Beautiful fabric, carefully curated to delight in a variety of styles. At Regal Fabrics, our forward-thinking approach to business, design and customer service means you get the most innovative, in-demand looks with service that caters to your needs. See the latest collections at Regal Fabrics and Kindred by Regal Fabrics showrooms in Market Square Tower (2nd Floor) or at regalfabrics.com.
In a post-pandemic world, the idea of home has changed to include many facets, from work and play to wellness and a yearning to reconnect with nature.
12 FROM MILAN TO NEW YORK
Optima Leathers founder Steven Ijadi transformed his passion for leather into a global business.
22 CULTIVATING THE FUTURE
How textile companies can appeal to the next generation of workers through technology, sustainable design and more.
A
With a combination of style, comfort and durability, Crypton fabrics can stand up to everyday life while looking and feeling great. Visit the Crypton Home showroom, Market Square Tower 404, to learn how beautiful performance can be. @cryptonfabric
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ALLIANCE
The ITA is a non-profit business association founded in 1990 to advance the textile industries through the promotion of its members and facilitation of education, networking and collaboration year-round.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT // Kathryn Richardson / Libeco
VICE PRESIDENT // David Lappert / Kravet
TREASURER // Mendy Kearns / Hamilton Fabric Sales
Nathan Copeland / Highland House Furniture
Elise Gabrielson / Crypton
Carmen Herndon Barbee / Ballard Designs
Patrick Shelton / Valdese Weavers
Andy Pacuk / Milliken & Company
Steve Gittelson / Morgan Fabrics
Anderson Gibbons / STI Revolution
STAFF
MANAGING DIRECTOR // Carrie Dillon
336-885-6842, carrie@internationaltextilealliance.org
305 West High Avenue, High Point, N.C. 27260
INTERWOVEN
Held twice a year in May and November in High Point, N.C., the internationally acclaimed Interwoven offers the most comprehensive fabric, leather and trim presentations. ITA member companies host more than 600 buying companies during each event. Typical exhibitors schedule an average of 100+ appointments during the week, making the market a strategic and cost-effective venue for showing and viewing fabrics.
EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
A key part of ITA’s mission is the growth and development of future industry leaders. Our member companies recognize the need to attract fresh talent and promote the growth and development of students studying textiles around the world.
DONORS
Platinum // Crypton Home Fabric
Gold // Hamilton Fabrics, Springs Creative, P. Kaufmann
Gold // William "Bud" Frosh Estate
Silver // Regal Fabrics
FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER
J. Todd Kinley/Crobar Creative Leverage
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jennifer Bringle
Joy Cozart
PHOTO EDITOR
ART DIRECTOR Pierce Foster
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Katie Bardou
Sean Norona
TRENDS CONSULTANT
Fashion Snoops
ADVERTISING SALES
Tanner Slepp
CONTENT COORDINATOR
Emily Hemme
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Carrie Dillon
CONTRIBUTORS
De Leo Textiles
Regal Fabrics
Optima Leather
FOLLOW US
Interwoven
The recent trend has been about highlighting heritage and history— reviving archival patterns and resurrecting anniversary collections and colors. We have taught our audiences to embrace the ancestral knowledge of textile creation and the value of what goes into producing a weave, a pattern, a kind of dyestuff, a special warp process, a rare kind of fiber. We have made efforts in educating how these stories are still evolving.
Much more needs to be done to teach today’s textile and leather enthusiasts about the value of making the products they love, as well as the costs.
As a result, interiors brands today can be very historically focused, highlighting root stories and embracing the past. But so many also focus on what textiles CAN be: what solutions textiles, leather and trim can offer. We all need to be future-focused, exploring what innovation can mean for our industry and what the recent changes in the world have created as opportunities.
When you consider the Metaverse, AI, and algorithmic marketing and analysis, you might think that our textile world is far distanced from those new ways of doing business and creating connections. In many ways, you would be correct. Our textile industry relies heavily on classic methods of manufacturing and face-to-face interactions. We celebrate the physical expertise that goes into the creation of our products—so how can these new, more cerebral innovations possibly align with what we do, much less enhance our products when these worlds seem so theoretically and practically different?
Textiles are tactile. Fabrics need to be experienced in person. Think of leather and what immediately comes to mind is a supple, smooth touch or pebbled texture, a rich smell. Picture trimmings and note that these elements of our interiors are three-dimensional.
But technology is not two-dimensional, and it’s not only screens, or codes of ones and zeros! It can open new experiences, connections and opportunities for us and for our businesses. It can take our three-dimensional landscape into a new four-dimensional world and beyond, into meaningful experiences we have not yet imagined.
Technology and innovation are simply new ways of looking at the world. Isn’t that what our textile ancestors did once upon a time when they learned how to weave a stronger blended fiber construction? Wasn’t it innovation that gave us man-made extrusions like polyester and nylon, which is now evolving into ways of making fiber and leather with everything from rubber tires and recycled bottles to pineapple pulp and fish skin?
