FRANKFURT, Germany — Morgan Fabrics Corporation, which was founded in 1956 as an up-and-coming fabric distributor and converter, is now a major supplier to the global furniture and decorative fabric industry. This was accomplished under the steward ship of the Gittelson family, now in its third generation of ownership. Michael Jon Designs is the label Morgan used to sell to the design trade but is now primarily focused to sell job bersMorgandirectly.has set an expansion plan to double their existing sales within the next 5 years.
At 96, Metridis Opens 1,200 sm Lux Space • P15 Passes,GittelsonMichael73•P8 (continued on Page 8) SamelsonTeppelBuys•P20Moral goes vertical with new finishing plant • P14 Juan
Morgan Fabrics Expands Outside USA; Looks to Double Sales
Belle •ChineseLineButtoFabricsMaisonLooksSpain,TurkeyReadymadeStillOffersImportsP14 Rger
Prepares Fourth Generation Family Management with recent loss of President F&FI News Network
franchisee. KA International, Maison Décor Boosts Jover Sales • P17
The Gittelson family aspires to be a major player in the global ranks as a supplier, joining other major European converters and dis tributors, according to Steven Gittelson, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Morgan Fabrics.Heisalso a first cousin to Michael Gittelson, the late CEO and the mastermind of the strat egy which built Morgan into a global player. Today, Michael and the Gittelson family are the sole owners of Morgan Fabrics. Steven joined the company in 1993 as a West Coast sales executive and in 2005, moved from Los Angeles to Hickory, NC to build the Morgan East Coast presence and distri bution business by hiring full time sales representa tives selling to some of the largest North American furniture manufacturers andPaulinadistributors.Muzekari is another key member of the Morgan team. She is the Vice President of Design & Merchandising, creating new product and utilizing in-house design studios to develop original artwork and proprietary designs in Los Angeles and Shanghai. Today, Morgan develops and produces it’s own prod uct line by working with their key suppli ers to manufacture their industry leading innovations. Beach, Paulina Muzekari and Steven Gittelson of Morgan Fabrics with Bella velvet, the two million yard annual seller in warp knit construction Luis Tormo, Export with Lucia Jover, KA International Manager with Misbah Maraqa, nephew to Basel Maraqa, Maraca International Group owner, Jordan, KA
Global Home & Contract Sourcing News Volume 33, Number 4 • Autumn 2022
Amman,
Baydar: Vanelli Adds ERP, Unifies MaintainsOperations,Sales
Baydar Chief Sales Officer (CSO) Dina/Vanelli Mevlut Baydar
4 • www.FandFI.com • Autumn 2022 Published by Sipco Publications Inc. 726 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 2 Miami Beach, FL 33139 U.S. Tel: www.fandfi.com+1.917.251.9922 Global Home & Contract Sourcing News Member: ©COPYRIGHT 2022 by Fabrics & Furnishings International.. All U.S. and International Rights Reserved. EDITOR & PUBLISHER Eric Schneider Mbl: +1.917.251.9922eric@sipco.net Printer Sutherland Art Director Roxanne Clapp, RoxC LLC Distribution APC & Express Air Freight E.U. Legal Counsel Herman Nayaert SOUTHEASTCHINA, ASIA Sonia Tan Tel: +86 133 8601 9288 WeChat: sonia@sipco.netSoniaTan25034704 TURKIYE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, GERMANY Sevim Güneş Mbl: +31 6 8290 9965 Whatsapp: +90 532 2362524 sevim@sipco.net INDIA S. vish@sipco.netTel:Wishwanath+91.93.42821379 SOUTHPORTUGAL,AMERICA Renato Strauss Mbl: renato@sipco.net+55.11.99188-8966 SALES UK, IRELAND, FRANCE, SPAIN Bernard Bain Tel: bernard@sipco.net+44(0)7423306500 F&FI NEWS NETWORK India | S. Vishwanath UK | Jennifer Castoldi SUBSCRIPTIONS Free subscription if you qualify. Otherwise: $125 a year 4 issues Winter • Spring • Summer • Autumn SECRETARY Candace Muhlrad F&FI SHOW CALENDAR • Decosit — September 13,14, 2022, Brussels Expo, Hall 10 Brussels, Belgium • Interwoven (formerly Showtime) — November 13-16, High Point, NC • Heimtextil — January 11-13, 2023, Messe Frankfurt, Germany • Deco Off — January 18-22, 2023, Paris • Proposte — April 18-20, 2023, Villa Erba, Como, Italy • Hometex — May 16-20, 2023, Istanbul Fair Center, Istanbul, Turkiye LETTER TO THE EDITOR
