fumagalli says.

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

Summer 2015

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

Proposte

Nimish Parekh, Principal and daughter Shruti Parekh, Executive Head of Dimora, a Mumbai, India based converter that specializes in adding value to fabrics. Dimora does laser cutting and all types of embellishment.

Poonam Parekh, Dimora designer with Ulrike Schreiner, high end German retailer who is selecting Dimora fabrics for her new showroom.

Gustavo de Negri, fifth generation owner of DeNegri,Silk form Caserta with Massimo Spano, sales manager and Piero Agnetta, Milano based China Consultant

Good friends Lorenzo Rossini of Fiatex, Calco, Italy with Tomomi of Tomo Decor, Osaka, Japan

Levent Dogan, Sales & Marketing Manager, Kets High Tech Fabric division

Turk Ceyhan, owner of Evimteks, Bursa, Turkey with Harlequin (Lancashire, UK) Designers Louise Collis, Charlie Locking andHannah Bowen

Susan North, Creative Director for Scalamandre, New York based editor with Maria Kremer, agent extraordinaire, USA

Meta, Dennis and Lesley Silbernberg, Silvera International, Almene, The Netherlands

Summer 2015

Eriko Maeda, Como, Italy based journalist for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dream Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Tokyo, is a little jewel. Former designer for Ratti for 30+ years. Just look at her!

Julie and Keith Gordon, Architex, Chicago based contract wholesaler with buddy Mayer Zeiler, Principal Flocktex, Keir Malachi, Israel

Vittoria Ceriani, Promoter of Proposte with Ferid Amini, VP Marketing, Sales, Amini Rugs, Milan. A new rug exhibition will be organized in 2016 as part of Proposte offer

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com 29

F FI C A L E N D A R May

July

ITMA Showtime is one of the leading fabric industry trade events in America. The show serves as an ideal business platform for eminent corporate professionals to interact with each other and exchange the latest news, views and perspectives from the industry. The event is billed as the largest decorative items-related trade show in the Western Hemisphere and it lives up to this hype by drawing in more than 800 trade visitors with direct purchasing power. Participants are offered the chance to participate in the several informative seminars, forums and discussion sessions that are organized during the show and home furniture items, fabric products, handbags and decorative fashion accessories are some of the chief items of exhibit here. The show is extremely popular among visiting participants and an average of 110 business appointments are scheduled during the event every day. Exhibitors at the show are also listed in the official ITMA Member Directory. High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau 300 S. Main St., High Point, North Carolina showtime-market.com

Home Textiles Fabric Sourcing Expo (HTFSE) is the only event in North America focusing solely on sourcing for fabrics and materials intended for home applications. HTFSE will provide a platform for manufacturers, retailers, jobbers, converters, contract specifiers and designers for a one stop sourcing venue where they can locate new materials and fabrics for their latest collections. Visitors’ Profile: Manufacturers, Designers, Research & Development, Wholesalers, Converters, Jobbers, Agents, Buying Offices are the target visitors. Exhibitors’ Profile: Cotton, Knits, Leather, Linen, Pile Fabrics, Prints, Silk, Silk Look, Synthetics, Trims, Vinyl,

May 31-June 3 ITMA Showtime

21-23 Home Textiles Fabric Sourcing Expo

Wool. Venue: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center 11th Avenue & 655 West 34th & 38th Street New York, NY, United States Of America usa.messefrankfurt.com

21 – 22 Premiere Vision-New York Premiere Vision-New York is a one of a kind fashion event providing a chance to introduce the new spring collection designs to best mills. The leading players in the fashion industry come together to showcase their latest designs and styles to a large customer base. Detailed discussions provide a look into economic strategies and future plans of the textile industry. Demonstrations and interactive sessions

August

07-09 Home Furnishing Expo Home Furnishing Expo Shenzhen hometex is the biggest home textiles exhibition for imports to China and the best sourcing platform of household fabrics such as curtains, sheer, accessories, sun-protection products, wall coverings, carpets, upholstery fabrics, bed linens, etc. It greets 1200 exhibitors, 100,000 trade visitors under one roof of 130,000 square meters every year. Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center Fuhua Third Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, China, 518048 Shenzhen, China chinaexhibition.com

Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) 2345 Long Yang Road Pudong Area, Shanghai, 201204, China Shanghai, China messefrankfurt.com