Look at how sales evolved from knocking on doors as a Fuller brush salesman to our Salesforce-, ERP- and CRMfocused systems of today. We are ever-evolving into new ways of selling and reaching potential customers through social media and innovative marketing campaigns—all innovations we’ve embraced and continue to push into new realms. Change is here. Can we embrace it in residential materials? The answer is yes!
If you do one thing during this re-invention of our show, engage with at least one new company or one new person with a fresh idea. Connect with a new concept that will challenge your perspective of what our industry is becoming. It is changing, and that may be a little uncomfortable. There has been so much change in the last few years, but textiles and leather have been around for millennia. We will be here for years to come, in one form or another. Don’t you want to know what the future will look like? It is here. Learn how you can use it, benefit from it. Connect with it.
Kathryn Richardson ITA PRESIDENT // LIBECO
BELONGING
A yearning to return to community while also celebrating the intersection between technology and wellness informs this trend.
COLOR Rich, saturated shades like ink, ambit and berry haze, as well as peachy browns reminiscent of skin tones reflect Belonging.
PATTERN Hazy gradients reminiscent of a dreamscape, futuristic takes on windowpane checks, radiating circular patterns and the otherworldly juxtaposition of rough terrain with cotton candy skies illustrate this trend.
RAW
A return to the wild and to nature, this trend celebrates a need to declutter our lives and honor things that are handmade and ethically and sustainably sourced.
COLOR Earthy hues of tamarind, wheat, ivy, topsoil and arabica encompass this trend.
PATTERN Organic speckled patterns, terrain-like dye and camouflage patterns, and sun-soaked florals and botanicals.
RELEASE
Release embraces the longing to recapture freedom, be that of moving through the world, defining identity or expanding creativity.
COLOR Joyful, vibrant colors like spritz orange, aqueous, punch, electric shock, bounce and hyper lime capture the vibe.
PATTERN Retro florals with a Y2K boost, playful and painterly stripes, street art-influenced scrawl and traditional prints like checks and geometrics in a punchy color palette represent Release.
GROW
Preservation of the natural world and a wellness-focused immersion in nature via our oceans and floratherapy drive the Grow trend.
COLOR Organic shades of waterfall, glade, blue sage, palm leaf, iris and blossom set the scene.
PATTERN Delicate florals encased in soft milky backgrounds, wave-inspired swirling marble prints, and dust-dyed patterns that merge floratherapy and organic motifs capture the sentiment of this trend.
From a young age, leather has been a passion for Optima Leathers founder Steven Ijadi. After emigrating as a child to New York City from Milan, Italy, Ijadi started a leather shop, selling the material to garment makers.
Soon he began attending classes at New York University, while still working in the leather shop. Though he studied and pursued a career in real estate, his passion for leather remained. After working as a mortgage broker, he made the decision to return to the leather industry.
“After that I was 100 percent in leather,” he says. “And my business has evolved. It went from garments to supplying leathers to the boot trade and the handbag trade and the accessories trade.”
As the garment and accessory industries evolved, Ijadi made the move into furniture. But when the Great Recession hit, many of his suppliers went out of business. So Ijadi decided to return to Italy to found his own tannery, Mima Leathers, to go along with his already established Optima Leathers in the U.S.
Today, Optima stands out in the industry for its quality, luxurious leathers available at accessible price points. The company sources hides from around the globe, with wet blues coming from Wisconsin and fresh hides from the UK and Ireland, as well as some salted hides from Poland, Germany and Spain. Wherever they originate, Ijadi says maintaining the quality is his top priority. “Quality control—we put a lot of effort in that, a lot of my time,” he says. “I spend most of my time managing production and making sure there is consistency.”
But quality isn’t Optima’s only focus. The company is known for its innovative, sophisticated designs, offering an array of colors and textures. And performance has become more important than ever, as evidenced by Optima’s new Cloud line.
“It has an amazing hand and great performance,” Ijadi says. “It’s a pigmented leather, and it performs. We put it through 250 wet rubs, and we check every single dye lot.”
That attention to detail comes naturally to Ijadi, and it has informed Optima’s business for more than a decade. As he looks back on his long history in the leather industry, he says his love for the material has pushed him to constantly improve.
“I have passion for leather,” he says. “I’m a very humble kind of guy, so I don’t want to say we’re the best in the market, but we strive to be, for sure.” optimaleathers.com
As the movement toward sustainability and honoring the origins of the items we use in the home continues to grow, the trend of conscious creation takes form.
A return to and celebration of the origin of materials and the makers who create them, this trend focuses on sustainability and the beauty in raw edges, un-dyed fibers and innovative uses of natural materials. Combining the power of nature and technology, this trend seeks to take textiles beyond just sustainability to regenerating resources and using ethically sourced natural ingredients.
In the wake of the pandemic, a re-wilding movement has gained momentum. People have eschewed traditional city life in favor of a slower lifestyle, re-integrating themselves into the natural order of the earth. This shifting attitude fuels a desire to go back to the origins of the things we use, seeing the raw ingredients and developing an appreciation for unprocessed materials. And seeing the raw edges of materials connect us with their natural elements.
This appreciation for origin stories also extends to honoring makers and the time and skill that go into creating handmade goods. Celebrating the entire ecosystem that contributed to the creation of your products—from farmer to crafter to designer—is important, as is educating the consumer on that process.
