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CK CHINA
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
FR ONE
Richard Liu, senior manager for Nibico Corp., discusses their activities as the Calvin Klein licensee in China.
Industry great Aaron Greenberg passes, while his wife remembers his spirit and accomplishments.
Harvey Nudelman of Fabricut discusses FR One fiber, and their exclusive distribution rights in North America.
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The Global Home & Contract Furnishings Newspaper • www.sipco.net
Vol. 17, No. 4
Autumn 2007
Standard Textile Re-Brands, Launches Global Initiative Manufacturer/Distributor Pushes Name and Worldwide Capabilities
by AnnMarie Marano
C
INCINNATI, Ohio— Standard Textile is undergoing the final stages of a re-branding process that the company began earlier this year in attempt to re-focus their numerous titles and activities under one name and purpose. Kim Heiman
Standard product
“Our customers told us we were a little too modest and not doing so good in letting people know everything that we do,” said Kim Heiman, senior vice president of decora-
these new additions to Valdese Weavers,” said Mike Shelton, president. “Our short-term focus in each division is to stabilize operations with immechase and therefore has diate investments in, no rights to produce the and the application of Mastercraft brand of all the financial and residential fabrics. Only material resources contract fabrics under needed to accomplish the Mastercraft this stability. These Contract/Guild 360 companies have been brand are included in Mike Shelton operating in a distheir asset purchase tressed environment under previagreement. “I would like to inform you ous ownership for the past few about our transition plans, inten- months and we have identified in tions, and strategies to manage (Continued on page 31)
tive products. “So we thought it was important to launch a global branding initiative,” with the help of Landor, a branding company with offices worldwide. Landor helped Standard create a new image and logo. The company’s three main divisions — hospitality, healthcare and decorative — each have a different color scheme for their respective logo and materials. “It inspires people not only on
the inside, but on the outside as well,” Heiman said. Contrary to popular belief, Standard has not dropped the Fantagraph name. Fantagraph is a brand of Standard, but “there was a feeling out in the marketplace that it was actually the company name.” The idea for a “re-branding” of sorts, came a little less than a year ago. After attending a trade show (Continued on page 18)
Babei Textile Moves to New Mill, Offices in China’s Zhejiang Province
Valdese Acquires Troubled Brands, Addresses Quaker’s Closing Sipco News Network
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ALDESE, North Carolina — Valdese Weavers officially acquired Circa 1801/Doblin, Home Fabrics, and Mastercraft Contract/Guild 360 on July 20. These businesses are operating today as divisions of Valdese Weavers under their ownership. Valdese Weavers did not pur-
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Our goal at Outdura is to produce the most beautiful and stylish fabric in the industry. From bold patterns and colors, to cool subtle tones, there’s a style for all your customers. Experience something out of the ordinary...experience Outdura!
Home Furnishings Lead Growth Sipco News Network
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HENGZHOU CITY, China — Zhejiang Babei Textile Co., Ltd. has moved to its new, one million-square-foot mill and office in an industrial park in Zhejiang province, “in order to meet the rapid growth of our home furnishings division and the company as a whole,” said Yak Wang, general manager.
Not Just
Babei Group Limited has also established a sub-company, called Zhejiang Babei Textile Yak Wang Co., Ltd., to handle all business of upholstery fabrics and other ready made home textile products, headed by Wang. The new facility houses 290 looms with a capacity of four million meters a year, according to
Fabric.
(Continued on page 30)