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Four home textile merchandising executives expressed their views on the impact of fabrics to their business strategies at Impact 1996. Norwalk Furniture's Jack Arthur and Century Furniture's Michael Delgaudio talk about the customer as boss. Portofino Pres Neil Zuber says that fabrics play a crucial role in the merchandising of decorative pillows. Crown Crafts Home Furnishings' Pam Maffei talks about the shift in bedding fabrics from cotton and poly-cotton percales towards quilts., HIGH POINT, N.C.--It all starts with the fabric. Upholstered furniture suppliers, decorative pillow manufacturers and bedroom ensemble makers all agree that fabric plays the leading role in creating a new [...]

Textile manufacturers are developing chenille fabrics for the upholstered-furniture and home-textiles markets. New chenille applications include decorative pillows, throws and slipcovers. Chenille fabrics are expected to be highly visible at the October market. Key chenille suppliers include Craftex, Quaker and Portofino., NEW YORK--Chenille fabrics trickled into the home-textiles and upholstered-furniture sectors over the past few seasons. But come October, they will flood these two markets. Retailers can expect to see chenille, [...]

Coordinated packages of fabrics are becoming increasingly popular with furniture makers, so decorative fabric suppliers are experimenting with new ways of matching and coordinating their products. Successful packages might include a plaid, a woven and a print, and will definitely include lots of color, style and texture. Among the suppliers that are set to debut new fabric lines are Concord Fabrics, Anju/Woodridge and Cyrus Clark., High Point, N.C. - Decorative fabric suppliers said they have learned the rules of the upholstery game: coordinated packages - not single unit items - sell; the market is whited [...]

Fabric suppliers at the Showtime market in High Point, NC, in Jul 1995 are offering bold colors and formal patterns. Previous furniture shows in 1995 featured neutral colors and casual patterns. Upholstery fabrics will also be offered that will blend in with selections from past markets. Deeper colors include burgundy and navy while muted colors include peach and mauve. Formal patterns are featuring floral prints., Stronger patterns and colors spice upholstery fabric show debuts HIGH POINT, N.C. - Fabric suppliers are taking bold steps at this week's Showtime market here: Colors are saturated and less [...]

Upholstery fabric manufacturers are improving the quality of many of their fabrics in order to effectively compete under the quality-to-price market equation. Upholstery fabric suppliers are under pressure to keep prices down, and higher quality fabrics is often the factor that makes a fabric sell over another. Suppliers are using different base cloths for added textural interest and are experimenting with dyes and prints. Many manufacturers are also broadening their product lines with a wider variety of choices., HIGH POINT, N.C.--Fabric lines debuting at this year's winter show here represent the very best the industry has to offer in a price to quality ratio as well as in [...]

Print converters and fabric suppliers are emphasizing expanded product lines to address the needs of furniture manufacturers for different product categories. A number of printed fabric companies are offering textured fabrics and jacquard prints that provide a sophisticated look. Fabric suppliers have expanded their range of offerings to meet the needs of furniture manufacturers who have introduced expanded product lines. Some textile manufacturers have added fabrics at different price points in order to reach new customers., HIGH POINT--Fabric suppliers report that diversity is the key to presenting a strong line to furniture buyers this market--a sharp contrast to previous introductions. Formerly both woven suppliers and print [...]

The textile industry is still heavily dependant on jobbers for up to 60% of sales in spite of unstable market schedules and changing participants. Jobbers account for about 30% to 40% of most textile suppliers' business. Sunbury Textile Mills Pres Henry Truslow Jr. claims that his company depends on jobbers for 60% to 70% of its business. The jobber business has been affected by consolidation due to high expenses and the loss of the furniture and export markets., Decorative fabric suppliers say segment still important NEW YORK--The jobber category remains a strong segment of decorative fabric suppliers' business despite erratic market dates and a consolidation of players. For [...]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- What do two financial analysts, a cotton marketer and a university professor have in common? They offer unique insight into growth opportunities for the somewhat stagnant [...]

HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Buyers at last week's International Home Furnishings Market had more styles of upholstered furniture to choose from than they've had in years. Colors ranged from deep [...]

National brands are still America's favorites when it comes to home textiles. Despite the proliferation of designer and celebrity labels in the market and the strengthening of private label programs, [...]

Retailers shopping last week's home textiles market were looking for programs that would help lower inventory investment and avert future markdowns. Programs such as Wamsutta's Color by Design and Bibb's [...]

Springs Industries has developed a new strategy for the Liz at Home Collection to better position the brand at retail. The company wants 'to grow this as a collection business, [...]

J.C. Penney, the 3,143-store national retailer, has obtained the nation's second-largest-grossing designer home textiles label -- Laura Ashley. It's the latest strategic move in the battle of the brands. Branding [...]

NEW YORK -- Based on strong consumer response to the infusion of color and texture into fashion bedding lines over the last six months, retailers shopping last week's home textiles [...]