The conscious creation trend also incorporates the marriage of nature and technology. Savvy designers are taking inspiration from both to solve longstanding issues in the textile industry, creating new products such as fabrics made of up-cycled marine plastic and plant-based leathers with a smaller carbon footprint.
A growing realization concludes that aiming for sustainability is not nearly enough, favoring instead the practices of regeneration, reciprocity, and interconnected ecosystem healing. Consumers now want clean products, derived from ethically sourced, natural ingredients. This trend goes hand-in-hand with the ideas of breaking barriers and unleashing creativity, where
technology becomes another tool for makers. Creatives of the future will collaborate in new ways and push the boundaries of identity online, using everything from digital design tools to the burgeoning Metaverse to express themselves.
Looking at how this trend translates to the home space, we see its influence via colors, patterns and graphics. A palette of warm, earthy tones characterizes this trend, including shades like tamarind, wheat, iris, ivy and arabica. Husk—a pale beige with slightly yellowed undertones reminiscent of the color of corn husks—serves as the sentiment color for this trend.
Patterns and graphics in this trend include speckled scrub, an unrefined, organic
Through both process and design, the conscious creation trend emphasizes intentionality and a reconnection to the earth. It captures the beauty and power of organic, raw materials and honors the sustainable sourcing and use of those materials to create something new. And at the same time, it coincides with a futuristic view of creation, allowing makers to transcend the physical world with digital tools to break the bounds of creativity.
take on polka dots. Allover spots recall the natural patterns of minerals like granite, as well as the raw beauty of freckles on skin.
Crafted patchwork combines the use of organic checks and quilt-like color blocks in natural, earth-inspired shades. Foraged nature offers a softer approach to florals, with sunbaked or dried blooms, berries or herbs providing subtle pops of color against a milky background.
Organic trace offers a fresh, natural take on stripes, with free-flowing and coiled lines reminiscent of zebra stripes and the lines circling the inside of a tree trunk.
Terrain touch mimics the natural color gradients of rocky terrain, offering a grittier, unrefined take on classic dye and camouflage patterns. Chalky, rocky dusts and jeweltoned minerals combine, putting emphasis on the textural qualities of terrain.
In a post-pandemic world of virtual connection, the idea of home becomes more important with many using their space for work, play and relaxation. At the same time, innovations in health-based technology improve the quality of wellness in the home—a major priority during a time of health uncertainty.
REDEFINING HOME
These changes have fueled a desire to rethink the meaning of home, whether that’s redefining how spaces are used or embracing the concept of creating a sanctuary for health and wellness.
With that in mind, the desire for flexibility and multi-functionality has become a must for home products. Multi-use details, like fabrics that work indoors or out, allow the user to move freely while adapting to multiple environments.
At the same time, home has become a sanctuary for many, a haven in a world that has become increasingly chaotic and unpredictable. It has also become an integral part of the overall wellness picture for many people living in the midst of a pandemic. New health-related technologies such as microbe-resistant textiles, as well as items that promote wellness by increasing the comfort and serenity of a home, have become more important.
And the healing beauty of nature plays a big role in this sanctuary pursuit, as well. The rise of floratherapy—which offers nutraceutical benefits via flowers—becomes important and guides many trends in home goods. And blue tones set a serene vibe and create a calming connection to water and the ocean.
Trend forecasting agency Fashion Snoops looked at these movements to identify their influence on the home. According to their trend report for 2023, “Blooming with vitality, encased botanic surfaces capture the everlasting allure of the living object. A sustainable approach to decadence brings ocean elements repurposed from the sea and those grown from the garden into new bio alternatives. Unhurrying the pace of our lives, we embrace wellness in a new way and recognize that nature heals us as nothing else can.”
The Fashion Snoops team also identified a number of color, pattern, texture and graphic trends influenced by this reimagining of the concept of home.
As our evolving world continues to redefine how we live our lives, the adaptability and serenity of home will only grow in importance, and creating products that cater to those changing needs will be an integral part of any home business.
“Unhurrying the pace of our lives, we embrace wellness in a new way and recognize that nature heals us as nothing else can.”
FASHION SNOOPS
How textile companies can court the next generation of workers
In the more than two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the labor force in the United States has taken a considerable hit. And while the pandemic certainly plays a major role, the decline in available workers isn’t solely an effect of COVID.
As the Baby Boomer population continues to retire—a Pew Research Center report puts the number at approximately 10,000 Boomer retirees every day—companies have seen an uptick in openings at all levels of operation. And with the pandemic influencing many to retire early—more than 3 million Americans retired early due to the pandemic, according to a St. Louis Federal Reserve report—those numbers continue to grow.
Textile manufacturers are looking to the next generation of workers—young Millennials and Gen Z—to help fill those roles. But attracting those younger employees has proven more challenging than recruiting previous generations, particularly for mill jobs.
“Attracting and retaining has been a challenge this past year for all types of workers, especially our hourly workforce,” said Jodee Fulton, senior director of human resources, Valdese Weavers.
