ITA Member News

from Showtime Magazine | Fall & Winter 2020 Issue

from the ITA President

NEW MEMBER

America Leather Resources Based in Brazil with U.S. offices in High Point and Tupelo, America Leather Resources is a global organization offering a wide assortment of fashion-forward, highquality upholstery leathers of exceptional value. Our offerings include high performance leathers with a supple hand; suedes in rich, stylish colors and textures that feel like velvet; hair-onhide, carefully-curated patterns and full-grain leathers produced in Italy and stocked locally. Visit us at HFRC Suite 203 with PMT Fabrics at Showtime or americaleather.com.br.

CREST LEATHER ACQUIRES ITALIAN-BASED I.C. INDUSTRIA CONCIARIA S.R.L.

Crest Leather, a leading manufacturer of upholstery leather, announces the acquisition of I.C. Industria Conciaria S.R.L in Arzignano, Italy. IC produces wet-blue and wet-white hides, meeting the highest environmental standards, and is Gold Certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), like Crest’s flagship tannery in Chiampo. The acquisition further strengthens Crest’s position as a vertically integrated operation, having full control of the tanning process from raw material to finished leather.

Crest Leather is a global tanning group with U.S. operations in Greensboro, North Carolina, and a permanent showroom in High Point. With a commitment to sustainability and a Gold Rating by the Leather Working Group, Crest Leather’s flagship tannery is a leading producer of the finest Italian leather for use in upholstery, hospitality, and interior design. For more information visit www.crestleather.com.

DALLAS MARKET CENTER AND ART ANNOUNCE HEARTS AWARDS HONOREES

Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced the 13 honorees for the HEARTS Awards, taking place January 8. The HEARTS Awards, to be hosted by Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia, is a one-time special event to take place during the January Total Home & Gift Market in Dallas. The event is being held in partnership and solidarity with thirteen leading industry organizations to honor thirteen companies that have shown outstanding leadership, empathy and service during the COVID-19 pandemic by going above and beyond in service to their industry and/or community. The event also includes a fundraising auction supporting No Kid Hungry.

THE HONOREES ARE:

• No Kid Hungry, presented by ART and Dallas Market Center

• American Leather Holdings, presented by American Home Furnishings Alliance

• Serta Simmons, presented by American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame

• WAC Lighting, presented by the American Lighting Association

• Stephen Joseph Gifts, presented by Gift & Home Trade Association

• Mercado Global, presented by Gift for Life

• Baltimore Design Group, presented by Interior Design Society

• Telescope Casual Furniture, presented by International Casual Furnishings Association

• Norwalk Furniture, presented by International Home Furnishings Representative Association

• Otto & Moore, presented by International Society of Furniture Designers

• Crypton Fabric, presented by International Textile Alliance

• Varaluz, presented by Sustainable Furnishings Council

• Ekornes, presented by WithIt

“Never before have so many industry organizations joined together for such an important cause,” said Cindy Morris, President and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “During challenging times, we are proud to unite these leaders for such an inspiring event and to share their stories of heart-based leadership.”

“I am amazed at the compassion, the selflessness, and the leadership shown by these companies over the past several months,” said Sharon Davis, executive director of ART. “Their individual efforts supported communities around the world, and their collective efforts helped hundreds of thousands of people. This year we will celebrate their achievements and at the same time work together to raise funds for hunger relief with a creative silent auction.”

The HEARTS Awards silent auction will feature more than 70 one-of-a-kind plates creatively transformed by artists, designers, celebrities, influencers and special guests to be auctioned to the highest bidder. The auction will begin online in early November ahead of The HEARTS Awards and will conclude on the evening of the event. Participating in the creative fundraiser are figures from the world of product design, interior design, and the arts including Jane Seymour, Thom Filicia, Bobby Berk, Justina Blakeney, Carson Kressley, Thomas O’Brien, Jamie Drake, Libby Langdon, Adam Glassman (O, the Oprah Magazine), Julia Buckingham, Anna Bond (Rifle Paper Co.) Joe Ruggiero, Jeffrey Alan Marks, Jason Phillips (Phillips Collection), George Sellers (Global Views), Dann Foley, Alexander Julian, Bunny Williams, Barbara Barry, and Beatriz Ball.

