Fabrics & Furnishings - Autumn 2016 Issue

Fre e co Mo pies OD at

Volume 26, Number 4

Autumn 2016

The Global Home & Contract Furnishings Newspaper

Brexit Opens New Doors for UK Converters, Uncertainty Prevails, Clouding Up Clear Picture of Eventual Outcome Romo forges ahead with HQ, warehouse building plans; Ashley Wilde Sees opportunity in bedding exports.

Sipco News Network

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ONDON — Brexit, the British departure from the European Union will no doubt have some impact on the UK decorative fabrics business, textile

executives indicate in the wake of this historical event.

However, nobody surveyed

by Fabrics & Furnishings International is too sure how these changes will take shape. “My personal view is that it is too early

“The only certain thing is that there is going to be a lot of uncertainty.”

Michael Joseph, Sales Director, MJA Fairfield Mills Inc.

Baumann Dekor Receives New Life From Ajay Singh

to predict the final outcome,” says Jonathan Mould, Chairman of Romo, the large Nottingham based wholesaler, “but I think once the dust settles, and the new political landscape becomes clearer, and the politicians calm their posturing down, compromises will be made and there will be an orderly transition, resulting in a new order that is quite probably different (Continued on Page 12)

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Valdese Weavers Sells Itself to 1,000 Employees

Newberger Joins Rockland Industries PAGE

Mike Shelton

Deborah Newberger

Elvin Seeks Hotel Biz

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C.F. Stinson 20 Sells Majority Interest

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Veenu and A.J. Singh

(Continued on Page 12)

Canan Sonmez

USA Office and Showroom 4 1 1 Av i a t i o n P a r k w a y Morrisville, NC 27560 Te l . ( 9 1 9 ) 2 3 4 . 8 0 2 5 Fax (919) 234.8030 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 Vi s i t Us at S h ow t i m e D e c e m b e r 4 - 7 t h Booth # SMS 1-635 USA • It a ly • C hina

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

Glenn Stinson

Keith Stinson

F FI I N F O

Table of Contents

The Global Home & Contract Furnishings Newspaper

F&FI Autumn 2016 | Vol. 26, No. 4 Brexit Opens New Doors for UK Converters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover Edmund Bell’s Atherton Sounds Off About Brexit, Sees Reversal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Israel’s Only Home Grown Brand ‘Nachik’ Continues Growth Curve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 DFA Launches new Program, ‘Do it For Yourself’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Elvin Turns to Tourist Trade to Offset Russian Market Decline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Till Sayle Points the Way for Tarf Textil, Recent Drapery Fabric Weaver Entry. . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Converter Microtex Gets Back into Flock After 10 Year Hiatus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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 Art Director | Roxanne Clapp, RoxC LLC Corporate Secretary | Gail Goldman, PhD. CORPORATE CONSULTANTS Printing/Distribution | Interprint Web Printing Web Design | Synthovation E.U. Legal Counsel | Herman Nayaert

SIPCO NEWS NETWORK India | S. Vishwanath U.K. | Jennifer Castoldi Belgium | Jan Hoffman

Richloom Names Director of Design for Fabric Upholstery Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Valdese Weavers Sells Itself to 1,000 Employees Through ESOP Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 C.F. Stinson Sells Majority Interest to BV Investment Partners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Gebruder Munzert, One of the Last Mills in Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 J. Ennis Fabrics Launches New Performance Finish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Rockland Mills’ Roc-Lon® Blackout Secures M1 Certification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Newberger Joins Rockland Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Latest Leather Collections Are More Grandious Than Ever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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

The Metropolitan Museum of Art-New York City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 MoOD/Indigo Opens in New Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

ADVERTISING SALES

Expo 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Expects 15,000 Visitors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Contract/HospitalityNews Baumann Dekor Receives New Life From Ajay Singh With Co-Partner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

TURKEY GERMAN SPEAKING AREA Sevim Gunes Isa Hofmann Tel: 90.532.236.25.24 Tel: +49 611.890.59640 Fax: 90.216.390.20.27 Fax: +49 611.87086 Email: sevimgunes34@gmail.com Email: info@ihofmann.com

Unifi Names Caudle President, Opens Sri Lanka Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

INDIA S. Wishwanath Tel: 91.80.26685821 Cell: 91.93.42821379 Fax: 91.80.26684670 Email: s_wishwanath@hotmail.com

Departments Photo Gallery - Showtime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Photo Gallery - Evteks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Seen On Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Design - In the MoOd for Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Advertiser Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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(Continued from Front Cover)

Brexit Opens New Doors for UK Converters, Uncertainty Prevails, Clouding Up Clear Picture of Eventual Outcome Edmund Bell’s Atherton Sounds Off About Brexit, Sees Reversal

to anything we might imagine at this point in time,” he adds.

Great Britain was the second largest economy in the EU after Germany. As a result of Brexit, Standard & Poor’s immediately dropped the credit rating of England to AA status from AAA. With the drop in the value of the British Pound, imports will become more expensive.

UK converters and wholesalers may have to increase prices as a result.

They have not been paying duty as members of the EU but with this new action, there may be new duties to pay.

“We have experienced the first shock waves in terms of currency volatility, and whilst the pound is down, it is not down and out and already recovering,” Mould says.

“As a private business the stock market has no direct effect on Romo but a week after the event the FTSE closed above pre referendum levels; a clear indication that the markets are maybe not quite as worried as the media make out,” Mould said in a letter to his employees about Brexit in late June.

Romo sales within the first week of the announcement “continued strongly, and sales for June were over 12% up on last year,” he says.

“However to be realistic it will be some weeks or even months before we can really gauge the effect of leaving the EU.” “I have no real concerns in the short term as the UK will continue as a member of the EU for at least the next two years. During this time the UK will negotiate new trading terms with the EU and the rest of the world. I have no idea how these negotiations will pan out, but I do not envisage they will result in any significant damage to Romo’s international trade prospects. There is no point speculating about possible changes, we will just have to be patient and once we know the new rules of the game, react quickly and efficiently. At some point in the future there may be new proce-

Jonathan Mould

Michael Joseph

dures and documentation, but with our own in-house IT department we are well placed to adapt our systems. We will look to find the edge on our competitors, but our main thrust will continue to be the development of the products, marketing and service we offer.”

Mould says Romo is as committed to Europe as it ever was. “The majority of our purchases are from the EU and 30% of Romo sales are to the EU. I firmly believe the markets of the member states of the EU remain a huge opportunity for future growth.”

Romo has offices and employees in Holland, Germany and Sweden and an agency sales network throughout the rest of Europe. “We will redouble our efforts to develop our product and service to ensure that our European staff can look forward with confidence to a bright and secure future with Romo. The same also goes for our European agents with whom we have worked for many years and to whom we continue to be totally loyal and committed too. It also goes without saying that the company remains committed to the thousands of Romo customers in Europe. We are very grateful for their custom and support and will do everything possible to build on those relationships in the future,” he adds.

“Romo remains pro-European in terms of our UK employees with European nationalities. They provide an invaluable service and contribution to the Romo cause.

Whilst this must be an unsettling time, I am confident that each and every one of them will have a secure future with Romo and that

“...we are looking at this as an interesting opportunity to increase export sales” Ashley Brodin, Chairman, The Ashley Wilde Group

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Ashley Brodin

they should not worry about their employment security or their ability to remain within the UK.” “There may be market turbulence in the weeks and months ahead, but Romo is well placed in this regard. The company has no borrowings and our sales in Sterling, Euros and U.S. Dollars are almost evenly split. This gives a balanced position with a natural hedge against currency volatility. Romo has incredibly high stocks and whatever happens to the pound I do not envisage adjusting any prices in the short term. In the longer term, markets will settle down, we remain in a low inflation economy and I expect this to remain the case,” he wrote.

“Romo remains confident in its future and will continue with its thrust to develop and grow. We are advancing our project to build a new state of the art HQ, including a highly automated warehouse system. “Following extensive studies, our architects are currently developing the design and we are aiming to relocate and be operational by the summer of 2018. This will be a massive investment for the company, something in the region of £25 million pounds.”