Textile mills are planning more international expansion, product diversification, branding, vertical integration and acquisition during 1997. WestPoint Stevens reported 9% growth during 1996, with net sales reaching $1.7 billion. Springs Industries' home furnishings rose 11% during 1996, and is considered to be the biggest growth area for the firm. Crown Crafts will focus on top-of-the-bed products, and will make licensing agreements and acquisitions during the year.

Sheer fabrics were the most exciting category at Heimtextil 1997. Interesting sheer designs and innovative weaves for upholstery were available but most buyers found most displays did not provide any new designs or market directions. Key colors were red, for the third year in a row, and green. Black was stronger than brown and metallic accents were featured., FRANKFURT, Germany -- This year, sheers were clearly the most exciting fabric category at market. Three years ago at Heimtextil, there was a trickle of interest in the sheer category. [...]

Bedding manufacturers are responding to increased demand for luxurious textures, added details, and higher thread counts in their products. Natural fibers continue to grow in popularity, a trend that has encouraged the use of fabrics such as chenille, silk, and pique. WestPoint Stevens, Calvin Klein, and Wamsutta have introduced products with sheer fabrics. Sales of higher count fabrics continue to grow quickest with 200-counts and 250-counts continuing to grow in popularity., NEW YORK -- Textures, details, lots of color and higher thread counts were the talk around the bedding showrooms at the market here. 'The key trend has been texture,' said [...]

Fabric suppliers showcased a variety of lower-priced, high-quality styles for furniture upholstery at the 1996 International Home Furnishings Market. Value fabrics offer greater flexibility in styles and color, while maintaining the look of high-quality upholstery. More expensive fabrics can be used on accents to give even more value to furniture., High Point, N.C.--Perhaps as no other market before, this April's furniture market offered retailers value in upholstered goods. Fabrics that made it to last week's international Home Furnishing Market were [...]

Consistent sales are important to retain the value of the export market. If one market is having economic difficulties, it is important to maintain sales in countries with stronger economies. Approximately 15% of decorative fabric sales are foreign sales. American designs are also more appreciated abroad in the 1990s than they were in the past., NEW YORK--Maintaining a consistent sales effort in all foreign markets is the key to keeping export numbers up, according to U.S. decorative fabric suppliers. 'You don't shift your focus from [...]

HIGH POINT, N.C. - The word on the street this market is that retailers and consumers are demanding something a little different when it comes to upholstered pieces this season. [...]

Mitchell Gold VP Bob Williams forecasts a more comfortable look to furniture in 1995, with interchangeable slipcovers to change the mood. Highland House VP Anne Hood anticipates fabrics to become softer, with more vintage looks to be popular. Norwalk Furniture VP Jack Arthur sees a connection with apparel fashion and upholstery fashion. Arthur sees a continuation of natural fabrics in such colors as paprika., NEW YORK--Apparel-driven home furnishings fabrics such as denim, khaki, cotton and more, washed fabrics--everything from damask to velvet and neutral colorations--have led the fashion end of the furniture market for [...]

NEW YORK--When the market calls for a new fabric type, style or price point, Richloom Fabrics Group is poised to produce it. 'Fifteen years ago we were a drapery house--the [...]

The textile companies John Wolf, Spectrum and Belding Hausman have each brought in new presidents who have made both large and subtle changes in the operations and management of these companies. John Wolf's Richard Downing has focused on diversifying his company's product line and strengthening its licensing program. Spectrum's Eric Birbach improved his companies customer service systems and placed greater focus on design. Belding Hausman's Nancy Zarin has set a goal of a minimum of 10% annual growth for her company., A change in a company's top management often causes a shakeup companywide, from the product it produces to the key players to customer relations. And when several leaders in the [...]

NEW YORK--U.S. fabric suppliers headed for January's Heimtextil Fair in Frankfurt report that popular domestic looks such as soft textures, ethnic-inspired prints and coordinated packages will be the major push [...]

HIGH POINT, N.C.--It's no puzzle to Ron Jones, president of Masco Home Furnishings, why the company's four fabric divisions have a strong grip on the industry. Finding just the right [...]

NEW YORK-It's the dawn of a new day for heat-transfer printed fabrics. Initially introduced to the market as a value-added fabric that combined a woven base cloth with the color [...]

CARLSTADT, N.J.-Pantone plans to increase its textiles color system palette to 2,000 colors by the year 2000. The company is also adding a trend service to its offerings. Said Ellen [...]

NEW YORK-Ms. Martha Stewart herself is being credited with making the largest impact on home textiles retailing in 1997. The Martha Stewart Everyday comprehensive collection at Kmart was hailed by [...]

HIGH POINT, N.C.-Diversity is the name of the game at this week's Showtime fabric market. Colors range from muted to bright, styles from antique to contemporary and fabrications from simple [...]

NEW YORK-The consumer's demand for something more than plain-Jane sheets and comforters is continuing to intensify, and suppliers are responding. Bedding components can now go from sueded sheets to lush [...]

HARTWELL, Ga.-Springs Industries has broken ground for a towel-weaving plant here. The company announced in March it planned to increase its towel manufacturing capacity by building a new weaving plant [...]