BURSA, Turkiye — “There are major changes here at Vanelli, “ says Mevlut Baydar, Chief Sales Officer.“Asof Januay 1, we implemented a new ERP system here at our factory.” Previously, Vanelli had different companies handling weaving, finishing, dying and printing and selling, Baydar explains. “Now we had all operations gathered under Vanelli company. This change will enable us to have a better customer experience with our factory. Once we have the new system established 100%, our customers would be able to log into the system and check their order status, stock status, payment status, “ he says. “As you know, during the pandemic businesses fell down dramatically, but luckily we did not get affected dramatically. In 2021 we reached and went beyond pre pandemic time. We are very strong in EU countries in terms of sales and we think we have a lot to do in the USA market. In order to do Vanelli retained different independent reps covering the north east region, NOrth Carolina region, west coast region and Florida.” Baydar would not disclose the names of these agents however. “We believe we have a great range of offerings in our product collection, for example we offer IMO certified fabrics, acoustic fabrics, outdoor fab rics, recycled fabrics in upholstery, sheers and drapery. Besides we offer readymade articles such as curtains, cushions, table cloths and throws from our own fabrics. With this wide range of product, we believe we will get a good portion from the contract and residential market,” he feels. “In addition, our company conforms with so many International organizations’ requirements. For example we have the following certificates: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, GRS, BCI, IMO, OEKO-TEX,—MevlütBSCI.
ISTANBUL — About 50 companies are participating in the ownership of TOSAB, a new industrial complex for the green pro duction of textiles in Bursa, Turkiye.
Meet Inge Debets, Leotex Owner
ISTANBUL — Kucukcalik is devel oping a line of outdoor fabrics made from UV treated polyester in its yarn plant in Sakarya, located about 60 miles fromTheIstanbul.newfabrics were on display at Hometex in May in fully made up fur niture and pillows. The UV yarn began development about five years ago and the out door fabric line is nearing comple tion according to Abdullah Korkmaz, General Manager of the Sakarya plant. The Sakyrya plant can produce 120 tons of UV treated polyester per day according to Korkmaz. Aysun Yenice, his colleague and R&D Manager for the patented prod uct, says it is still in testing but it will be introduced officially in 2023, the pair say. F&FI TOSAB industrial park in Bursa
New Bursa Textile Park
F&FI News Network
F&FI News Network
6 • www.FandFI.com • Autumn 2022
F&FI News Network
The new facility is expected to be opera tional by 2023 according to Osman Canik, spearhead of the project. “These mills are export oriented and are in the process of creating the most up-todate purifying facilities and enviromentally friendly industrial zone,” he says. “It is in Bursa and about one hour dis tance from two airports,” he adds. F&FI
The project partners include Erol Türkün, owner of Vanelli; Özdilek, Güleser, Evimteks, Elyaf Tekstil and Polyteks.
Aysun Yenice and Abdullah Korkmaz
Martijn Vissers, product manager and Inge Debets, owner of Leotex Fabrics
er is Martijn Vissers who nodded his approv al. “We mainly sell to the furniture industry, especially boucle items currently,” he says. Leotex also carries a line of imitation leather including polyurethanes (PU)which it sells to furniture manufacturers and the contract trade. Vissers sources product in Europe and Asia. F&FI
HILVARENBEEK, Netherlands — Leotex Fabrics with 20 employees operates in this small village of 16,000 peo ple along the Belgian border but it manages to serve buyers in 20 countries including the Benelux region and all of Europe according to the owner, Inge Debets. F&FI met Ms. Debets at the Hometex Fair in Istanbul at the Tosunoglu stand, home of Integro Fabrics, including the ‘To Sun’ outdoor line. The Leotex company was 41 years old in April of 2022, and Debets bought it from the previous owner in 2007. She was working for Leotex only six months when she suggested to the owner that he sell the business to her. “Of course, that’s exactly what happened,” she says. She had a partner in the pur chase but eventually bought the partner out. Today, she is the sole owner of Leotex. “We do mostly upholstery and we buy what we like,” she says. Her product manag
FabricOutdoorNearingKucukcalikLaunch
Another team member who just joined the company in March, 2022 is Roger Beach, Steven’s son. Roger is a seasoned veteran sales executive who is well schooled in cyber security and technology sales. Roger will be an integral part in helping Morgan run their operation more efficiently, working as the West Coast Sales Director and helping to grow overall domestic sales.