“Although we at Ashley Wilde find ourselves in a new and difficult position with the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, we are looking at this as an interesting opportunity to increase export sales, says Ashley Brodin, Chairman.

“The weaker pound makes manufacturers in the UK more competitive to export to the USA,” he reasons.

Brodin says The Ashley Wilde Group has expanded dramatically in the past ten years, particularly with business in the USA and he plans to produce a host of new collections for both September and January, coupled with Ashley Widle’s expansion into the branded bedding business, with international brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, Orla Kiely, Ted Baker and Kylie Minogue.

“It is a matter of the glass being half full, rather than half empty.”

“My initial concern was the steep

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“I am personally hugely disappointed at the thought of the UK exiting the EU,” says John Atherton, Principal of Edmund Bell, Rochdale, UK drapery linings and blackout specialist.

“What is particularly disappointing is that certain politicans (Boris Johnson) have bread such mistrust that it makes the process almost a nonsense, based on U turns and in accurate unjustified arguments that have been exasperated by irresponsible media to allow such propaganda to gain any traction. They have misled the British public and caused the resignation of one of the most credible British Prime Ministers since Churchill and Thatcher, then abandoned the troops at the height of the battle creating a constitutional crisis!

“This currently is not an economic crisis, but currently and disappointingly a political crisis. I hope and pray that it rights itself and we can get to business as normal. Until this is resolved the lack of clarity will result in a lack of economic confidence that will stall the progress of the UK economy. The longer this is drawn out the greater the negative effect.”

“However what I will say is, it still needs to go through the UK Parliament and there is no certainty that it will not be voted to remain in the EU. There was no huge majority for us to exit, and it now is becoming evident to those who voted out, that the people they entrusted their votes to, have proven to be completely lacking in any integrity. My bet is that if a second referendum was to be allowed there would be an overwhelming majority for us to stay in the EU.” John Atherton (Continued on Page 22)

fall in the value of the pound which would affect the cost of imports forcing us to increase some prices if there isn’t a recovery in the near future, thinking if there was more turmoil with the euro nations the pound may strengthen against the euro,” says Michael Joseph, Sales Director, MJA Fairfield Mills Inc., the Oldham, UK print converter.

“It will help UK converters who export as the pound has fallen against all major currencies. In the near future, people will be anxious in booking new ranges in US dollars as they may be concerned about launching ranges at increased prices.”

“The worry in the long term is that (English) house prices will fall and the housing market will slow down because of the uncertainty of the job market which will have a detrimental effect on the furnishings spend. The worry of pensions being worth less may affect the

‘silver surfers’ disposable income which again isn’t good for the housing market and ultimately textile sales.”

“The weak pound will help the tourist industry so the contract market for the hotel industry should be buoyant,” Joseph feels.

“The only certain thing is that there is going to be a lot of uncertainty.”

Trevor Helliwell, President of Prestigious, a major converter and importer in Lancashire had “no comment” at this time.

Also, Peter Osborne, Chairman of Osborne & Little and David Green, Chairman of Colefax & Fowler, two top English editeur brands, could not be reached for comment about Brexit.

Many textile executives are still overwhelmed by what has occurred and preferred to hold back their comments until things settle down.

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Israel’s Only Home Grown Brand ‘Nachik’ Continues Growth Curve Export to new markets gives it a sales boost; Elite is Sister Company Sipco News Network

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EL AVIV — Nachik brand is growing an average of five percent a year with 2015 slightly better than that according to Nachik Weberman, the principal.

‘Nachik’ is the only home grown editeur in Israel today with its own collection of fabrics that is sold globally since it was started in 2009, he says.

Today, wholesalers in 30 plus countries carry the Nachik line under their own private brands.

The minimum order is one piece per color of this upholstery driven line. “The main obstacle to our success is the high cost of logistics in Israel. We handle the shipping as efficiently as possible and the customers pay for it.” The leading export market for Nachik is the UK followed by the USA which is growing faster right now.

“There is so much on offer in the

market. Stores are so well stocked with samples; you have to be outstanding to survive,” says ‘Nachik,’ a nickname for Menachem, his full first name. “Good product is just the start. The customer wants a long term partnership with the supplier.” He is currently focused on strengthening his relationships with existing distributors and adding customers in new markets.

With 20 years in the business, Nachik originally wanted to be a lawyer. ”I love the textiles industry.

It is a cozy world with nice people.

I prefer to work with the local distributor in each country.” Nachik is serving new customers in Japan and China. He makes all of his sample books in China today, 200300 books per collection according to the needs of his customer.

He’s also reengineering his fabrics to qualify for contract jobs, he says. “I’m working with hospitality specialists in the USA. This seg-

Do It For Yourself

ment of our business has really grown.”

“Our main launch for Nachik occurs at Heimtextil Frankfurt each year,” he says. This year, we are showing a washed away look, a stonewashed cotton in light and heavier versions for upholstery in 30 colors matched with three dimensional stonewashed jacquards—120 items total,” he says.

Nachik also has its ‘Stardust’ velvet program and its ‘Wild West’ faux leather collection in 90 sku’s with all designs created in house with his design team. ‘Rainbow’ is a multicolor plain and space dyed yarn fabric collection.

Nachik does two collections a year. Elite also distributes his products.

About 80 percent of the line is produced in China with four to six suppliers. “We have no quality problems with our suppliers and the pricing is steady,” Nachik

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Nachik Weberman

Elvin Turns to Tourist Trade to Offset Russian Market Decline

Sipco News Network

EW YORK, New York — Chad Stark, Sr. VP of Stark and President of the Decorative Furnishings Industry (DFA) wants to double the number of professional interior design projects globally. He expects to launch and maintain a sustainable industry-wide online resource and advertising campaign targeting affluent consumers and ‘HENRYs’ (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) Stark/DFA also has plans for a crowd funding campaign this autumn targeting the industry. These funds will go towards the development of a consumer-oriented online resource to improve consumer understanding of professional design and all their design options, as well as towards a digital media advertising spend. Chad Stark F&FI

explains. “Even companies with offices in China are still purchasing directly from Nachik.

Nachik’s sister company is Elite, the wholesaler started in 1972 by Nachik’s parents, Zvi & Zehava Weberman. Unfortunately, Mrs. Weberman passed away last year and left the family with an unbelievable void. Recently, Keren Dekel Weberman, Nachik’s sister joined the Elite Company as General Manager, taking some of the duties of Mrs. Weberman and also of Nachik , who is busy full time with all things ‘Nachik.’ The companies are run separately but Nachik is still part of the Board of Directors for Elite.

Elite is getting more heavily involved in the contract business in Israel and Europe, Nachik says.

(In the previous issue, we did not have the space to run this Nachik/Elite article in full detail.)

F&FI

Sipco News Netowrk

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STANBUL, Turkey — Elvin, the novelty curtain weaver has found it increasingly difficult to conduct business in Russia due to the sanctions in place according to Canan Sonmez, head of the Board of Directors.

Canan’s father, Ahmet Cenan Sönmez, who initially focused the business on woman’s garments before it became a supplier of curtains, founded the company in 1959.

Although Elvin has found ways to get around the Russian business sanctions and supply its loyal Russian customers, it has definitely felt the effects. Canan also believes the troubles with Russia can be resolved as quickly as they began.

Based in Bursa Turkey, Elvin maintains a strong

customer base all over Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the USA and Russia.

“I don’t like politics, ” Canan says, but “wars and political unrest are always bad for business.

We have experienced this before with the wars in Iraq, Lebanon, and now in Canan Sonmez Syria.”

The regional instability in the Middle East has also taken its toll on the tourism industry in Turkey and has also affected Elvin, a supplier of textiles to hotels, airlines, cruise ships and ferryboats.

Despite the recent setbacks Canan is optimistic about the future.

“Tourism is changing quickly” she remarked, Turkey has already begun to focus on local tourism, and hotels are starting to see an increase in local travelers.”