To support the charitable fundraiser of the HEARTS Awards on social media, please use the hashtag #hearts4hunger.

The HEARTS Awards event will take place on January 8, 2021 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Individual and group tickets will be available at a later date. The full list of honorees was announced in October. Complete information is available here: www.dallasmarketcenter. com/artsawards.

Special thanks to Rosenthal for providing the plates for the silent auction and to Freightwire and Global Views for their generous donations to support the auction. Media sponsors to date include: Aspire Design and Home, Designers Today, D Home, Furniture Lighting & Décor, Furniture/Today, Furniture World, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Home Accents Today, HFN, and Home Textiles Today.

HOME SECRETS TEXTILE OPENS REMODELED, EXPANDED WAREHOUSE/ OFFICES/SHOWROOM

Home Secrets Textile, producers of exquisite home décor and event fabrics announces the opening of their new updated and much larger warehouse/ offices/showroom located in Los Angeles, CA.

This new location and investment demonstrates Home Secrets’ commitment to the industries they pursue and their impeccable customer service to their vast customer base. Please feel free to visit our offices/ showrooms in Los Angeles, CA and High Point NC.

ITA PROMOTES CARRIE DILLON TO MANAGING DIRECTOR

ITA began its 2020-2021 fiscal year with the promotion of Carrie Dillon to the newly created position of Managing Director. Dillon has been with the organization since 2014 and has grown through its ranks, first as Assistant Executive Director, then taking on the additional management of the ITA’s Educational Foundation in 2017.

She has been an invaluable member of the organization and has seen it through many transitions. She will continue to be essential in overseeing the management of the ITA, as the ITA also announced the downsizing of the organization with the resignation of Brian Casey, the previous Executive Director.

Board President Kelly DiFoggio, said, “We are grateful to Brian for the work he has done over the past 2 1/2 years. He has given a professional face to the ITA, and has been a tremendous mentor and colleague. He will be missed, but at the same time, we are thrilled to have Carrie step into a management role for our organization. She is a wealth of knowledge, knows the industry and our members well, and will be instrumental in seeing us through these difficult and strange times.”

ITA’s future plans include continuing to make its mainstay, bi-annual wholesale tradeshow, SHOWTIME, a renewed focus with the addition of a new temporary floor in the Market Square Tower in High Point, NC. Despite the show’s cancellation in May, the November 15-18th, 2020 edition is currently still planned to proceed on schedule.

ITA will continue to focus on expanding its benefits for its members beyond that of the tradeshow. All news and announcements can be found on the ITA website.

ITA SHOWTIME LAUNCHES OUTREACH

International Textile Alliance is launching a major, dual-city outreach to connect wholesale fabric, leather, and trim suppliers with buyers during its bi-annual Showtime Textiles show.

Traditionally held in High Point, NC, ITA’s Showtime edition will be expanded to reach buyers closer to home, to be held in-person in Mahwah, NJ, in addition to the traditional venue of High Point, NC.

The dates of each show will be: Nov. 15-18, 2020 in High Point, NC and Jan. 26-27, 2021 in Mahwah, NJ. The venue in New Jersey will be the Marriott Courtyard, off Route 287. Leading mills and convertors will be seen by appointment for showings of new collections of textiles, leather and trim for the home furnishings sector – residential, hospitality and contract markets.

ITA has partnered with the Courtyard to provide safe, personal, and private environments in which to show fabric lines to buyers unable to travel to North Carolina for the main show. ITA will support this expanded venue as a one-time supplement to its ongoing High Point shows, and look to make even broader connections virtually.

Buyers planning to attend Showtime in High Point can pre-register to prevent lines at check-in. Buyers interested in attending the Showtime North event can visit our website for additional information and registration. Companies interested in exhibiting at either or both locations can contact Carrie Dillon at carrie@ internationaltextilealliance.org.