Passes,GittelsonMichael73
to a company-made statement.Gittelson was the mastermind behind the rapid growth of Morgan from a regional American jobber to an inter national supplier.
(Continued from Front Cover)
LOS ANGELES—Morgan Fabrics Chairman and CEO Michael Gittelson died Tuesday evening., July 12 from Fabrics,”lovefullhiskeeplythatenedhandbeencomplications.heart“Michaelhaddealttheofaweakheart,oneultimatecouldnotupwithzestforalifeandhisofMorganaccording
“We have the legacy of a family busi ness that has operated successfully for over 65 years since 1956, and we have every intention and plans in place to seamlessly continue business as usual for future generations,” say surviving Gittelson/Morgan management mem bers Tina, Bob, Steve, and Max. He is survived by his wife Tina Gittelson, son Max Gittelson and Max’s wife Sara Gittelson, brother Robert Gittelson and Steve Gittelson, Michael’s first cousin. F&FI Michael Gittelson
When Michael joined his father Arnie Gittelson as partner in the business in 1991, (Arnie passed away at 98 in 2020) he started to further grow Morgan with the private labeling of high-end goods supplied to dec orator showrooms. At that point, Morgan operated out of 50,000 square foot head quarters in Los Angeles. With the downturn of domestic supply from US mills, Michael moved to developing and buying fabrics from Chinese suppliers in 1999, becoming one of the largest importers of decorative fabrics. In 2006, Morgan developed patterns such as Passion Suede and Bella, a warp knitted velvet which, still to this day, is offered in over 90 colors and continues to sell in large volume to many major furniture manufactur ers and retailers”, Steven says.
The road to international success for Morgan is an interesting study. Morgan initial ly built itself into a regional West Coast American sup plier buying from major U.S. mills, such as Quaker Fabrics, Mastercraft and Microfibres, just to name a few. “We were the West Coast upholstery distribu tion specialists which East Coast mills depended on to cover that market,” Steven Gittelson points out. “In the 1980’s, Morgan also was a big supplier of fabric seconds which were printed and sold to infant car seat and other cottage industry manufacturers.
Morgan Fabrics Expands Outside USA; Expects Major Sales Growth
8 • www.FandFI.com • Autumn 2022
“We sell most of the major furniture man ufacturers and jobbers in North America and Mexico.”“In2018, Michael was determined and committed to expanding Morgan’s European presence. “We started to sell throughout Europe by hiring several full time sales executives.Mustafa Eskisarili, based in Cologne, Germany, was hired as Director of International Sales to spearhead Morgan’s expansion into the global market. Eskisarili was educated as a fabric technician and is an accomplished textile engineer and sales director.CarlVandenhoeven, who is experienced in working for European mills and converters, is responsible for building and setting up the Morgan Fabrics International showroom and warehouse in Kuurne, Belgium (near Kortrijk) for distribution into the European market.In2019, Morgan brought on industry veteran, Sam Rayess, now based in Beirut, Lebanon, to open up and expand sales in the Middle East market.