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

Showtime Stout Textiles & Trimmings Principal Mark Rickers, Colmar, PA with his buyer/designer Barbara Godwin and Steve Shelly of Classical Elements, the Morrisville, NC based trim supplier. Stout picked up Classical’s hardware line at Showtime for the first time.

Congratulations!

Max Nance, Jr., NC, SC, GA Sales rep with Michel Viscio, Export Manager of Stof, the print converter from La Tourette, France and customer Michelle MacDonald, Envisage Interiors owner, Hillsborough, NC and Benjamin Chomette, U.S. Export Director for Stof, Adventura, FL

Stuart, Florida based ‘Doodle Bag owner Dick Krueger, a former soccer star with Aydin’s Sinan Esen and Baki Gozalan, sales reps

Center: Del Starnes, President/COO, Taylor King, a Taylorsville, NC upholstery maker with supplier Valdese Weavers, Valdese NC. Leslie Brown, Director of Sales & Marketing on the left and Mike Shelton, President and CEO on the right.

Dixon Bartlette, Chief Creative Officer for Norwalk Upholstery, Norwalk, Ohio with Chris Chapen, Company C Principal, a rug manufacturer in Concord, NH soon doing a coordinated rug program with Norwalk

Herb (left) and Steve Kahan, Principals of Regal Fabrics, a Middleton, MA fabric converter and importer of Chinese novelty upholstery holds court with Jeannie Corey, Director of Design, Bauhaus Furniture Group, Saltillo, MS.

That’s Tiffany Weddle, Capa Imports Principal, buyer of Turkish upholstery from Ismail Arslan, Vice President, Business Development, De Leo Textiles, Fairlawn, NJ.

Bob McKinnon, Chairman, Burlington Technologies Inc., GREENSBORO, NC owners of Keystone Weavers, BMS, Se7en, Bentex and Verelli with Jena Hall, Creative Business Strategist, Tarryton NY.

Abe Braun and wife Tzila, Brooklyn based Linen Palace owners brought their new baby to Showtime but couldn’t take the carriage (not shown) upstairs.

Ali Aydin, Principal of Aydin Tekstil and Tom Byrnes, newly appointed Aydin U.S. Sales Manager. Tom has been around the block more than once including a longtime career at the now defunct but always a great weaver-Mastercraft.

Jill Sprehe, Director of Fashion for Thomasville Furniture, High Point, NC with Kathy Milam, Se7en and Keystone Weavers Southeast Sales Rep and Susan Sheil, Keystone and Se7en Sales Rep.

David Auger, C&M Principal, Shanghai’d in Newark, But Still Praised Showtime “I would rather fly out of Syria than be stuck in Newark Airport, says David Auger, Principal of C&M Textiles, a 68 year old fabrics wholesaler and retailer “with sales up 10 percent,” he added.

Auger arrived at Showtime a day late (Monday instead of Sunday) after being stuck in Newark Airport for 29 hours en route from home base in Montreal, Canada. He took Air Canada to Newark and United to Greensboro. “It was a terrible experience and nobody cares! The hold up was weather related and crew related,” he said. Meanwhile, C&M has opened its fourth location in June in a 4,000 square foot building.

“Showtime was a good experience. The Show was good but I did not see a lot of traffic. He captured the general feeling of the twice a year fair in High Point.

Furniture manufacturers are generally satisfied with 2016, a year that started slow but overall sales will be at least on a par with 2015, according to Del Starnes, President & COO of Taylor King, a Taylorsville, NC based upholstered furniture maker agreed.

A Henredon merchandiser also concurred with Starnes.

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Till Sayle Points the Way for Tarf Textil, Recent Drapery Fabric Weaver Recent Entry in Germany Sipco News Network

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ILDENFELS, FDR — Who is going into the contract drapery business today?

Ask Rainer Fröhlich, who worked for Hohmann Drapery at the age of 16 before he started his own manufacturer three years ago named Tarf Textil GmbH. He’s a part of the redirection of looms in Europe as the market

consolidates. Hohmann of course is still in business and in the same village of Hof, he points out.

With Till Sayle at his side, he is actually succeeding and expects to launch Tarf in the USA soon under Till’s guidance. It’s almost a replay of the story Man of La Mancha, the story about Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

Till is a contract specialist who owns DESIGN&EMOTIONS

Ltd. The pair was seen at outside the halls of Proposte this year pressing the flesh and chewing on the ears of potential buyers.

“Our prices are competitive to better Turkish goods,” Rainer says. That means he charges six Euros for basic commodity sheers and 15-30 Euros for the better products he manufactures and converts. He owns a factory in Hof and rents capacity from a

Rainer Frölich and Till Sayle Como, Italy based mill. “We do novelty items in Italy and we may do more converting in the future.

Tarf is weaving jacquard drapery fabric and mostly sheers in Trevira®FR. “We develop collections with the client,” Fröhlich

Factory and fabric sample

explains. “We have only a small open stock line and the minimums are 60 meters. ”For custom products, the minimum required is 120-500 meters,” Frölich says Good luck fellas!

F&FI

Converter Microtex Gets Back into Flock After 10 Year Hiatus Steve Barek gets help from his son Ethan in a growing enterprise Sipco News Network

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IALEAH, Florida — Microtex, a subsidiary of Microflock, the converter owned by the Barek Family since 1991, has returned to converting one denier nylon flock in China after exiting the market in 2007.

Back in 2007, there was no demand for flock. The market declined dramatically at that time. “There is a difference this time though, says Steve Barek, President. He is not making flock prints this time; his production is devoted to middle priced solid color flock on flock with no printing. Designs include faux leather looks and many different types of textures. “Flock prints are dead in the USA,” Barek maintains. “There is no market here for low end flock but there

is a market for middle to better flock goods,” he adds.

The other change in his operation has to do with his son, Ethan who has joined Microtex to help his dad build the business which is expected to generate $5-$10 million in sales. This makes Microtex a boutique player in flock because his competitors are much larger companies. Steve Barek goes to China four times a year and Ethan helps with the traveling, he points out. Back in the day when he was printing in China, he made eight to 10 trips a year.

“With the bankruptcy of Microfibres, it’s a brand new day,” Barek says. “There is now room in the market for Microtex flock.” As a result, Microtex has introduced two collections of flock on flock

(132 sku’s) in the $4.50- $6 price range for sale to jobbers and some furniture manufacturers with one-piece minimums. “We are not a cut yardage house.

Ethan (standing) and his dad, Steve Barek Barek picked the best China

based flock producer he could find to develop the new collections.

“There are 100 producers of flock in China today but most of them produce cheap products for domestic Chinese consumption only.”

“We have our own on-site Quality Control team in China to check the production so we can maintain high quality levels for our customers,” he adds. He also says his products are both cleanable and stain resistant.

“We make sample books in China for our customers who want them or customers can pick the sku’s they want and put them in their own books,” Barek says.

Aside from the American market, Barek does business in Russia and Brazil. In fact, he is launching his own furniture line

Microtex Textures in Brazil (Amazem brand) that will be exported to the USA and elsewhere utilizing the same flock products for upholstery sold in the USA. F&FI

Richloom Names Director of Design for Fabric Upholstery Division Sipco News Network

Jeannie Corey

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EW YORK, New York — Richloom Fabrics Group has announced that effective July 5, 2016 Jeannie Corey has joined the company as the Director of Design and Merchandising for the Upholstery Fabrics Division. Jeannie will be reporting to Nolan Mitchell VP of Sales and will be based out of Richloom’s High Point office & showrooms.

Jeannie most recently was Vice President of Merchandising at Bauhaus Furniture Group, where she developed the company’s upholstery line. Jeannie was responsible

for selecting fabric to frame applications, developing and launching new product, working with their sales force, and direct to retail sales.

“I am so thankful for having had the opportunity to work with such a great company as Bauhaus. My seven years at Bauhaus allowed me to develop numerous and wonderful key relationships and has provided me with tremendous industry experience. I am extremely excited for this new endeavor with Richloom!