ITA continues to focus on expanding benefits for its members beyond that of the tradeshow. All news and announcements can be found on the ITA website where one can also fill out information to be added to the mailing list.

PATRICK SHELTON JOINS ITA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Patrick Shelton, Vice President of Sales with Valdese Weavers, has been elected to join the International Textile Alliance (ITA) Board of Directors.

“I am very excited to be adding another member to our board.” said Kelly DiFoggio, President of the ITA Board of Directors. “Not only does Patrick represent one of our oldest member companies, but his knowledge and enthusiasm for the industry will be a great addition.” Shelton has been in the textile industry for nearly a decade. He graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Sewanee, The University of the South. In addition to excelling academically, Shelton also played football during his tenure at Sewanee. He began his career at Valdese Weavers in 2011 and spent his first two years working and learning the manufacturing processes. Shelton transitioned into a sales role in 2013, steadily grew his sales experience and was named VP of Sales in January 2019.

Shelton joins the current ITA Board of Directors which includes: Kelly DiFoggio of Stein Fibers and ITA President; Kathryn Richardson of Libeco and ITA Vice President; Mendy Kearns of Hamilton Fabric Sales and ITA Treasurer; Nathan Copeland, Highland House Furniture; Carmen Herndon Barbee, Ballard Designs; David Lappert, Kravet Inc.; Dada Patil, Catania Fabrics; Katherine Shoaf, Radiate Textiles; and David Stunda, Barbarossa Leather.

CLAUDINE SIMONE RETURNS TO KRAVET

Kravet Inc. is excited to announce the return of Claudine Simone as its new North Carolina Sales Representative. Claudine has an expansive sales and merchandising background, which includes a previous tenure with Kravet Inc. in various management positions. In her new role, Simone will call on furniture manufacturers with the complete Kravet Inc. fabric line.

Simone’s career spans over 14 years, with experience sourcing, purchasing and merchandising upholstery and decorative fabrics in the furniture industry. Prior to her new position at Kravet Inc., Simone worked as the Merchandising Executive with fabric converter Radiate Textile, in Norwalk, CT. Simone had also been the brand director for the Drexel and Henredon divisions of Heritage Home Group for nearly 10 years.

“We know Claudine will do a great job fostering the partnership-driven relationships we covet with all our customers,” says David Lappert, Kravet Inc. Vice President of Sales. Likewise, Simone is thrilled to be back with Kravet Inc., “They are the top of the line and again, my home. Working for an amazing company, selling to whom I consider customers/friends and being able to play and sell with the most amazing selection of fabrics; I could not ask for more,” Simone said. Heritage Home Group for nearly 10 years.

MILLIKEN® EXPANDS ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT TEAM TO INCLUDE JEFF SMITH

The Specialty Interiors business of Milliken & Company, a global diversified manufacturer with more than 150 years of textile expertise, has expanded its account management team to include Jeff Smith. The new addition is an indication of the company’s commitment to growth. Smith will focus on account management in the residential market and promote the Breathe by Milliken® sustainable performance fabric line. He joins Milliken with over 20 years of experience in residential upholstery fabrics sales account management, where he called on residential furniture manufacturers and large retail accounts throughout the Southeast. Smith’s responsibilities include developing and maintaining relationships with existing and new customers to drive sustainable, profitable growth for Milliken Specialty Interiors. He will be working out of Milliken’s High Point, NC showroom.

MILLIKEN,® ROWE PARTNER TO OFFER ECOFRIENDLY COTTON SLUB ‘BREATHE’ FABRIC ON ROBIN BRUCE SOFAS

Milliken’s Specialty Interiors business announces its partnership with Rowe Furniture to offer the Breathe by Milliken® collection across Rowe’s furniture and slipcover lines. The eco-elegant performance fabrics partnership launched at the High Point Fall Market, where Rowe debuted Breathe’s New Delhi, a 100 percent cotton slub fabric, on its Robin Bruce Boden sofa.