“We showed our goods at Proposte starting in 2019 and then Heimtextil in 2020 right before the Pandemic hit,” Steven stated. “I am very confident that with the third genera tion in place, we will continue to build on the success we have had in the domestic market over the last 65 years and now focused on continuing that growth and expansion as a leading supplier to the global market.” F&FI
F&FI News Network
Jay Chou Robert Gittelson, the late Arnie Gittelson (middle) and the late Michael Gittelson (end)
Today, 90 percent of the Morgan line is developed in China, but this may change in the future as other sourcing countries get involved. Michael was a pioneer in that effort and lived most of the year in Shanghai as he worked to grow the business. Today, he’s back in Los Angeles, leaving the China operation in the hands of General Manager, Jay Chou, who has been with the company since 2006. Chou now runs the 300,000 square foot warehouse in Nantong that stocks for the International Market, has a fully vertical printing and finishing operation with 150 employees, as well as the QC and customer service operations in Shanghai with 50 employees. Chou has also put together a sales team to supply the China domestic market.“Originally, Michael developed sources from smaller Chinese mills, and was an inte gral part of making these mills some of the most successful and important textile manu facturers in Asia today.” Steven explains.
“With those suppliers, we were able to become a national distributor to the North American home furnishings market, utilizing both the 300,000 square foot warehouse on 25 acres in Verona, Mississippi, as well as our 50,000 square foot Los Angeles facility, both operating as free trade zone distribution centers for the entire North American furniture industry.
F&FI News Network
RICHMOND HILL, NY—Belle Maison Textiles, a 20-man importer has replaced Chinese piece goods with fabrics from Turkey and Spain after many years import ing from China. “We still import ready-mades from China in our Belle Maison USA divi sion, but we found the quality of piece goods from China are no longer up to our standards,” says Elie Romano, founder and principal of the company which started in 1979. Nevertheless, Belle Maison still buys readymades from China. Business overall is good. We should be up about 5-10 percent this year. Romano says he prides himself on the cus tomer service offered by Belle Maison. About 97 percent of our orders are shipped from stock. We ship on time. Belle Maison management also includes Elie’s two children, Liz Romano Halpern and James Romano who handle piece goods and readymades respectively. The company maintains a design staff which recolors its exclusive designs for three piece goods collections a year. “Right now, jobbers are buying prints and novelty sheers from us,” he points out.
Currently, Moral, like so many other Turkish mills is using the finishing plant owned by Vanelli Tekstil, also in Bursa, the home textile capital of Turkey. Moral also does some of its own finishing internally.Theprice of construction has skyrocketed since the Moral plant began, says Hasan, but the plant is essential to improve Moral’s finishing, especially where ‘green’ fabrics are concerned, he“Wesays.will produce our own energy in this new plant’ even our water will be constantly reused in our production including the reuse of hot water for air conditioning and heating,” he says. This movement to a circular economy is becoming more important to the textile industry as it tries to conserve harder to get resources.
Moral Expects to Open 30,000 square Meter Finishing Plant Family Mill Transitions to Vertical Operation After 62 Years Network
Moral also has a readymade curtain line for the European and Turkish market under the ‘Mode Home’ brand which is distributed in Europe mainly through its warehouse in Bulgaria. In fact, the founder of Moral, Hasan’s grandfather originally came from Bulgaria to Turkey.
BURSA, Turkiye — Moral Tekstil is putting the finishing touches on a 30,000 square meter finishing plant in the Demirtas section here while most mills are grappling with the fallout from the Pandemic, the war in Ukraine and a rapidly depreciating Turkish lira. Hasan Moral, the third family generation owner of Moral, a mill which produces 80 per cent of its production in perde (curtain fabric) and the balance in upholstery, is spending over $10 million on the new facility which started construction last year and will be completed by 2023. The expenses also include new dye ing and sample machines. “Once the finishing plant is completed, we will be able to weave, print and make fancy yarn as well as do all of our own finishing,” he says. Hasan also mentioned Moral’s commit ment in service and new product development in parallel to the finishing plant effort. Moral works mainly with polyes ter--“we produce a wide range of FR fabrics as well as a range of recycled polyester fabrics but in the last five years, we are using more linen and cotton in our fabrics which Moral exports to 70 countries including the USA. Our local Turkish market is doing well, and Iran is also coming along for us. The Middle East can also get goods easily from Turkey,” he said during the Hometex exhibition in May which was well attended by members of the Middle Eastern community as well as some European wholesalers. “The importance of the fair is with us again,” he said after a two-year lapse due to covid. “Europe is our fastest growing market followed by the USA,” Hasan says. “Our products have a long shelf life. We produce novelty curtain fabrics that stay in the line for five years and plain fabrics remain in the line for ten years,” Hasan points out. The piece goods are available in 100-meter mini mums in up to 340-centimeter widths and will be available in up to 360 cm. widths when the finishing plant is completed, he says.