The support the industry has shown me with this change in my career has been so very positive and much

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appreciated! Getting started these past few weeks, Richloom has welcomed me with open arms and the opportunity with this company is endless. I plan to use the knowledge gained from the upholstery business to guide the extremely talented Richloom Upholstery Design Studio, support the sales force and call on retailers to gain their confidence and involvement with the product.”

Richloom, headquartered in NYC, is a leader in the home furnishing & textile industry. Founded in 1957, Richloom Fabrics Group and Richloom Home Fashions now

have operations in 6 countries shipping product worldwide.

With showrooms & sales offices globally Richloom services a wide range of customers and industries.

As a fabric converter and mill, Richloom supplies the Upholstery, Decorative Jobber, Hospitality, overthe-counter retail, Casual Outdoor Furniture and recreational vehicle industries.

Through its Richloom Home Fashions division, Richloom supplies finished window and bedding product to many mass and big box retailers in North America. F&FI

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Valdese Weavers Sells Itself to 1,000 Employees Through ESOP Trust arranged by management and the Shuford Family Sipco News Network

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ALDESE, North Carolina — Valdese Weavers Inc. has started its second century of business with the sale of the company to its employees.

The sale completed in May is called an ESOP, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan that allows each employee to become an owner of shares in the company through grants made to them annually. The payoff to each employee is achieved when the employee retires or leaves the company and sells his/hers vested interest back to the company.

There are also bonus programs in place for all employees.

The company has financed the purchase by the ESOP Trust largely through loans from the Shuford Family. Valdese Weavers is one of the largest decorative fabric mills in the world today

with a reported $175 million in sales in residential and contract markets, ranking number two behind D’Décor in Mumbai, India at $250 million in sales according to F&FI. Valdese sales in 2016 are said to be robust and the company expects an increase over 2015.

The company operates four facilities in Burke County, N.C., and trades under the brand names Valdese Weavers, Valdese Weavers Contract, Circa 1801, Home Fabrics by Wesley Mancini, Valdese International Products (VIP) and Dicey Fabrics.

“One hundred years after our company was founded, and eighty years after Harley F. Shuford and his family acquired the company out of receivership during the Great Depression, Valdese Weavers is now a 100% employee-owned company,” said

Michael Shelton, President & CEO of Valdese Weavers. “This process began in 1996, when the Shuford family sold a minority interest in our parent company, CV Industries, to our associates through a newly established ESOP,” he added.

“On behalf of the nearly 1,000 associates who, through the ESOP, now own 100% of Valdese Weavers, I want to collectively thank the generations of the Shuford family who have given us their support, and have displayed confidence in our stewardship of the company they have owned since 1935,” Shelton added.

“The family’s decision to sell their remaining interest to the ESOP marks the continuation of the commitment of Valdese Weavers and the Shuford family to our associates, our community, and our values. This change from a minority ESOP to a 100% ESOP

creates a platform for ownership that will propel Valdese Weavers into the future.”

Snyder Garrison, a grandson of Harley Shuford, said on behalf of the Shuford family, “There are many options for charting the future of a privately owned, closely held company like ours. The 100% ESOP achieves our family’s objectives for Valdese Weavers to remain an independent, privately owned company with a strong commitment to our local community. In keeping with our values, the ESOP is a great way to recognize the dedication from each of our associates toward achieving a successful, lasting legacy. Employee-owners know that their efforts can help them gain a benefit for their families that is greater than wages alone.”

Coincidentally with the establishment of the 100 percent

Mike Shelton

ESOP, Snyder Garrison will retire as Valdese Weavers the longtime CFO and will lead the CV Industries Board of Directors by being named Chairman, Shelton said.

F&FI

C.F. Stinson Sells Majority Interest to BV Investment Partners Third generation family hospitality/healthcare jobber cashes out Sipco News Network

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OSTON, Massachusetts (USA) BV Investment Partners (BV) has purchased a majority interest in C.F. Stinson, a designer and wholesaler of textiles to the commercial interiors industry.

BV is a middle-market private equity firm focused on the information, business services and communications sectors.

BV is investing in partnership with Keith and Glenn Stinson, the third generation of family ownership. Keith and Glenn will continue to run the business and maintain a significant ownership

interest in the Company, a spokesman for BV told F&FI. Stinson serves diverse commercial markets including the hospitality and healthcare industries.

It is said to have a substantial percentage of its business derived from the growing demands of the U.S. healthcare delivery industry.

C.F. Stinson was founded in 1952 and is based in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Stinson is said to leverage a “patented, tech-enabled sample system developed by its wholly owned subsidiary, Sample Technologies.

This system allows customers

Stinson’s Northern Parallel introduced at Neocon

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at all levels of the supply chain to access Stinson’s fabrics and order samples which is integral to the design and specification process across multiple market segments, according to BV,” a BV announcement stated.

Andrew C. Davis, Managing Director of BV, said, “Stinson is the Fund’s third investment with a tech-enabled distribution theme and has a number of attractive characteristics that align well with BV’s investment strategy and philosophy.

Keith Stinson, President and CEO, said, “As third-generation family owners, my brother and I were careful in selecting a financial partner that aligns with our culture, values and vision for the future. It is clear to us we have found this in BV and we look forward to collaborating with the BV team to continue to accelerate the growth of C.F. Stinson.”

Glenn Stinson, Vice President and COO, added, “BV has experience within the techenabled distribution segment and has a long and successful track record of working with market leading firms. We are looking forward to the next phase of Stinson’s growth in partnership with BV and we are confident the BV team will help us continue to better serve our customers,

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Glenn Stinson suppliers and employees.”

Sean Wilder, Principal of BV, said, “Stinson has a very strong brand and reputation in its industry, established over the course of several decades. We are honored and thrilled to be partnered with Keith, Glenn and the rest of the Stinson team to help build upon Stinson’s strong legacy and success to date.

Stinson is a pioneer and leader when it comes to leveraging data and technology to efficiently and reliably deliver best-inclass services. BV’s successful investments in ECRM and Plasco ID represent B2B, softwaredriven businesses that we have

Keith Stinson helped grow exponentially, both organically and through acquisition, and we look forward to pursuing and accomplishing similar results with C.F. Stinson.”

BV Investment Partners is currently investing its eighth private equity fund. The firm is one of the oldest and most experienced sector-focused private equity firms in North America. Since its founding in 1983, the firm has invested over $2.7 billion in 84 companies, actively targeting investments in the information and business services and communications industries.

F&FI

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Gebruder Munzert, One of the Last Weaving Mills in Germany Stresses Core Competence, Sees Substantial Growth Sipco News Network

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Bringing you Producers of Upholstery, Window and Wall coverings + Yarns

moodbrussels.com

creative textile & surface design show

ARLESREUTH, Germany — Gebruder Munzert is one of the few weavers left in Germany after laboring away for 90 years.

“Within the next two years we expect a clear growth of considerably more than 10 percent in sales,” says Bernd Kout, one of the two Managing Directors of the firm. “We currently produce 20,000–25,000 running meters a week in different widths,” “We definitively want to tap into new markets and business fields in the foreseeable future. The brand relaunch is underlining our claim to be recognized internationally as premium manufacturer of the finest woven art and a component of the overall corporate strategy. We are working on a closer dialogue with our key-account customers and a new way of product sampling to shape the collections even better to their needs and requirements. The weaver has finally decided to break with its conservative roots brag a little bit about its core competencies for fear that the world is taking it for granted. The family owned mill is dominated by two Managing Directors, Klaus Munzert, Production & Engineering and Bernd Kout, Product Development & Marketing “Over 90 years of success in fabric production always creating new and innovative weaving processes and outstanding fabric collections gave us the impact to appear a bit louder,” said Kout, a very conservative leader who is not prone to boasts about his business.

In doing so, Gebruder Munzert says it is reemphasizing its corporate identity and brand appearance.“Franconians are not likely to step in and beat the drum as we say. However we felt the time had come to clearly demonstrate and point out our strength. Furthermore, when we launched our new exclusive brand PIVOT we realized that we should feature and highlight our core competences and corporate values, which have worked well for us during the past 90 years. Time was ripe to modify our CI, since we are celebrating our 90th jubilee last year.”