“This partnership highlights our Breathe by Milliken collection, an ideal choice for consumers who want fabric solutions that offer protection without sacrificing aesthetics or the environment,” said Chad McAllister, Executive Vice President of Milliken & Company and President of the Textile Division.

Rowe’s latest product launch, Boden, focuses on sustainability, wellness and modern yet practical design that includes easy cleaning options. The Breathe collection is a perfect fit, featuring cleanable cottons, cotton/ linens and polyesters made from recycled plastic bottles.

“We chose Breathe for its sustainability story, aesthetic features and excellent product support from Milliken Specialty Interiors. As the first plant-based performance option in our pre-washed, pre-shrunk natural fiber line, Breathe enhances our product portfolio and will appeal to customers looking for a functional solution without sacrificing performance or appearance,” said Laura Mabe, upholstery merchandising manager and designer for Rowe. “As the natural fibers soften and bloom, they will maintain their beauty through multiple washes for a luxurious and environmentally healthy option.”

“Milliken is among the most sustainably-focused and environmentally responsible companies in the industry, and the organization has a reputation for excellence, meeting deadlines and offering great support,” said David Shilesky, Vice President of Marketing for Rowe Furniture. “One of Rowe’s differentiators is our Express Program, which offers shorter lead times on many custom items. Therefore, we need to have inventory on shelves and a partner we can depend on to consistently deliver. We know Milliken is a trusted, reliable partner.”

Breathe upholstery fabrics offer a durable, plant-based water-repellent that resists everyday stains and cleans easily without PFCs, fire retardants or other chemicals of concern. These fabrics have earned GREENGUARD® GOLD certification to meet strict chemical emissions limits and enhance the indoor air quality of living spaces.

“While we are thrilled to meet Rowe’s product needs, we are equally as proud to serve top manufacturers by working cooperatively, keeping promises and delivering tools to position their sales teams and merchandisers for success,” said Rene’ Vaughn, Director of Sales for Milliken Specialty Interiors.

To learn more about the partnership, visit rowelifestyle. com/breathe or breathebymilliken.com. Schedule an appointment to view the Breathe by Milliken collection in our High Point, NC, showroom by emailing millikenspecialtyinteriors@milliken.com.

REGAL FABRICS ACQUIRES DIVERSITEX HOME

Regal Fabrics has announced its acquisition of the Diversitex Home division of Diversitex, Inc. The product line will be rebranded as Dtex by Regal Fabrics.

“We are excited to add the Dtex by Regal Fabrics product into our mix,” said President Steve Kahan. “We’ll now have natural fibers, sourced in the USA, including the fabric known as Topsider, which is arguably the most successful cotton twill in the industry. The Dtex line brings our customers a wide range of woven textures in cotton, linen and rayon plus beautiful velvets and decorative designs. All will be provided with the high level of support and service that customers rely on from Regal Fabrics.”

Diversitex Home specializes in providing an array of upholstery and multipurpose fabrics from around the world. The line is best known for a deep collection of USA-converted piece-dyed natural fiber weaves and twills. Diversitex excels at merchandising its piece-dyed cotton fabrics alongside an array of lux looks including velvets and natural and polyester jacquards. Says Kahan, “We are proud to be in a position to take advantage of the opportunity to grow our line and provide a wider selection of options to the market. Our initial emphasis will be re-introducing the line as Dtex by Regal Fabrics and integrating this product into our customer-focused business approach. Going forward, we are equally excited

about the opportunities to build on our newly acquired capabilities to create new and novel fabrics in the future.”

About Regal Fabrics: Founded in 1987, Regal Fabrics is a leading producer of fabrics for furniture manufacturers, fabric distributors and more. Emphasizing top quality in product, service, and delivery, Regal’s design studio creates original, copyright protected designs in a wide range of durable fabric constructions. All are available with performance finishing. Customers look to Regal for trending designs, colors and collections in a range of fabric constructions including woven textures, jacquards, prints, velvets and embroideries.