14 • www.FandFI.com • Autumn 2022
on Page 20)
Moral, a family business was started in 1958 by Hasan’s grandfather and today, there are 150 employees The original business was a wholesale business which grew out of having the first retail curtain shop in Bursa. Hasan’s father Ali got the company into curtain production in the 1970’s along with his brother Mesue who handled finance. Mesue’s son is Mustafa (Hasan’s cousin) and he handles production today. Hasan’s little boy of four years is also named Ali and he would be the fourth generation to join the firm some day.
F&FI Hasan Moral, Moral Principal with Will Porter of Northampton,TextilesPavilionLtd.,UKduringHometex
Grandfather Hasan’s original curtain shop in Bursa
F&FI News
Belle Maison imports about four containers of piece goods a month and sells to jobbers, retailers, fabricators, furniture manufacturers. The fabric line is priced from $3 to $19 a yard. Romano has seen major price increase in shipping costs this year to the tune of a 500-600 percent increase. This has pushed up his prices 15-20 percent this year with no end in sight. “Shipping is a disaster. We ask our customers to plan four months where it used to be a threemonthRomanodelivery.sees big changes in the retail market, especially with online retailers. “Online retailers Ellie Romano (continued
Belle Maison Fabrics Looks to Spain, Turkey But Readymade Line Still Offers Chinese Imports
“Outdoor vinyl is selling well for us,” Cecchi says. The company employs 34 people and is owned by Giovanni Cioli. His daughter Silvia is involved in the purchasing department. Both Dr. Cecchi and Silvia Cioli were present at the Novartiplast stand at Heimtextil in June. F&FI
Panaz Holdings Buys Chase Erwin Stonnell Named CEO F&FI News Network LANCASHIRE, UK-Panaz Holdings has acquired Chase Erwin, a residential fabric editeur based in London. The purchase price was not Laurendisclosed.Stonnell has been named CEO of Chase Erwin. She was previously General manager of Chase Erwin for four years from 2016-2020. She was also director of Alma Leather for two years before returning to Chase Erwin and showroom manager for de Le Cuona textiles prior to that. She was an interior designer before leaving New Zealand for London. Panaz, a division of Panaz Holdings is a supplier of contract and hospitality fabrics. F&FI Lauren Stonnell Silvia Cioli, MassimodepartmentpurchasingwithDr.Cecchi,businessdevelopmentmanager,NovartiplastItalia
Metridis ad campaign: George (blue tie), Kostas to the left and Manoli below him
96-Year-Old Metridis Opens 1200 Square Meter Modern Luxury Athens Showcase Showroom
The new showroom represents a major effort from this fourth-gen eration family-owned wholesaler managed by Kostas Metridis. The company was founded in 1927 by the great grandfather George Metridis. He passed the baton to his son Kostas and then he passed it to his sons George, Giannis and Panagiotis Metridis. Today, the children of Giannis Metridis, Kostas, and Mary as well as the children of George Metridis, Manolis and Kostas run the family business. The fabric lines that are exclusive to Metridis are Revert of Spain, Alcantara, Muirhead Leather Romo fab rics (including its brands of Kirkby Design, Black Edition, Mark Alexander, VillaNova, Zinc, Joop and Ken Scott.) Also represented are Rasch Wallpapers, Eijffinger, Ada wall papers, Benetti Moss. These are distributed with furniture lines like Missoni Home, Pininfarina, Versace Home and Trussardi Home.Metridis efforts were also extended in the Middle East where it has participated in fairs in Qatar, Dubai and Tirana for the last 15 years, Kostas says. “This new showroom empha sizes privacy for interior design ers and architects who are our clients,” Kostas says. “At night, the showroom is lit up inside and out. The extensive use of glass and special lighting always makes all furnishings visible.”