“Our ambition was to confer on our brand appearance this fresh and dynamic impetus that is the hallmark of Gebrüder Munzert and that our customers appreciate. So in a way we had to catch up on our corporate identity and brand appearance and ensure its future viability.

Bernd Kout “Especially during the last years we experienced that in the framework of this globalized world everybody knows our price range, but only a few know our true values; Authenticity & Innovation, 100 % Made in Germany! This observation prompted us to start the relaunch. The new brand design sharpens our profile and shows what makes us stand out and actually unique: our claim to deliver the highest level of performance for our customers.”

“Nobody wants to purchase products on the market that do not live up to their promises.

The benefit for the customer was always there; we just did not talk about it. It is important to state clearly that we offer premium products at fair prices. Our distinguishing mark ‘made in Germany’ is vital in this context. It stands for excellent quality, credibility, reliability and confidence in the product.” (continued on Page 29)

indigobrussels.com

(Continued from Page 12)

MoOD & Indigo Brussels

by Textirama vzw, Belgium +32 9 243 84 50

Edmund Bell Sees Reversal “As far as Edmund Bell is concerned, a business that has been in existence for over 160 years operating on a global platform and is well placed with business not reliant on any one market and as such is naturally hedged.”

“We are continuing to invest

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heavily to continue the heritage of my Family. We were privileged to purchase Edmund Bell back in 2008, just before the last economic crash the world suffered and is only just recovering from!

We are positive about the future and unlike our Prime Minister and England football Manager,

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we don’t intend to resign. My motto has always been ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’. We are not in a position to walk away from our business heritage!”

(Atherton’s letter was written in late June) F&FI

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In the MoOD for Change

By Jennifer Castoldi

The trade show industry as we know it is changing. New fairs are popping up, old ones are dying, and the clever ones are adapting to the changing business environment. How does design play into this cycle of change? It creates a pull, a desire within that makes us as business professionals want to tune in, to attend, and to experience these events to keep our fingers on the pulse of change.

MoOD and Indigo Brussels are part of this transformation, morphing from exhibitions to buy art, find yarns and weavers, into a full-service design ecosystem where fresh additions like design and color services, a digital village, novel materials, new techniques, bright talent, and final finishes add more value to the show.

Digital print is one of the undeniable future directions for upholstery, window and wall coverings. During Dutch Design Week the interior printing company Big Impact collaborated with Willemijn de Wit and Ulrike Jurklies to create a visual journey with orchids. What will they show off next using the latest printing for textiles and wallpaper?!

The Captured by Cable Couture project from Drua Sif Simone Albrechtsen of Sweden aims to explore textural and threedimensional surfaces within knitted jacquards by abstracting traditional structure knitted archetypes such as lace knit and the knitted cable.

Traditional techniques are also of extreme importance. Margaret van Bekkum is inspired by cultural heritage and aims to bring felting into the 21st century.

Liina Blom, Creative Director (Surface Artist MA) of INTO in FInland, has developed a future surfaces installation where a visit to this interactive area allows attendees to explore innovative weaving with tactile materials.

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Sustainability and social enterprises also active. All the way from Mexico is Anudando the new venture centered around 12 craft communities where used plastic bags are spun into yarns and woven into material for a number of home products. Anudando means “tying knots� in Spanish, an appropriate name for the company as it focuses on tying knots, weaving, crocheting, embroidering, and sewing, as well as interweaving recycling and sustainability with crafts.

Installations, live demonstrations, and interactive opportunities are plentiful at MoOD and Indigo. Cara Enteles, an artist from the US, presents in real-time how her intricate screen prints come to life and have applications on digitally printed wallcoverings and textiles.

Jennifer Castoldi is the CEO and Chief Creative Director of Trendease International. Since 2004, Trendease has been providing cutting-edge and competitive design information to readers spanning over 170 countries.

Trendease is an influential resource reporting on global trends and key international design events. Hundreds of images and forward-thinking articles are presented on www.Trendease. com each month, additionally videos and podcasts are available on www.

Trendease.

TV.

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Emily Roscoe is another inspiring newbie and she is pushing boundaries of color. Her work explores the potential for commercial use around her experiments with biotechnologies, bacteria as a source to grow and produce color pigments, and natural dyes.

New technologies for the home are emerging every season. LED curtains from Forster Rohner add a sparking touch to residential and contract windows and merchandising spaces.

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F FI NE W S

Contract/HospitalityNews C/HNEWS I Baumann Dekor Receives New Life From Ajay Singh With Co-Partner Contract Specialist Gets New Wheels; USA Is Special Target Market Sipco News Network

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OMO, Italy — The new owners of Baumann Dekor are banking on building their business 500 percent in the next five years according to Ajay Bikram Singh, co-principal.

Singh put up his life savings in order to purchase Baumann Dekor (debt free) with a silent partner about one year ago, he says.

10 Years ago: Ajay and Veenu at Heimtextil Frankfurt

Singh and the silent partner each own 50 percent of an offshore holding company, which owns Baumann. Max Baumann has returned as sales manager since last May. He is one of 56 people working at the mill. Baumann was one of the original owners of the company but now is an employee.

“We are focused on increasing the selling effort for Baumann, Singh says. “Baumann Dekor has always been production driven.”

Singh was interviewed by F&FI at the last Proposte Fair in Como to find out how life is going in the fast lane.

The assets and intellectual property were purchased from the previous Austrian owners who bought the company out of bankruptcy five years ago.

“We have recreated the entire brand of Bauman Dekor in the past year; the look has changed. The collections and the handwriting has changed,” he adds. The product line is made in Gmund, Austria as before in the same mill he bought with the acquisition. The products are offered

in the Middle East contract market and in the USA and Europe.

Singh, an agent (operating under the name of Warps + Wefts), distributor and contract specialist with its own collection under the label VFM Design is based in Dubai. VFM as the distributor brand has three offices with 30 employees based in Dubai, India and Austria. As an agency, Warps & Wefts represents all lines in India. “We knew of Baumann Dekor for Veenu and Ajay Bikram Singh many years because it was a competitor to our principals,” he says. Together with his wife, we wanted to go beyond the Middle an architect named Veenu Kanwar, East market,” he says. Right now, Singh, born in Himachal, just north Singh is looking for a U.S Managing of Punjab, India, is well known in Director for Baumann Dekor USA, the Dubai contract/hospitality circle. a separate subsidiary with an indeSingh and Kanwar married in 1992 pendent rep network in order to call on the American hospitality trade. ”I and moved to Dubai.

“We knew of the high brand value want someone who has fire in his or represented by Baumann Dekor and her belly,” he says. F&FI

C/HNEWS I Unifi Names Caudle President, Opens Sri Lanka Division Sipco News Network

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REENSBORO, North Carolina — Tom Caudle has been named President of Unifi, Inc., the producer of the REPREVE® brand of recycled polyester used in the contract/hospitality fabric market.

Roger Berrier left Unifi as President in late April and his plans are not known at this time.

Caudle has been with Unifi since 1982 in various manufacturing positions, most recently as Vice Roger Berrier leaves Unifi President of Manufacturing

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since October 2006 and served as Vice President of Global Operations since April 2003.

At the same time, the company announced it will expand global availability of REPREVE® recycled fiber and other Premier Value-Added (PVA) yarns through a new division in Sri Lanka, Unifi Textiles Colombo Private Limited (UTCL). Based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the new expansion is expected to begin operations by the end of the third quarter in 2016. The expansion comes on the heels of Unifi’s announcement of new distribution channels in both Turkey and Taiwan, through KORTEKS and Sun Chemical, respectively.

Upholstery/Decorative Fabrics make up 12% of Unifi’s business the company says. The category is experiencing slight growth, but less that 5% per year. It is not growing at a faster rate than apparel, the largest category for Unifi and growing at a rate of 4% - 6% per year.

F&FI

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Tom Caudle

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J. Ennis Fabrics Launches New Performance Finish Sipco News Network

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LAINFIELD, Indiana — J. Ennis Fabrics, a Canadian based fabric wholesaler has launched its first performance finish brand, Endurepel™ Shield.