One of the best tools textile companies have at their disposal in reaching and attracting younger workers is how the industry has innovated over the past decade or so, incorporating high-tech machinery on the factory floor. Innovations like digitized patterns that can be changed in an instant, state-of-theart dye labs and automated or robotic machinery have changed the nature of the mill worker’s job.
“What’s happened over the decades is things have changed due to technology,” says Phil Brown,
professor and endowed chair, Clemson University department of materials science and engineering.
“Manufacturing is automated, and the old-school jobs of people brushing off fluff don’t exist—it’s a different environment, and it’s more modern.”
For digital natives like young Millennials and Gen Z—people who’ve grown up with the internet and feel comfortable with technology—highlighting the opportunities to work in a techdriven environment, particularly on the factory floor, can be a draw.
“It makes the work more enjoyable because the automations are doing that more repetitive manual labor, and we have a generation of folks who have so
many options, that’s not the kind of work they want to do,” says Melissa Sharp, associate director, Zeis Textiles Extension, Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University. “They’ve grown up in that digital world, so having that interface is very familiar to them.”
Another driver for younger generations is a company’s corporate values and social impact. According to a recent Deloitte survey of Gen Z workers, 77 percent say working at organizations whose values align with their own is important.
“They care deeply about sustainability, both the social and environmental aspects, and they want to see a company is finding ways to reduce their environmental footprint and have good labor practices,” Sharp says.
Leveraging products and processes that marry sustainable solutions with tech-driven innovation can be a valuable means of attracting a younger generation of workers. Over the past couple of years, textile companies have launched sustainable products like Recover yarns made of garment waste, Repreve fabrics made of recycled plastic bottles and Valdese Weavers’ new Seaqual line, which is made of upcycled marine plastic removed from oceans.
“There are so many recycled and sustainable materials in textiles, from recycled polyester to things like Repreve made from recycled plastic bottles,” Brown says. “(Young workers) need to know these stories—I tell them to my students, but if the industry can’t tell those stories, how can it get them excited?”
Flexibility is another important factor younger generations look at when considering jobs, particularly in the wake of
the pandemic. Young Millennials and Gen Z care about work-life balance more than most generations before them. That means perks like remote work, paid leave and flexible schedules can be valuable tools in attracting younger workers both in office roles and for factory jobs.
“With our hourly workforce, we have streamlined processes and offered alternative opportunities such as part-time and flexible working hours,” Fulton says. While attracting young workers to fill open positions is a priority, keeping those employees can be just as important. Both Millennials and Gen Z have a tendency to job hop—a recent CareerBuilder survey found Millennials stay at a job an average of two years and nine months while Gen Z stays two years and three months. So offering opportunities for enrichment and advancement can help companies keep talented workers.
“Specific improvements for all associates include an upgraded and dedicated review process that is focused on helping our employees achieve their goals,” says Suzanne Allen, human resources director, Glen Raven. “In addition, we offer benefits such as tuition reimbursement and continuing education to both promote and support ongoing growth and development of our associates.”
In their research at the Zeis Textiles Extension, Sharp says her colleagues have found that innovative training strategies like micro-credentialing can help both older employees looking to move up as well as younger workers just starting out.
“One of the things we’re pushing at the university, especially among adult learners who are under-employed and looking to up-skill in manufacturing, is creating micro-credentialing for our training to make it more engaging and approachable,” she says. “With micro-credentialing, instead of a weeks-long course, it’s 90 minutes of more focused training, broken up to be more approachable.”
Whether they’re working in the design center, on the factory floor or in a corporate office, the next generation of textile workers are unlike any who have come before them. And to reach them, companies have to appeal to what matters to these workers and drive home the message that the textile industry is a place to build a vibrant, varied career.
“Setting the notion that manufacturing is a viable career, that it’s a cool career, and you do a lot of interesting things, especially with younger generations, is so important,” Sharp says. “If they don’t have that awareness that this is an opportunity for them with upward mobility, if they don’t see that at a younger age, you’re going to lose them.”
More than 30 years ago, Herb and Arlene Kahan founded Regal Fabrics in a 5,000-square-foot space in Danvers, Massachusetts. From those humble beginnings, the family-run company has grown into a major player in the home textiles industry with a new 95,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2020. Their success lies in a forward-thinking approach to business, design, and customer service.
That ethos became more apparent than ever during the pandemic. “Because we were developing the whole time, we were able to push many collections out to our reps,” says Anne Hood, Director of Merchandising at Regal. “Every two or three months we sent out 8-10 new patterns in mini-collections—it was important that we kept putting new things in customers’ hands.”
In August of 2020, after acquiring Diversitex Home, Regal expanded their offerings to include domestically sourced cottons and other casual, lifestyle looks. “As we started talking about working with cotton and natural fibers, we began to ask ourselves what was the next step in texture, design, and customers’ aspirations. That led us to thinking about the importance of sustainability,” says Sue Patrolia, Director of Product Development at Regal. “We were in the middle of the pandemic. All in separate spaces, but this idea of launching a sustainable collection connected us.
The name Kindred came from the sense of that connection with family, friends, colleagues, and of course, the Earth.”