Novartiplast Italia Vinyl Looks to America for Expansion; Needs U.S. Agent F&FI News Network
Novartiplast product starts at 6.50 Euros a meter and goes as high as 15 Euros. The average price is 8 Euros. Delivery form stock is a week to ten days according to Cecchi and custom takes two to four weeks.
Autumn 2022 • www.FandFI.com • 15 F&FI News Network
ATHENS, GREECE — Metridis, a well-known fabric whole saler opened its third showroom of 1,500 square meters in the Alimos section of Southern Greece featuring the company’s NeoMagic brand for residential and contract furnishings. Along with the showroom, comes an innovative advertising campaign also pictured here. “We started off like fine tiny threads weaving our immaculate web that let us create a sublime combina tion of ideas and dreams,” the campaign copy states. “Together as a team, we carry on to pursue the same path, wishing you a mag nificent New Year filled with genuinely smiling faces, optimism and long-standing relationships.”
FRANKFURT — Novartiplast Italia, based in Cogliate, Italy started to aggres sively export vinyl and PU fabrics to Europe in 2013 and is looking now to the USA for further growth according to Dr. Massimo Cecchi, business development of this niche player.Cecchi is searching for an American agent to represent the line.
Metridis imports furniture, curtains, upholstery, wallpapers, carpets, lighting and architectur al Thematerials.first shop opened in Nikea in 1927; then Piraeus in 1972. In 1985, George Metridis started a combined business of wholesaling upholstery fabrics under the NeoMagic brand. Kostas emphasizes that the “dream goes on!” F&FI
HometexGALLERY
16 • www.FandFI.com • Autumn 2022 PHOTO
Here are some of the people who made the fair a success:
ISTANBUL—After two years of Covid Pandemic lockdown, the Turkish textile industry officially opened for business with the Hometex Fair at the Istanbul Expo Center in May with over 1,000 exhibitors and a crowd to match supported by domestic and European buyers. The new fair, a replacement for what was Evteks, is jointly sponsored between the textiles industry and the Government. For 2023, Hometex will be held May 16-20.
Hakan Yilseli, area sales executive, Weavers Tekstil, Bursa, Turkiye with customers Haisam Dinawi of Hometex in Sofia, Bulgaria and Ibrahim Uzunoglu of Egem, a Turkish towel producer in Denizli.
Markus Muller, veteran textile consultant and sales agent based in Hilden, Germany paid a visit to Hometex to see old friends and customers alike. Several well known sales agents like Hr. Muller were present at Hometex after a two year lapse due to covid traveling restrictions and show cancellations.
Hamir Merchant, agent from Mumbai, India with customer Mahendra Jain from Mahendra Furniche and Mahaveer Silk Centre, Bangalore, India
Mehmet Kurtcan and newly married sister Ayca Kurtcan Ay, owners of Rekor in Turkiye with customers David Mokaber and brother Saeid Mokaber, principals of Mokabber Textiles in Tehran, Iran and Lossien Farhadi (back) a friend of the two brothers.
Inge Debets, owner of Leotex Fabrics, a wholesaler based in Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands with Levent Dogan, sales manager for Tosunoglu Tekstil, Denizli, Turkiye with Murat and Aysel Tosunoglu, principals of that mill.
Hometex Opens With 1,000 Stands
Mustafa Yalcin Uzun, designer for Festino, Bursa, Turkiye with principal Ufuk Coskunsel and Simat Fani, general manager of Price Furniture Textile Co., Kuwait. Festino has upgraded its line!
Parkash J.V. with brother Ashok J.V., principals of Euro Asia, TheseSingapore.guyshave a long and successful history working with wholesalers and their suppliers as agents. They were at Hometex to see their suppliers after a two year lapse due to covid.
Canan Canik, Principal of Elvin, Bursa, Turkiye with Sevim Gunes, Turkish and European representative for Fabrics & Furnishings International with Andrea Maharaj, fabric agent from Joberg, South Africa. Maharaj has great stories to tell about the fabrics industry. Just ask her!
Aydin Sahir and Murat Zumbulyva (with green tie). Murat is owner of Arcarca Tekstil, Bursa Turkiye with customers Miriam Bennour, Saida Bennour and Lillia Bennour. The ladies are the principals of Habib Bennour & CIE, La Marsa, Tunisia.