This is part of J. Ennis Fabrics’ commitment towards establishing premium options for consumers throughout the upholstery textiles marketplace.

Endurepel Shield is said to provide woven fabrics with anti-

stain and moisture repellent technology, combined with easy cleanability features and odor protection.

This performance finish was launched during June 2016’s ITMA Showtime and “has already seen great reception amongst customers,” according to Jim Ennis, President and CEO of J. Ennis

Fabrics. “Consumers want quality paired with ease of use,” he says.

“The application of Endurepel Shield enhances our already highperforming fabrics giving us a true

performance textile that is easy to clean.”

“Endurepel Shield is different from other finishes already on the market because it has no adverse effects on a fabric’s inherent characteristics. In other words, breathability, hand and features such as fire retardancy remain unchanged,” Ennis explains. F&FI

Jim Ennis

(Continued from Page 22)

Gebruder Munzert Kout further says the company’s social commitment and responsibility as well as environmental efforts are major benefits that he wants to highlight clearly. “Our code of conduct includes salaries fairly above average minimum wages, guaranteed social standards, going beyond legal provisions and directives, resource-friendly production to just mention the prime directives. We use azofree dyes only and we strive to generate our entire electricity from hydropower and our own solar panels. LED tube lights help us to halve our energy consumption for the production lightning. Last but not least we follow a sustainable personnel policy. Fluctuation is a word we do not know! We highly value the continual expansion of knowledge and keeping know-how in house. Our people think with us – This provides added value to our customers.

Authenticity in word and deed – that is what Gebrüder Munzert stands for.”

“It goes without saying that we are also heading for new customers not only in Europe, but also in the US and Asia.

However primarily we intend to confirm our current customers in their choice for Gebrüder Munzert and assure them that they may still rely on our creativity and reliability in the future. We will have a stronger focus on the outdoor market and particularly on solutiondyed acrylic fibers. We have a couple of new projects coming up, however too early to talk about. Our passion for textile innovations manifests itself in the transfer of new technologies and masterful weaving into functional product ideas.”

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

Evteks Turkish Textiles Stands Tall In Spite of Russian Market Decline, Sanctions

by Israel Brod

ISTANBUL, Turkey — The 22nd edition of Evteks at CNR Expo Center in May occurred while the Turkish export economy has been struggling.

The struggle is the result of political tensions between Turkey and Russia and the decline in the Russian textile appetite according to industry veterans.

Yet, despite the many challenges facing Turkish textiles, the five-day event drew a strong attendance of both buyers and suppliers from around the globe.

With the recent sanctions implemented

by Russia, trade has become increasingly difficult prompting Russian buyers and Turkish suppliers to explore new markets.

In addition to its trade challenges with Russia, Turkey is also dealing with a sharp decline in its tourism sector. In April alone the number of tourists who visited the country decreased by 28% compared to 2015.

Mehmet Büyükekş, the head of the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly, addressed the crowd on the opening day of the fair stressing the importance of the textile industry to Turkey’s export economy.

“Turkey is among the top four exporters of textiles” he remarked.

Hussain Yusuf Al Sammak, Partner manger, Almadaen Furnishing & Decor, Manama, Bahrain R R Kankani, JT. Executive President, Sutlej Textiles and Industries -Birla Home Décor, Fabrics & Furnishings manufacture, Mumbai, India Sunil Chauhan, Manager Export (Mktg), Sutlej Textiles and Industries -Birla Home Décor, Fabrics & Furnishings manufacture, Mumbai, India

“Last year alone Turkey exported an estimated $1.8 billion in textile products making up for five percent of the world’s textile market”. He hopes to reach his target of $4 billion by 2023.

F&FI

A. Ramil, Director, Nil Perde Curtains, Baku, Azerbaijan and Levent Sonturk, Co-Owner, Semiramis curtain & fabric manufacture, Bursa, Turkey

!

Ziyaad Dadabhay, Partner, MSR (Moosa's Sales Room) Fashion Fabrics & Home Ziyaad Dadabhay, Textiles, Johannesburg, South Africa Partner, MSR Muhammed Ebrahim, CEO, MSR(Moosa’s Fashion Fabrics & Home Textiles, Johannesburg, South Africa Sales Room) Fashion Nimish Arora, Managing director, DC Tex Fabrics & Furnishings manufacture, Fabrics & Home Textiles, Mumbai, India

or designing and fabrics, Lahore, Pakistan Dilip Shah, President, Eastern Silk Industries Limited Fabrics & Furnishings manufacture, West Bengal, India and Berna Ozhekim, Owner, Moneta Decoration import & Export, Istanbul, Turkey

Nishant Singh, sales executive, G.M. Syntex Textile Manufacture & Design, Mumbai, India with Jaspreet Saini, sales executive, G.M. Syntex Textile Johannesburg, South Manufacture & Design, Mumbai, India Africa; Muhammed !Tangun Ocak,Tangun Ocak,Upholstery Executive, Executive, Guleser & DraperyGuleser Manufacture, Bursa, Turkey and Aftab Barry, CEO, Syrrab interior Ebrahim, CEO, MSR Upholstery & Drapery Manufacture, designing and fabrics, Lahore, Fashion Fabrics & Home Bursa, Turkey with Engin Ocak, Vice Pakistan Textiles, Johannesburg, Chairman of the board, Guleser South Africa; Nimish Upholstery & Drapery Engin Ocak, Vice Chairman of the board,Manufacture, Guleser Upholstery & Drapery Manufacture, Arora, Managing Bursa, Turkey Bursa, Turkey and Paul Errington, Paul Errington, Errington Textiles International Textile Agency, Bolton, UK director, DC Tex Errington Textiles International Textile Fabrics & Furnishings Agency, Bolton, UK manufacture, Mumbai, India

!

!

Nishant Singh, sales executive, G.M. Syntex Textile Manufacture & Design, Mumbai, India Jaspreet Saini, sales executive, G.M. Syntex Textile Manufacture & Design, Mumbai, India

Nurgul technical consultant, Spot textile Nurgul Bayram,Bayram, technical consultant, Spot textile innovation & technology, Istanbul, Josheph Abi Assaf, Manufacture’s Turkey innovation & technology, Istanbul, Turkey agent, Akmicha textile retail, Mevlut BAYDAR, Pd. D., Senior Marketing Manager, Boyteks Mattress Ticking & Feridun Yesilyurt, Founder, FY Upholstery Fabrics manufacture, Bursa, Mevlut BAYDAR, Pd. D.,Turkey Senior Marketing Antelias, Lebanon !

Isil Bayram Ersin, Sales Manager, Spot textile innovation & technology, Istanbul, Turkey Feridun Yesilyurt, Founder, FY Mobilya Furniture & Decoration retail, İzmir Turkey Mobilya Furniture & Decoration retail, Manager, Boyteks Mattress Ticking & Upholstery Murat Kaba, Export Sales & Yasmin Gultekin, Managing Director, Bezz upholstery fabric manufacture, Bursa, Turkey ¡zmir Turkey and Yasmin Gultekin, Fabrics manufacture, Bursa, Turkey Marketing Manager, Epengle Home Managing Director, Bezz upholstery Isil Bayram Ersin, Sales Manager, Spot textile textiles & Transportation fabrics, fabric manufacture, Bursa, Turkey innovation & technology, Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul, Turkey

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Carlos Abou Jaoude, G.M., C. Abou Jaoudé furniture manufacture & Textile distributer, Baabda, Lebanon Ajay Arora, Managing director, D’Decor Curtain and upholstery fabrics Manufacture, Mumbai, India

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Rockland Mills' Roc-Lon® Blackout Secures M1 Certification Sipco News Network

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ALTIMORE, Maryland — Rockland Industries, makers of Roc-lon® blackout, has achieved M1 certification - the highest level of flame retardant certification for drapery fabrics - for its entire line of blackout fabrics, according to Darren Fradin, Vice President, Sales & Marketing.