KELLY DIFOGGIO JOINS STEIN FIBERS AS DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MERCHANDISING

Industry veteran and current ITA president, Kelly DiFoggio, has joined Stein Fibers as the Director of Sales and Merchandising for the company’s fabric division. Kelly has served in the textile industry for more than 15 years, most recently as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Yarn & Loom. She has been a board member of the International Textile Alliance since 2011.

“We are fortunate to add Kelly’s experience and leadership to the Stein Fibers team. Her product knowledge and understanding of the market will allow our entire team to be the ultimate solutions provider to the furniture industry,” said Peter Spitalny, president of Stein Fibers, Ltd.

“I love this industry,” says DiFoggio, “and I am excited to join a company that not only shares the same passion as I do for textiles, but is also investing the necessary resources into their fabric division to see significant growth.”

Stein Fibers, Ltd. is one of the largest suppliers and producers of polyester staple fibers in North America, and has been serving the furniture and soft goods industries for over 40 years. They have recently partnered with Corttex, Brazil’s largest supplier of fabrics and textile goods, to supply the US furniture industry with an assortment of casual, affordable and stocked fabrics. “The price points on the fabrics that we are able to offer our customers are extremely competitive. And, to have the ability to stock these goods is an added value to our customers.” says DiFoggio.

SOUTH PACIFIC TEXTILE NAMES REP FOR SOUTHEASTERN FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS

Upholstery fabric and home textile provider South Pacific Textile announces the appointment of Jessica King as sales representative for the Southeastern region. She will work closely with furniture manufacturers in this region, as well as with retail fabric stores, design centers and jobbers.

Ms. King resides in the Hickory area, and will already be familiar to many of the merchandisers, designers, purchasers and decision-makers within these companies. She will be setting appointments to show the line in person or via video chat.

South Pacific was previously represented by Cathy “CeCe” Valent, who has been tapped for a full-time position with another company. We thank CeCe for her services, and wish her well. Under past representation, many manufacturers have established a relationship with South Pacific and have come to recognize its reliable customer service.

Says General Manager Bill Wang “We are pleased to welcome Jessica. Her strong ties within the Hickory community and beyond make her an ideal rep for us. With our High Point warehouse ready to ship hundreds of in-stock fabrics and offering a display and meeting room, Jessica will be able to service companies in Hickory, High Point and beyond.”

South Pacific Textile has been an ITA member since 2014 and has shown in the Suites at Market Square throughout that time. Plans have been made to move to the new 5th floor Textile Tower, space 504. This will most likely occur in Spring 2021, with individual showings available prior to that time. Contact Bill Wang at bill@southpacifictextile. com or 336.692.2581

TSG FINISHING REPORTS ON FIRST STEPS TOWARD PLANT – BASED TECHNOLOGY

TSG Finishing, LLC is thrilled to announce the market launch of the first phase of incorporating plant-based technology into its DEFEND® Finishing Program. Going forward, all High Performance DEFEND immersion processes now contain up to 30% USDA approved plant-based technology, making it one of the first performance brands in the market to claim this progress.

Through the efforts of TSG’s technical team, the plantbased DEFEND will also continue to excel in repelling both water and oil-based products. The amount of PFAS (fluorinated chemical), also known as C6, is reduced by one-third in this new technology. “This is great progression regarding the reduction of the C6 footprint,” said Brian Rosenstein, chief executive officer. “We continue to seek out the elusive ‘holy grail’ of textile finishing, which is a true fluorine- free treatment that will protect against both water and oil-based stains.” Rosenstein continues, “Our team spent a lot of time vetting out different materials until we were satisfied that we had the right component. Having a USDA certified Bio-based product was key in our decision-making process.”

In the near future, TSG plans to cultivate this knowledge heading into more plant-based options, as well as expanding it into all of its DEFEND offerings.

With opportunities opening and education available to the residential and contract design markets, DEFEND is welcomed with confience. TSG Finishing has over 119 years of textile finishing experience, with steadfast options to choose from.