Kindred by Regal Fabrics was introduced at the November 2021 Showtime in a beautiful new showroom. This collection features recycled items, natural fibers, and cottons woven in the U.S. Regal also believes in offering their customers fabrics that stay at the forefront of style trends. Working more than a year out, the design team analyzes trends, qualities, and color. “We look for inspiration everywhere: Instagram, magazines, travel, artwork, and the fashion runway. Of course, we start by thinking about basic collection categories, like traditional, transitional, ethnic, and then within those we incorporate what’s trending,” says Sarah Surace, Lead Designer at Regal.
As evidenced by the company’s selection as “Best Fabric Supplier” in a recent Furniture Today poll, Regal’s customer-focused approach is rooted in one goal—providing the best product with the best service. That was true in 1987, and it remains true today.
My inspiration was the quaking aspen trees I saw when I visited Utah. I thought the way they climb the sides of mountains was so beautiful. The quaking aspen is actually a colony of biological cloned trees sharing a root system. These clones can stretch for miles, creating their own forests. I wanted to capture the way they crowd together, outnumbering all others in the forest.
FOUNDATION DONORS
This design was inspired by the work of Yayoi Kusama and her concept of “self-obliteration.” This is the idea of forgetting your identity and becoming one with the universe. I wanted to create a pattern that created the sense of being lost in a field of flowers and becoming one with that environment.
THANK YOU TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR DONORS whose contributions support ITA Educational Foundation’s commitment to the growth of the textile industry through education, scholarships and career development initiatives.
ADDITIONAL DONORS
OF ITA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Kathy Carr Rickwood in memory of Harold A. Deal Jr. John Kearns/Mendy Kearns in memory of Bill Pines John J Eger/Eileen Eger in memory of Bert Rau
WILLIAM BERNARD
John J. Glasheen, Jr. and Jennifer O. Glasheen, John and Patricia Seymour, J. Donald and Miriam E. Frail, John and Mendy Kearns, Gregory G. and Angela P. Meredith, Anne W. and Taylor Hood, Dora F. Tedder, Russell L. Mendenhall, Kathy Carr Rickwood.
“BUD” FROSH
INTERNSHIP GOALS
With a goal to discover and recruit young talent for all areas of the textile industry, ITA offers 12 internship programs per year designed to let students see and experience a variety of industry-related careers firsthand. Led by ITA Educational Foundation, the internship program pairs up to 12 students with ITA member company sponsors.
2022 INTERN SUPPORT
ITA will provide up to $24,000 this year in intern support. Intern sponsorships are open to member companies, and ITA will cover up to $1,000 for intern salary and $1,000 for housing/travel expanses.
FOUNDERS’ SCHOLARSHIP
The Founders' Scholarship is an annual scholarship set up as a benefit for members and their children, as well as children of parents who are employed by an ITA member. The scholarship recipient receives $2,500 on the first and second year of the winner’s education.
FOUNDING MEMBERS
The Founders' Scholarship was established in 2015 by ITA Board of Directors along with the Educational Foundation to further the organization’s commitment to education and the future of the industry. This scholarship was created to honor Pete Thompson, Terry Baxter, Tom Muzekari, Tom Forrester, Lee Kabat and Fran Luedtke. We are also proud to honor our founding ITA member Companies: American Silk Mills, Covington Fabrics & Design, David Rothschild Co., J.B. Martin Co., P. Kaufmann Fabrics, Richloom Fabrics Group and Valdese Weavers.
A key part of ITA’s mission is the growth and development of future industry leaders. Our member companies recognize the need to attract fresh talent and promote the growth and development of students studying textiles around the world.
Providing more than $25,000 annually in support to students looking to enter the textile industry, the International Textile Alliance Educational Foundation scholarships and internships can have a life-changing impact on students.
If you or someone you know is pursuing a career in the textile industry, this opportunity may be for you.
Scholarship criteria and application forms are available online.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
KATHRYN RICHARDSON // Libeco
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
JACK EGER // Crypton
TERRELL GARY // P/Kaufmann
JOHN KEARNS // Hamilton Fabrics
WESLEY MANCINI // Valdese Weavers
KATHERINE SHOAF // Radiate Textiles
JULIE TALBERT // Golding Fabrics
KATIE SMARR // Crypton
HAMILTON FABRICS PARTNERS WITH
YOUNG DESIGNER When John Kearns of Hamilton Fabrics spotted a design on Instagram from a “friendly” competitor’s daughter, Isabella Rocque, he asked the young designer if she’d like to have her creation made into a fabric.
Hamilton’s keen eye for selecting artwork to develop into fabrics set the process in motion and the pattern "Noetic" was created. Rocque drew inspiration for the Noetic fabric pattern from a school project on the artist, Wassily Kandinsky, as well as by a trip to the Proposte Fabric show in Italy.
When Rocque is not painting, sketching, taking photographs, or playing soccer and tennis, she is a busy high school junior in Greensboro, N.C.
CULP LIVESMART FABRIC USED AT UNC
BASKETBALL ARENA Nearly 10,000 seats in the Dean E. Smith Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were recently covered with Culp LiveSmart performance fabric.