Gary Searle Leaves PostKravet F&FI News Network
(continued from Front Cover)
proud father and CEO. He was respon sible for the acquisition of KA International and Maison Décor acquired two years ago. Maison is a better range of piecegoods produced by Jover and is growing rapidly worldwide starting with Italy, Portugal, France and now expanding to South Africa, according to Alejandro. F&FI
I believe that market attitudes will improve further, boosting the home furnishing fabric sales as well.” Oscar Reig-Plaza, Business Head Sutlej Home Textiles and CEO of American Silk Mills, adds. He says Sutlej has grown into a one-stop shop for yarns, and textiles made for home fabrics clients not only in India but a global client base spanning 65 countries. F&FI
TORONTO, CA — Gary Searle has resigned his post as Vice President of Global Sales & Merchandising for Kravet Inc. after nine years with the company as of September 1. In his position, he was involved in the development of building stronger relationships with interior designers in North America and Canada for Kravet. “I wish to change course in my work,” Searle says. He says most of his efforts while at Kravet were based in New York and “I spent a lot of time in seat 32C on Air Canada,” he laughs. Prior to his Kravet activity, he was based in his native Johannesburg, South Africa as executive founder and director of St. Leger & Viney, a South African fabric wholesaler and was a director of Warwick UK in London. Searle’s next move is to visit his dad in South Africa and after that, look for another opportunity. F&FI
Autumn 2022 • www.FandFI.com • 17 F&FI News Network
Sutlej, India Expects to Launch Outdoor Fabrics Line F&FI News Network DALLAS, TX — Sutlej Textiles & Industries Ltd., based in India, says it is is on its way to launching a high-performance polyester, outdoor fabrics collection, its first. “Our outdoor fabric line has gone through rigorous testing in various weather condi tions,” says Smita Joshi, VP Marketing. “Our outdoor yarns are specialized and per form exceptionally well when it comes to light fastness, stain resistance and bleach cleanabil ity,” she says. Sutlej aims for its outdoor line to meet the “most satisfactory international standards while being competitively priced,” Joshi“Theadds.market condition for home furnishing textiles is stable and could develop further,” she says. “Yarn sales in India is increasing, and the conversion to fabrics should happen eventually.”
Gary Searle Francisco Jover, CEO of Jover with friend Martin Job, Koldb Interiors, Wurzburg, Germany
Jover owns five KA
COCENTAINA, SPAIN—Jover is reaping the benefits of making the acquisitions of KA International six years ago. The company had sales of 12 million Euros in 2021 and expects 16 million Euros in sales for 2022 according to Alejandro Jover, COO.Half of the business is in the contract sector. Jover started doing business in 1965 and has 120 employees.
KA International, Maison Décor Boosting Jover Sales
Borja and Alejandro Jover (COO) Oscar Reig-Plaza
FranciscoandAlejandro,withagementJoverthirdandofGeneralworldwide.franchisedandoutletsInternationalinSpainsupplies200outletsLuciaJoveristheManagerKAInternationalrepresentsthegenerationfamilymanalongherbrotherCOOBorja,sales.Joveristheir
Ecologically Driven Design
New Market Entrants Shake Things Up
products.lifecyclerelateutilizedmaterialsbabies’thatcontainmattressestoxinscanimpacthealth.ThenormallydonottotheshortoftheseBabybois
Particle board and polyurethane/petroleum-based foams release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into our air through off-gassing, and we inhale these harsh and toxic chemicals. Latex, coir (coconut), wool/ cotton are safer options often used in eco-friendly counterparts in our upholstery and mattresses. Organi (seen here) and Naturalmat are two companies who practice using these more friendly materials.
Little Living with a Big Soul Tiny houses are a growing trend as well as adding “rooms” to one’s home without the headache of planning permission and construction. Queue in this little bundle of joy, The Conker, that the Trendease Team has recently come to experience, and appreciate its ethos, in addition to its theandyourentertaining.relaxing,dining,forcanmodularself-containedecological,living.flexibleThesesystemsbeusedsleeping,working,orLetimaginationneedstakereins.