ULTRAFABRICS: CLEANERS AND DISINFECTANTS RECOMMENDED BY CDC

As COVID-19 increasingly impacts all of our day-to-day lives, repeated cleaning and disinfecting of frequently-touched surfaces is recommended by the CDC as a way to avoid exposure.

Cleaners and disinfectants recommended by the CDC to combat COVID-19 have also been tested on Ultrafabrics materials with no adverse effects when cleaning guidelines are followed as directed:

• Detergent or Soap and Water (prior to disinfection) 1:5 bleach/water Solution

• Alcohol-Based Cleaners (at least 70% alcohol) Quaternary-Based Disinfectants

• Hydrogen-Peroxide Based Cleaners

As always, when using any disinfectant, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, not saturate the surface of our fabric, and remove all residue with a clean, damp cloth so the surface of our fabric will not be damaged. For additional information on COVID-19, please visit CDC.gov.

The safety and well-being of our customers is very important to us. We urge all to take precautions to remain healthy and inhibit the spread of the virus.

NEW LINENIA COLLECTION BY VALDESE HAS LINEN-LIKE QUALITIES WITHOUT IRREGULARITIES, MAINTENANCE

Technology, performance and style are combined to create the Linenia yarn collection, woven domestically with the service and quality you can rely on from Valdese Weavers. The Valdese, N.C. company will debut the new Linenia Collection at the International Textile Alliance’s (ITA) Fall 2020 Showtime Market. Linenia is an exclusively engineered, polyester-based yarn that was created to have all the qualities you love about linen, but without the scratchy hand, irregular colorations, and the maintenance typically required with natural linen textiles. Best of all, the product is woven domestically so you get the excellent service and quality that is synonymous with Valdese Weavers’ brands.

Linenia has inspired a full range of beautifully woven textiles across our portfolio of brands including key basics, sophisticated textures, easy coordinates, and timeless patterns that are perfect for a casual lifestyle. This innovative yarn platform is highly durable and can be combined to work with Crypton Home or High Performance EASE for added performance. A wide range of price points are available in this collection that will be shown in the new Valdese showroom at 311 North Hamilton Street (3rd Floor) by appointment.

WITHIT ANNOUNCES 2020 WOW AWARDS HONOREES

WithIt is proud to announce the nominees for the 2020 WOW Awards. Due to the pandemic and uncertainty about safe gatherings, the Board of Directors has postponed the gala celebrating the WOW Awards until Friday, April 16, 2021. Finalists and recipients will be celebrated during a small gathering. The 2021 WOW Awards gala will return to celebrate 2020 and 2021 recipients Friday, October 15, 2021.

WithIt presents its inaugural Visionary Award posthumously to Kimberly Ward, founder of the Black Interior Designers Network.

Kimberly Ward exemplified all the qualities of a visionary. She founded an award-winning interior design blog, Pink Eggshell, while building her successful design firm, Kimberly and Cameron Interiors. As she gained notoriety and exposure, participating in panels and appearing in media publications, Ward was often asked “Where are all the black interior designers?”

In response to this repeated question, she published in 2011 a list of the Top 20 African American Interior Designers. In doing so, she planted the seed that created a muchneeded resource for an often-unseen segment of the interior design community. The list became the Black Interior Designers Network (BIDN), an organization that helped to connect those looking to work with or for black interior designers, to homeowners and clients. The Black Interior Designers Network’s mission is to promote diversity and inclusion within the interior design industry by highlighting designers of color and supporting black designers with business development opportunities.

“Kim’s legacy is the blue print to any organization fighting for visibility. She was a pioneer and legend, totally aware of her colleagues’ monumental attributes to the community,” says Keia McSwaim, President of the BIDN. Kimberly Ward’s vision helped to shine the spotlight on all black interior designers and created a platform for designers to network, mentor and support each other’s business aspirations. WithIt recognizes Kimberly’s work to bring inclusion to black designers in the industry with their inaugural Visionary Award.