“When they brought in the fabric to show us and demonstrate its capabilities, they literally poured Coke on the fabric, and wiped it right off with a dry rag,” said Smith Center Director Brett Botta. “Then they did the same thing with ketchup and two or three more ‘pain points’ for us, and they all wiped right off, which was pretty cool.”
The key for both the athletics department and Culp was matching the exact Pantone shade of Carolina Blue, which would require some trial and error to match exactly.
“We took multiple fabric samples to the Dean Dome to make sure that when the lights were turned on, it didn’t cast any other color on television or in the arena itself,” said Tammy Buckner, senior vice president of design and marketing, Culp.
Both the color and the performance of the fabric ended up being a perfect fit for the legendary basketball arena.
SOUTH PACIFIC TEXTILE AIMS TO END
SWATCH WASTE Every year, pounds of swatch fabric goes to waste in each factory as selections for the next season are made. Market attendees select patterns to be sent as swatches or full color lines, and back in the factory, compare the physical swatch to the hundreds of others they’ve gathered from various vendors. Then they try to find a place to donate or return those that didn’t quite fit their introduction plan.
South Pacific Textile is challenging furniture manufacturers to re-think this routine and help reduce the waste. While recognizing the need to touch and feel the quality of patterns and to see true colors, the company is asking buyers to take their first review digitally.
Iv Culp & FamilyThe company will provide buyers with a quality photo to compare. If it passes the first screening as “under consideration,” South Pacific will send the full color line or an individual color. The company hopes buyers will join them in the search for a more eco-friendly process of fabric selection.
MILLIKEN & COMPANY NAMED ONE OF THE MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES Milliken &
Company has been recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies. The diversified global manufacturer with more than 60 locations and approximately 8,000 associates worldwide is one of six companies to receive this prestigious ethics-based honor every year since the award’s inception.
“Ethisphere and its World’s Most Ethical Companies program is a key benchmark for the way we do business,” said Halsey Cook, president and CEO, Milliken & Company. “Receiving this recognition for 16 straight years underscores the culture and commitment of Milliken team members globally. It’s who we are.”
In 2022, 136 honorees were recognized, spanning 22 countries and 45 industries. Milliken is one of seven industrial manufacturers. Grounded in Ethisphere’s proprietary Ethics Quotient, the World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity, and initiatives to support a strong value chain. The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify the leading practices of organizations across industries and around the globe.
ULTRAFABRICS LAUNCHES NORTH
AMERICAN-MADE
COLLECTION Ultrafabrics
has launched a new offering called Uf Select, a North Americanmade collection with three different lines of fabric.
“We have a new manufacturing partner in Mexico that will deliver against our mandate for quality, while offering specifiers greater speed-to-market, a price advantage and customization options,” said Barry Silverman, vice president of brand and marketing, Ultrafabrics.
Uf Select’s curated selection of fabric textures and colors are all inspired by traditional Mexican handicrafts. The three lines in the collection are Lino, Montage and Impasto. They can withstand regular cleaning and disinfection, including bleach solutions, and each fabric has 10-week hydrolysis resistance and is REACH Compliant.
RICHLOOM GROWS DESIGN TEAM
Richloom announced that Stephanie Puckett has joined the company as senior designer, imports, for the upholstery design team. Puckett has worked at Phillips Weaving, Culp, Chatham and American Silk. Her most recent adventure took her to Shanghai, China to live and work for the past 16-plus years as vice president for Nicelink Home Furnishings. “Stephanie brings a wealth of experience, creativity and knowledge,” said Michael Saivetz, COO, Richloom. “We are thrilled to add such a strong individual to our all-star team. She has hit the ground running during pre-market and has made an instant impact on our design team.”
ZENSILK LAUNCHES SUSTAINABLE LINES
Zensilk will launch a new line of textures and plains using 100% sustainable yarns, including Tencel fibers and organic cottons. The company is currently sourcing the fibers, and developments will start this month. With the world moving in a much more sustainable direction, Zensilk is excited about the possibilities for this new line.
In addition to this, Zensilk had a great response to their Hand Crafted fabric line, which was launched at Showtime in November. The company plans to expand the line, along with its offering of velvet and jacquard fabrics using innovative weaving techniques.
LENZING OPENS LYOCELL PLANT IN THAILAND
The Lenzing Group successfully completed its lyocell expansion project in Thailand. The new plant, with a nameplate capacity of 100,000 tons per year, started production on schedule and will help meet increasing customer demand for Tencel branded lyocell fibers.
“We are very proud of this achievement. Our sincere thanks go to the entire Lenzing team and especially to our staff in Thailand, but also to many external stakeholders who joined forces in times of a global pandemic to make this key project reality. To deliver such a huge project in time and at budget is an outstanding achievement given the challenges of the global pandemic,” said Cord Prinzhorn, CEO, Lenzing Group.
VALDESE WEAVERS LAUNCHES NEW INSIDEOUT PERFORMANCE FABRICS® + SEAQUAL INITIATIVE COLLECTION
Following the positive response to their first SEAQUAL INITIATIVE collection, Valdese Weavers developed and engineered fabrics made with SEAQUAL® YARN that would meet the high performance criteria for InsideOut Performance Fabrics. The result is a GreenGuard Gold Certified, PFAS-free, all-in-one performance fabric that has the core performance qualities of being cleanable and durable, but is also bleach cleanable, fade-resistant and made with yarns that are a part of a huge initiative to help solve the major global issue of marine plastic pollution.