"Every blackout we produce in our factory here in the US, from our standard 100% blackout linings to our decorative blackout fabrics, in polyester or poly/cotton, plain or color, can be coated with the Roc-lon® M1 formulation.

This highly sought-after finish was developed in Rockland's labora-

tory in Bamberg, South Carolina and certified by IFTH in Lyon, France. This accomplishment highlights the credentials of our laboratory and operational team in Bamberg, which consists of chemists, engineers and managers, some of whom have been involved in the production of coated blackout since Rockland first introduced the product in 1964.

"This is an important development for Rockland, not just for our

European clientele, but for any customer in any market looking to have the absolute highest level of FR protection available in a 100% blackout fabric," Fradin said.

"We’ve already received requests for this finish from customers in the Middle East, the US, Asia and of course Europe. Coupled with our new line of incredibly soft blackout fabrics that we have just launched, including patterns Luna, Lily and Savannah, we are poised to make

new inroads in Europe with customers whose FR fabrics must be certified to M1."

In addition to M1, Rockland also now has a solution for the B1 and EN 13773 FR standards. Formal certifications for these additional standards are expected in the next weeks. So Rockland can now offer a full suite of FR finishes: NFPA 701, BS 5867, IMO, Canadian, M1, B1, and EN 13773.

F&FI Darren Fradin

Newberger Joins Rockland Industries July 1 Sipco News Network

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ALTIMORE, Maryland — Deborah Newberger, veteran blackout marketer and one-time converter, will join Rockland Industries Inc. In the new post of Midwest And Special Projects Sales Manager according to Mark Berman, Rockland CEO. “Newberger is a great fit with Rockland,” Berman adds.

Since August, 2013, Newberger was International Sales Director for Textile Bonding Ltd., a New Zealand based coater and producer of blackout lining.

Prior to that in April, 2012, she was Contract Sales Director for RM Coco, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

In March, 2011, she sold certain assets of Dana Mills Inc., her 41 year old family business, a blackout converter in Lincolnshire, Illinios.

Newberger will continue to be based in the Midwest.

F&FI

Deborah Newberger,

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Latest Leather Collections Are More Grandiose Than Ever

by Jennifer Castoldi

decorative and full custom markets.

Special techniques include dubbing—a process used to create texture on flat areas, pyrography—“writing with fire” and decorating with burn marks, and rempli-ciré—a technique with wax as a material used “to create a patina and a smooth, polished-by-age texture.”

Located in London at The Design Centre Whistler Leather sources their leathers from top tanneries throughout Europe. The complete range currently has more than 400 options from which to choose. From block color hair on a cow hide to eel skin and floral or basketweave embossing, there is something for every interior.

As an attention catcher during Clerkenwell Design Week Whistler Leather employed muralist Carolina Maggio to paint on leather panels for the wall and upholstered poufs, all under the Japanese theme of ‘Hanami’, the cherry blossom celebration welcoming spring.

Digital printing has grown exponentially in a number of fields; leather is no exception. The Deep Print Movement is a specialist in leather printing and product development, boasting a list of impressive clients HOT LEATHER LOOKS: such as Aston Martin, Chanel, Hermès, Kenzo, and Mulberry.

• Digital printing Their expertise lies in “not only • Embroidery understanding leather as a medi• Embossing um but in enabling designers, • Laser cuts/engravings helping them with the realiza• Gilding tion of a concept.” Over the last • Staining ten years their “other growing area of expertise has been in the • Dubbing relationship between the leather • Painting once printed and the product • Pearl transfers it then becomes and more fre• Pyrography quently we are asked to produce • Pigmented leather with top print the finished product from start to • Two-tone effects & color blends finish, taking on the manufacturing process.”

• Block color The Deep Print Movement • Foiled leather with metallic finish has an in-house art team that has • Rempli-ciré the ability to recolor, re-scale, • Weaving and reposition artwork as well as “to advise on the print, on place-

New creative expressions of leather are opening up a world of opportunities.

International exhibitions and showrooms in the United States and Europe put this material back on the map with very strong ranges from Spain, Italy, England, the US and Japan.

Traditional techniques in combination with the latest technologies build appeal. Furniture, upholstery, cushions, rugs/flooring, wallcoverings/panels, window blinds, decorative accessories and sectors that include fashion, automotive, aviation, and yachting can take advantage of these processes that allow for a plethora of fresh aesthetics.

Foglizzo, a third generation Italian leather company founded in 1921 applies skilled know-how to craft the highest quality leather. Started as a firm that performed the restoration of leather in antique cars, it now caters to the contract and residential interior design industries in addition to transportation.

Aside from the core business of 250 solid stocked colors on various grains, Foglizzo has perfected the art of the

ments in relation to pattern pieces and taking into account seam allowance, on leather choice and on finish in relation to the final product.”

Miyabi Casa is based in Madrid, Spain and exhibited the new DSV

by Miyabi Casa range at the recent International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City. This collection showcases paintings digitally treated on full grain leather and is available to the residential and hospitality markets.

There are a number of customers who want the appearance and quality of leather, but do not care for the material, even if it is a byproduct of the food industry. That is where alternatives like Plotterfilms’ ecoLeather.CADCUT and Ultrafabrics offer solutions.

Also from Italy, ecoLeather.

CADCUT has been researching and developing its digitally printed ecoleather for the last year and a half. This wide format media is made of a polyester textile base in a range of thicknesses with a polyurethane surface and a special coating to help bind the latex and sublimation inks. It has been tested for indoor and outdoor applications as well as abrasion, washing resistance, bending, and fire resistance. They also offer embossing.

American company Ultrafabrics produces high performance polyurethane in Japan that is the height of sophistication for a leather alternative. PVC free and low LOC emissions are part of their sustainability statement that focuses on toxic-free solutions, minimal dependency on natural resources, and the conservation of raw materials. The registered brand Ultraleather is antimicrobial, breathable, stain resistant, and suitable for the indoor and outdoor markets.

These are only six of the several companies working on the forefront of leather for interiors. Traditional leathers and new alternatives pave way to fresh opportunities in product development when coupled with all of the possible finishing techniques.

F&FI

Whistler Leather samples

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Whistler Leather hand-painting at Clerkenwell Design Week

Miyabi Casa digital printing

The Deep Print Movement digital printing

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F FI NE W S

The Metropolitan Museum of Art-New York City Sipco News Network

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EW YORK, New York — For those of you who did not have the time or opportunity to see the Met’s Costume Institute Exhibit titled ‘Manus/Machina’, here’s a pictorial overview.

The focus of the exhibit was on couture clothing from the 20th Century to the present and how fashion design is integrating handmade with machine made production. There is tremendous crossover with decorative fabric in this exhibit.

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Lorraine Lang, Design Director of Stark Fabric, with Elaine Taylor-Gordon, Principal of Flashforce LLC, NYC, agents for Tezzutica, the parent company of Beaulieu Fabric division, Kruishoutem, Belgium, enjoying the new Softnesse(r) collection at their lakeside showroom in the Villa Schettino in Cernobbio, pre-Proposte. The new collection is the first to be produced entirely at Beaulieu’s brand-new weaving mill complex in Romania where it is finished with Italuan made Biancalini Airo 24 machines said to produce a soft hand for the Beaulieu’s range of natural and man-made fiber textiles for the North American market.

Irina and Alex Rozental, principals of‎ Extreme Services, Staten Island, New York, Enjoying Beaulieu’s Proposte event for North American customers only at Villa Schettino, Cernobbio.

