Novel, colorful fabrics take center stage at Showtime
By Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, August 2, 2004
High Point — Summer Showtime 2004 was notable for two things: the best-looking, most innovative fabric introductions in years, and a conflicted atmosphere created by vendors and buyers who were generally upbeat but couldn't completely forget recent stagnant retail business.
The official word on the show came from Catherine Morsell, executive director of the International Textile Market Assn., sponsor of the semiannual event.
"Attendance was up," Morsell said, "and we have extremely happy members. Some told us they did more business on Sunday and Monday alone than they did during the entire show in January, so everyone is very happy."
Several vendors also noted more written orders, which probably reflects the evolving buyer base at the show. Showtime began as a by-appointment-only show catering mostly to furniture manufacturers, who traditionally sampled a broad range of goods that were edited in their war rooms several weeks later when all the samples arrived. Very few real orders were written at the show.
These days, however, the show includes temporary exhibitors offering much more than just upholstery fabric, and the buyers represent fabric retailers and manufacturers of bedding and accents as well as furniture producers.
The offerings were indeed outstanding in almost every corner of the show. Venerable mills and converters alike departed from their typical offerings, new players showed up with novel designs, and technology-driven innovation affected both style and performance.
Color was the biggest element of the show, although several major furniture merchandisers were spotted admiring the color, but then sampling the beige and brown goods — a conservative approach not likely to spark interest from retailers this fall.
If the industry is lucky, the majority of buyers took some risks and will select the beautiful colors for the October market. The consumer is likely to appreciate their boldness if they do.
There was a lot of talk in the aisles about domestic versus imported product, and several fabric vendors reported that buyers were asking about the source of goods. But most added the answer didn't seem to matter when buyers were deciding what to buy or sample, and the importers' booths were just as busy as ever.
Andrew Purcell, president and owner of Purcell International, called it a "great show. Attendance in our space was up. We had close to 100 scheduled appointments, plus walk-ins wanting to get in as well, which made for a very busy market."
Purcell launched a new mill in his stable of companies during Showtime, a Dutch company called PXT Fabrics by the Ruby Co. B.V., which started as a producer of pillows and throws and recently purchased its own weaving facilities.
Purcell International also represents Certaldese, an Italian leather source that produces embossed and woven leather upholstery covers and embossed leather rugs; Ragolle, a major European mill in Belgium; Spandauer Velours, a German velvet specialist; and Treatex, an Italian source for drapery fabrics.
"Attitudes from buyers were positive and we got placements on the spot, which is unusual," Purcell said. "Price didn't seem to be a factor, although we cover it all from the middle to high-end woven leathers that are up to $200 a yard."
At Altizer & Co., Todd Nifong, head of operations and design, noted "more walk-in traffic than usual, which is good and bad, because we were totally booked up with appointments and had folks trying to sneak in."
The attention to performance fabrics continues to grow and was a significant factor at Altizer, Nifong said.
"Our Inside Out collection of solution-dyed acrylic fabrics and trims was a gangbuster hit," he said. "The majority of buyers selected it for indoor furniture applications because it can be cleaned with full-strength bleach and it won't lose any color."
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Crypton Three high-performance Crypton patterns, including two from the new licensed William Wegman collection, capture luxury and humor with sophistication and charm. From left: Polka Dog plays a positive-negative game with Wegman's canine silhouettes captured in a bold grid pattern of circles and squares; Dog to Dog, in a fresh pistachio shade, creates a stripe effect from a vertical row of Wegman's Weimaraners; and Velese, a plush velvet, is a playful performer in a sparkling kiwi color with all Crypton's resistance to stains, moisture, odor and bacteria.
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PHOENIX TRIM WORKS The exclusive trim source in the Runway Fashion Show for the past two years, Phoenix Trim Works demonstrates maximum flash as apparel in these island-inspired costumes. Bullions, fringes, cords and tassels from Phoenix Trim Works accented costumes throughout the show.
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INVISTA Invista fibers and finishes like Dacron polyester, Micromattique and Teflon bring their high-performance properties to bear in these fabrics from Quaker and Kravet. From left: Ultra Soft, Quaker's top-selling suede fabric, showcases Invista's American-made Dacron and Micromattique microdenier fibers and their cleanable, durable, stain resistant performance characteristics; Two Dot, a soft performance fabric from the Laura Ashley Performance Naturals line at Kravet, which features Teflon stain protection; and Déjà vu, a finely ribbed Micromattique chenille from Quaker's upscale Wm. Whitaker division that's designed to function in relaxed and elegant settings.
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FIFIELD FABRICS Three elegant Asian-inspired costumes feature upscale Italian lampass weaves, petite quilts and matelasses from Fifield's Shangri La collection, which is available in five colorways and shown here in Terra Cotta. From left: a bamboo tone-on-tone accented with butterflies; a classic pattern of small waves; and a lush lampass construction in rich red and gold.
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COSTA BLANCA, TEXTILE INDS. A celebration of all things warm and tropical is the theme for these patterns from Costa Blanca. From left: Frisco, used for an exotic one-shoulder top, features subtle weave effects and lushly colored Italian fibers that combine for an inspirational upholstery fabric; Mateo's sophisticated grasscloth texture is the perfect foil for whimsical little palm tree motifs; and Kioko is highlighted by delicate tufts of fiber throughout its elegant floral design on a rayon taffeta ground.
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GLEN RAVEN FABRICS Great thinkers and writers helped inspire the high-performance Sunbrella fabrics presented by Glen Raven, featuring a new Sunbrella chenille that lends a plush look and soft hand, along with stain- and fade-resistance properties. From left: Rousseau, a lush frame pattern in a color called Nightshade; Cello, a solid chenille body cloth; and Shelley, a small medallion pattern, all featuring a traditional look with modern performance.