“Merging these two brands together is something that our company is really excited about because of the incredible opportunity it provides our customers,” said Patrick Shelton, vice president of sales, Valdese Weavers. “They will be able to offer a performance fabric that is beautiful and reliable, but also has an incredible sustainability story that is making a legitimate difference to our environment.”
SUNBELIEVABLE ADDS TO LINE
Sunbelievable announces its 100% solution-dyed acrylic fabrics, designed to offer durability, stain- and faderesistance available, and a fiveyear warranty. Select patterns and colors in the collection are available now via the company’s quick-ship program, assuring prompt delivery in as little as six weeks. Visit sunbelievable.com for details.
HOME SECRETS TEXTILE LAUNCHES
COLLECTION Home Secrets Textile is launching their fourth wide-width fabric design collection in as many seasons. In addition, the company recently hired two new sales representatives for the southwestern United States, Ron Hensley and Duane Collins.
DORELL FABRICS TEAM MEMBERS TAKE
ON NEW ROLES Dorell added textile industry veteran Kate Gothreau to its core executive team in a newly-created role as vice president, product development and merchandising.
Gothreau is a 20-plus year industry veteran whose experience includes 10 years at Williams Sonoma, Inc., where she worked with all WSI brands to develop upholstery fabrics with both domestic and overseas mills.
Her background also includes extensive experience in the contract industry, having worked as director of design for drapery and sheers at P/Kaufmann Contract, as well as design experience for both domestic and overseas mills.
As part of this expansion, Claudia Lampert Frankel has been promoted to chief merchandising officer from her former role as creative director.
SATTLER OUTDURA PROMOTES, NAMES
NEW EMPLOYEES Sattler Outdura has promoted and added several new employees. Klaudia Sanders was promoted to CFO and Steve Weiss was promoted to director of sales, awning and marine.
Sanders will manage investments and financial strategy, as well as direct the HR Department in branding Sattler Outdura as an employer that fosters and develops talent in an all-inclusive workforce.
Weiss will oversee four regional sales managers along with the inside sales professionals. Weiss, who was previously the sales manager for awning and marine, has 35 years of experience in the industry with over 20 years at Sattler.
Melissa Miller assumes the role of customer service manager, Nat Powell was appointed to director of operations, and Michael Tollison is the new inside sales specialist.
ULTRAFABRICS IDENTIFIES TRENDS IN
ANNUAL COLOR FORECAST Ultrafabrics launched its 2022 color forecast, themed “Unexplored Territories,” presenting five key trends and color palettes articulated through references to international fashion, architecture and pop culture.
Each year, an internal team of designers and thought leaders scan the cultural horizon for emerging trends for the Color Lab, the Ultrafabrics’ platform that explores color and innovation at the brand. This year the team analyzed both the aesthetic and psychological shifts in the consumer marketplace.
Unexplored Territories is broken into five chapters, distilled into five color palettes. After experiencing an unimaginable period of fear, isolation and solitude, consumers have re-emerged with a sense of both trepidation and optimism. Despite the countless remaining unknowns, many feel excited as we set forth on a journey of unexplored territories. Whether it be taking a leap of faith to pursue a new dream or disconnecting from technology to explore the great outdoors, now is the time to embrace alternative ways of being in the world outside the home. Ultrafabrics titled this year’s forecast ‘Unexplored Territories’ to delve into this idea.
To book a virtual meeting to see the full five trends outlined in the forecast, visit: ultrafabricsinc.com/Color-Lab/Unexplored-Territories.
Ultrafabrics assembled thought leaders Bethan Ryder, Kaila Cox, Daniel Blaker, Scott Richler and Barry Silverman to explore trends.ULTRAFABRICS ADDS
TO TEAM Ultrafabrics has added to its sales and product development teams with the hire of Netherlands-based Theo Haag as European sales director and Jennifer Hendren as senior director of product development.
Haag has a track record in export, key account and distribution management, while also analyzing sales channels and capitalizing on market opportunities. “Theo has spent his entire career immersed in the European market and brings a depth of knowledge in the textile space to Ultrafabrics,” said Sergio Prosperino, vice president of sales.
With more than 30 years of industry experience, Hendren has expertise with woven performance jacquards and in textiles.
“We welcome not only Jennifer’s industry experience, but her innate ability to understand what the market needs, before it knows itself,” said Danielle Boecker, co-founder and president of Ultrafabrics.
MOORE & GILES NAMES NEW PRESIDENT
Moore & Giles announced a transition of leadership with the naming of Tray Petty as the company’s new president in December. Petty joined Moore & Giles in 1994 and has served most recently as executive vice president. Outgoing president Sackett Wood will remain as chief executive officer.
In his new role, Petty will lead, develop, and foster a culture of excellence across the company. He will continue to work closely with Wood to push the company into its next era.
“Tray and I have worked alongside each other for 25 years,” Sackett Wood said. “He has a vision for the future and will be a tremendous leader for the company.”