1. House of Dior, French, founded in 1947- ‘Junon Dress autumn/winter 1949/50 haute couture hand sewn and emboiderered; 2. Alexander McQueen, British founder 1992-machine sewn, hand sewn and hand embroidered; 3. ’L’Elephant Blanc evening dress, 195, machine sewn; 4. Jack Mccullough and Lazaro Hernandezsequins laid on their sides; 5. Iris van Herpen, Dutch, born 1984-rubberized cotton; 6. Luis Vuitton, French. spring/summer 2016-, 7. Nicholas Ghesquiere, machine sewn; 8. (gold) Yves Saint Laurent, sing/summer 1983- ‘The Sardine Dress’ machine and hand made; 9. Halston, by Roy Frowick, American, 1970, machine sewn; 10. Maison Marginal, French, Martin Marginal, spring/summer 1996; machine sewn; 11. Saint Laurent, evening ensemble, 2000-2001, machine sewn and hand finished; 12. House of Dior, Raf Simons, Belgian, spring summer 2014sewn by machine and embroidered by hand; 13. Iris van Herpen, 3 D printed; 14.

Noa Raviv, Israeli, black and white 3D printed; 15. Pierre Cardin, machine sewn, heat molded brown polyester; 16. Prounza Schouler-Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCullough, autumn/winter 2013-machine sewn.

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Seen On Location

Alfie and dad, Michael Joseph, walking about the streets of Manchester, UK just before the Brexit vote.

Dad is a close-out specialist and works for Fairfield Mills Inc., UK converter.

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F FI C A L E N D A R August

MoOD/Indigo Opens in New Format

17-19 Elan Expo Large specialized exhibition that serves as a source of new products, new contacts & networks, brings you the latest solutions and innovations of the international world of textile, decoration & carpets.

Iran-Tehran Municipality’s Specialized Exhibition Center www.elanexpo.net

23/24 Toronto Fabric Fair More than 30 textile mills will be represented at the fair. Retailers and manufacturers are invited to attend.

Paradise Banquet and Convention Centre Toronto, Canada

Tour & Taxi Center, Brussels, Belgium. Site of MoOD, September 6, 7, 8, 2016.

Sipco News Network

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RUSSELS—MoOD/Indigo 2016 covering upholstery, window, wall coverings and yarns for residential & contract markets opens September 6-8 at a new location, the Tour & Taxis Center, about a 30 minute walk from the Brussels Grand Place.

Abut 230 companies, including 23 Belgian weavers and converters are participating this year in what is described by the Organizer as a revamped format in an unusual light filled space.

Much emphasis will be placed on the technology and innovation of fabrics including new constructions and new yarn types.

(See pages 26/27 for a design review of MoOD) F&FI

September 6, 7, 8 MoOD/Indigo Visitors tend to be general managers and professionals in the fields of design and styling. Commercial reps often visit MoOD / Indigo Brussels, representing companies active as editeurs, wholesalers, retail agents, import/export companies, furniture manufacturers, in design, interior decoration and product development.

Tour & Taxis Center, Havenlaan 86c 1000 Brussel Brussels, Belgium www.moodbrussels.com

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

20-23 Heimtextil Moscow Annual International Trade Fair for Home Textiles, Floor Coverings and Interior Furnishings Heimtextil Russia.

The leading players of the international textile business gather on the Russian textile Trade Fair No.1 to present their best collections of fabrics and wall coverings, learn the latest trends in interior design, exchange experience and find new business partners.

IEC Crocus Expo, Pavilion 1, Halls 3 and 4. Trade and exhibition complex, 65-66 km Moscow Ring Road, Moscow, Russia. heimtextil-russia.ru.messefrankfurt.com

October 26-29 Home & Textile Decoration Fair CNR Expo Center Yesilkoy, Turkey

Expo 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Expects V 15,000 Visitors

IET NAM — ­ The 14th Vietnam International Trade Fair in Ho Chi Minh City will be held by the Exhibition & Event on 30 November – 3 December, 2016 at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC), 799 Nguyen Van Linh Parkway, Tan Phu Ward, Dist.7, Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest trade center of Viet Nam and the potential place for business and investment in the South East Asia. The last Viet Nam Expo 2015 in HCMC had the scale of 390 participants from 12 countries and territories, more than 15,000 visitors with 8,900 traders & 4,700 public. The organizer expects that the event will have around 460 exhibitors and over 15,000 visitors in 2016.

We would like to thank your for your kind support and cooperation through the last years and for this Vietnam Expo 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City.

F&FI

AquaClean. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Boyteks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 Classical Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Covington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 D’Decor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 Express Air Freight. . . . . . . . . . . . 31 GM Fabrics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-25 KC Fabrics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Kravet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Marteks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 MoOD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Movelta Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Richloom Fabrics Group. . . . . . . . 9 Rockland Mills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Stof. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Yongshun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

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Sipco News Network

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ADVERTISEMENT

The Movelta Group Adds Weaving, Dyeing Capacity For High End Devantex Velvets Deerlijk, Belgium — The Movelta Group is one of the world’s leading textile manufacturers. The company is actually managed by the third generation of the Hellyn family experienced in textiles and is located in the center of Europe in Belgium.

The Movelta Group is a fully integrated textile group with its own preparation, weaving, dyeing and finishing plants.

Recently the Movelta Group has taken over the company Devantex and also part of the dyeing mill of Microfibres Europe, which makes it possible for the Movelta Group to extend its activities.

In its 70.000m² factory, a fantastic team devotes all its talents and experience to create the most beautiful furnishing fabrics. A team of designers follows the trends in furnishing designs and dedicates its workforce to find the latest trends in quality improvement.

A specialized workforce is weaving on the best textile weaving machines, 80 in total, with the finest yarns available on the European market. All finishing treatments are done in house, such as FR treatment, Teflon® treatment, Emerising sueding, Easy Cleaning, tumbling,….all geared to the needs of the final consumer.

1) What are your plans for Devantex?

With the machinery of Devantex we are able to weave more delicate velvets with the most exclusive yarns available on the European market. Now with Devantex, we can consider ourselves

as one of the world’s leading textile manufacturers.

2) Will the handwriting or product range of Devantex change in any way? Of course we will give the product range a new handwriting as we intend to take it to a higher and exclusive editor level only.

Therefore our team of national and international designers follow the trends in furnishing and they search for the most exclusive yarns in order to distinguish the Devantex fabrics from our regular collection.

3) What new Devantex products will we see at MoOD? We will present a select new, very exclusive velvet collection including Weave Techniques we used on our looms but now on the new Devantex looms.

4) What ‘s new at Movelta/Tavelmo in terms of product? Movelta/Tavelmo range is more the volume market in velvets and flatwoven fabrics. But we have also created an exclusive collection of high-end flat woven items (woven with exclusive Devantex yarn). We will also present a new finishing of Active Probiotics for Dust mite allergy that can be done on all of our fabrics. We have acquired the world exclusive rights of this brand for our finishing; so we will apply it on our fabrics.

Olivier, Frans and Charlotte Hellyn 5) What changes have you made at the mill? In the last years we have been investing not only in a new location, but also in new machinery, such as: preparation and finishing machines, weaving machines, dyeing machines.

We do a lot of research to find new finishing possibilities to give the fabrics an extra dimension, such as different fire resistant treatments, Teflon® treatment, easy clean treatment, Emerising treatment, softening treatment, Purotex®.

6) What exactly did you do to make the consolidation between Devantex and Movelta? We did not have to do special things as Devantex matches

perfectly with the Tavelmo machinery.

The Devantex weaving machines could perfectly fit in our flow. Of course we had to adjust some things, but knowing that the old Devantex had to do its preparation and finishing at external companies, it gave a big advantage for us to be able to do this now at our in house location. We don’t lose time sending rolls back and forth and if there is a problem we are at the location to look to improve it.

7) I understand you purchased a dye range from Microfibres Inc. How will this help the company? We bought a part of the dyeing mill in order to make faster delivery for our piece dyed fabrics. The capacity of our department Waesland nv is increasing by 40% and certainly with the Devantex collections now, we can use this extra capacity in order to have shorter delivery dates. In our laboratory, new colors are created, following the trends in fashion and responding to the customers’ demands.

8/ What is your sales forecast in the next five years? Increasing the volumes with our existing clients and offering them the full range of upholstery fabrics and furnishings.

Part of the weaving capacity

Tavelmo nv, Nijverheidslaan 72, 8540 Deerlijk, Belgium tavelmo@movelta.be tel +32 56 774753 Email: hellyn.ol@movelta.be