September MoOD 2015 8-10

MOOD Brussels Residential & Contract brings together international exhibitors who carefully select products from their own collections with quality and added-value as a focus. All-participating companies are export oriented, giving an extra dimension to the global character of MoOD Residential & Contract. Brussels Exhibition Centre Place de Belgique 1 1020 Brussels, Belgium moodbrussels.com

15-17 Premiere Vision-France Premiere Vision is regarded as one of the world’s largest textile and fabric shows. The event will showcase around 700 weavers from 28 countries across the world. The show is held twice a year and showcases the most creative fashion designs. The event will also have inspirational films, audio-visual presentations and fashion seminars to assist the professionals. Paris Nord Villepinte Allee des Erables, 93420 Villepinte Paris, France premierevision.com

June

15-17 NeoCon 2015 Neocon World Trade Fair is one of the largest commercial interiors industry related trade events in the United States. The show facilitates seamless information transfer among eminent professional executives and decision makers, regarding all the latest business prospects and industry happenings. Held at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago over three days, the event welcomes more than 40000 highly qualified trade visitors. Attendees can browse through an exhaustive array of architectural supplies, furniture items, lighting solutions, textiles and several other associated items at the event and topical business seminars and conference sessions are also scheduled here. A special Student Program is arranged during the event as well. More than 700 exhibiting companies take part in the event and exciting showroom parties are also organized here. The products displayed at the show find widespread application in the medical, hospitality, residential and multiple other sectors. Top-notch networking facilities are also presented to all the participants here. Venue: Merchandise Mart 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 470, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America neocon.com

17-19 Home Textiles Premium Home Textiles Premium’ trade fair serves sector needs for a variety of manufacturers and publishers in the home textile market. The show is organized by Feria Valencia under the coordination of the textile employers’ association Ateval – Home Textiles from Spain and the collaboration of the Portuguese Association ATP – Home From Portugal. The show will bring together about 50 exhibitors for everything from furnishing and interior decoration fabrics, curtains and ornamental trimmings to carpets and rugs, plus home textiles, decorative accessories, and textile editors and publishers. Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid Calle de Fuenterrabía, 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain rsabater@feriavalencia.com

23-25 Heimtextil Russia

Advertiser Index

For more information about one of our advertisers, see the page number listed: Aydin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Boyteks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Classical Elements . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Covington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19 D’Decor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 DC Tex Furnishings. . . . . . . . . 15 Dicitex Furnishings. . . . . . . . . . 31 Elite Textile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Express Air Freight. . . . . . . . . 23 GM Fabrics. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17

J Ennis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Kravet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Messe Frankfurt Shanghai. . . 8 & Messe Frankfurt USA . . . . . . . 25 MoOD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Richloom Fabric Group. . . . . . 13 Rockland Mills. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Textil Hogar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Valdese Weavers. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

from nearly 100 different fashion and textile companies also facilitate the creation of new ways to evolve the market for current tastes and choices. The various moods and themes reflected by particular materials and design structures are also debated upon. This event offers the very best in terms of creativity and quality from the stalwarts of the fashion and textile industry. The businesses involved also get a chance to increase their own professional networks and make more inroads in to expanding their discipline. Metropolitan Pavilion Pier 92 711 12th Ave, (between West 52nd and West 54th St), New York, NY 10019, USA premierevision-newyork.com

www.fabricsandfurnishings.com

26-28 Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is held over a period of three days and brings together several renowned industry experts from this field. As many as 1159 professional exhibitors from 27 different countries participate in the event and different types of home textiles and other related accessories are showcased here. Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles boasts more than 41,018 trade visitors who attend the show on a regular basis. Informative seminars and business forums are also held here. An exclusive brand-launching event is hosted at the special Trends area set up at the show, which takes up a total exhibition space of 126500 square meters.

Organized by Messe Frankfurt GmbH, the Heimtextil Russia is three days of textile industry gatherings. Held at Crocus Expo International Exhibition Center, the event is directed towards exploring various avenues of the trading sector in all over world. Exhibitors include manufacturers from all sectors of the textile machinery industry, including spinning, nonwovens, weaving, knitting, dyeing and finishing, garment making, testing, software as well as dyestuffs and chemicals. Crocus Expo International Exhibition Center Krasnogorsk area Box office Krasnogorsk-4 Moscow, Russia 10times.com/heimtextil-rossija

Summer 2015