AYDIN TEXTILES ANNOUNCES WATERFREE
THE PINNACLE AWARDS
PRODUCTION
With the current climate crisis plaguing the world, protecting natural resources is more important than ever. So Aydin Textiles conducts all their production activities with an environmentally friendly policy.
Traditional weaving methods use approximately 30 tons of water for one ton of fabric production. With Aydin’s Global Recycled Standard Certified Production, the company produces the same amount of fabric with just 10 tons of water.
The company hopes the practice will help protect natural resources and provide a clean future for a livable world.
The Pinnacle Awards, sponsored by the International society of Furniture Designers (ISFD), introduced to the home textile category for the first time in 2021. The awards recognize the top designers who envision the designs that ultimately become some of the most sought-after home furnishings items around the world.
Wesley Mancini and Edward Rihacek were awarded the inaugural Pinnacle Award for Home Textiles for their textile design Baumann in the twine colorway. The textile is produced by Valdese Weavers.
Sackett Wood / Tray Petty
Theo Haag
NEW MEMBER UNIFI
FASHION SNOOPS PARTNERSHIP
MEMBER SPONSOR
Unifi, Inc., is one of the world’s leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns. The company provides innovative solutions and fiber technologies to meet the needs of manufacturers that produce decorative coverings for the home furnishings and related industries. We source, manufacture, consult and sell in locations around the world, so no matter where you choose to do business, Unifi provides consistent service, flexibility, and highquality products.
Our mission is to sustainably innovate and provide the best fibers for our global customers. Unifi collaborates with many of the world’s most influential brands in the sports apparel, fashion, home, automotive and other industries.
The International Textile Alliance (ITA) announces a partnership with trend forecasters Fashion Snoops. The partnership joins the leading resource for home textiles professionals with the go-to source for trend forecasting.
“We are thrilled to align ourselves long-term with the International Textile Alliance and Interwoven show,” said Lilly Berelovich, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Fashion Snoops. “We are proud to support the rebrand of Showtime into Interwoven, alongside the ITA's commitment to empower its community. We look forward to supporting these initiatives each season with our vast knowledge of global consumer trends."
NEW MEMBER HOME FABRICS
Established in 2004, Home Fabrics India is a mill that produces linen, cotton, poly, bamboo, metallic, silk and trims, along with numerous inherently flameretardant fabrics. We offer mill-direct prices and custom weaves to order, as well as window and furnishing fabrics, woven cotton fabrics and linen. We also offer polyester in embroidery prints and jacquard, as well as pillow covers and ready-made panels.
NEW MEMBER INTERIOR FABRICS INC.
Interior Fabrics Inc. has proudly been serving the interior design community for more than 20 years. We pride ourselves in making the finest wide-width fabrics in the world.
NEW MEMBER SUNREAL PERFORMANCE FABRICS
All SunReal fabrics meet the highest performance standards of any outdoor fabrics. Produced with 100% solution-dyed acrylic fibers with built-in technical performance. Our fabrics are available at once from our newly expanded High Point, N.C. warehouse. SunReal Performance Fabrics are 100% solution-dyed acrylic based, giving our consumers confidence that our products will perform against nature’s harshest elements with a five-year limited warranty.
NEW ITA BOARD MEMBERS
The International Textile Alliance (ITA) announces the appointment of two new members to its board of directors—Steve Gittelson of Morgan Fabrics and Anderson Gibbons of STI Revolution.
Gittelson currently serves as president of California-based Morgan Fabrics, moving up the ranks since joining the company in 1993 as a sales rep. A fourth-generation member of the textiles industry, Gittelson has played an active role in the industry, championing philanthropic efforts for such organizations as City of Hope and The Jewish Federation.
Gibbons is currently the chief marketing officer of STI and Brentwood Textiles, makers of the Revolution Performance Fabric brand. Gibbons came to STI after previously working in a leather tannery, a cord and trimming manufacturer, and with a fabric import business. A third-generation member of the textiles industry, Gibbons looks forward to focusing on promoting education and getting the next generation excited about the home furnishings industry.
Steve Gittelson and Anderson Gibbons
ULTRASUEDE
SYMPHONY MILLS
TER MOLST
VALDESE WEAVERS
VISION FABRICS
WESTWOOD WEAVERS, INC
represents the merging of ideas, unification, collaboration, connection and innovation.
Located on the 5th floor of Market Square Textile Tower, Interwoven temporary exhibits join 80+ permanent showrooms on 10 floors showcasing the most comprehensive textiles, leather and trimmings presentation in the western hemisphere.
Discover fresh, new resources and designs within Market Square Textile Tower. Home of ITA’s signature fabric show since its launch in July 1990.
EXHIBIT HOURS:
Sunday, May 22 10:00am – 6:00pm
Monday, May 23 8:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday, May 24 8:00am – 6:00pm
For more information, visit: internationaltextilealliance.org/show
in conjunction with
Wednesday, May 25 10:00am – 12:00pm
AHFA - American Home Furnishings Alliance
Visit Hamilton Fabrics in Market Square Tower, 4th floor.