CharlottaChampionsÅmanMycelium&BananaFiber
Numerous baby made solely of non-toxic, organic materials such as hypoallergenic mycelium foam and banana fiber textiles, which permit a complete biodegradation process at a composting facility. The multipurpose design effortlessly transforms into a play mat, changing mat, or sleeping nest.
18 • www.FandFI.com • Autumn 2022
By Jennifer Castoldi Morphing lifestyles lead to improvedeconomicdesignbiodiversityliving.wellbeingasleatherprinting,manufacturing,innovation,theThisproductadvancingdevelopment.columndivesintolatestinmateriallocalizeddyeing,andalternatives,wellaspromotingandmindfulSupportingwithcanalsocreatestabilityandprocesses.
Mindful Creations
Textiles Promote Wellbeing Millie Morgan, hand weaver and woven textile designer, who focuses on low impact textiles, makes use of natural materials and dyes. Millie produces tactile and sensory encounters through her weavings, exploiting color’s importance to our wellbeing, inciting an emotional response.
Layered silk wall hangings rest harmoniously together with knitted acoustic paneling. Each color has been hand-selected by the designer Charlotte Crossley using color theory to generate a mindful palette that encourages rest and rejuvenation. The facades are made of wool and revived deadstock silk.
Liene Kazaka-Myco explores the usage of pigmentproducing fungi as a sustainable dyeing alternative to existing contaminating and unsustainable fabric dyeing
“Bymethods:growing coloring fungi directly on materials, it is possible to completely eliminate the use of all chemicals in the textile dyeing process. Only two components are needed to achieve a colorfast textile finish: simple sugars as a food source and fungi. One of the most promising pigment-producing fungi is blue elf cup (Chlorociboria a.), which inhibits deadwood and releases pigment into wood. Blue-green pigment produced by the mushroom has shown equal color fastness measurements to commercial dyes and has been used in woodwork for centuries. In the future, fabric could be colored by living organisms. As more and more microorganisms are used for textile coloring, soon it will become possible to print and grow multiple organisms/colors on the same fabric. This will enable designers to create half-controlled designs, where the human selects the starting point of growth and food source, but the mushroom creates the rest of the pattern.”
Pigment-Producing Fungi
Aastha Poddar-Kaai Introduces a Carbon-Negative Alternative to Traditional Indian Block Printing
Supporting Biodiversity & Economy
Portugal, CITEVE, CeNTI, CTIC, can be applied to fashion and home products.
Autumn 2022 • www.FandFI.com • 19
Valorization of Natural Leather Waste At Techtextil this innovation won the award titled ‘new approaches to sustainability & circular economy’. Leather waste from the automotive industry has led to novel ecological textile coatings, where “hydrolyzed, ground and micronized industrial leather waste was introduced in bio-polymeric coating formulations to produce innovative and functional water and bio-based coating formulations, that were posteriorly applied on textile substrates”. More sustainable than leather, this flexible textile coating from ERT Têxtil
Louisa Knapp’s dissertation titled ‘The Golden Hoof: the regeneration of regional wools’, reviews how rare breed wool could once again contribute to the economy as well as wider biodiversity and soil ecology. Knapp Textiles advocates wool as a carbon positive material in that achieves sustainable objectives and boosts performance capabilities through practicedriven research and development. Louisa collaborates with designers, makers, manufacturers, and farmers who share a parallel ethos and enthusiasm for wool. Keeping it Local Studio Mito is a one-stop shop for all things woven, concentrating in silk jacquard textiles - intermingling unique color stories with bold designs. Weaver Millie Thomas considers sustainably weaving to be an essential means to preserving textile crafts. The entire collection is produced locally.
“Born and raised in Jaipur, a city known for its rich textile heritage, I have always had a deep appreciation of traditional Indian block-printed textiles, yet I have equally witnessed first-hand the devastating effects that this industry has had on the nearby rivers, air quality and land. This project explores how this craft could become not just more sustainable, but carbon negative. In this project, I have been exploring how microalgae, a prolific, cheap and carbonabsorbing superpower, could replace synthetic dyes and produce textiles that are not just true to the heritage and traditions of Jaipur, but could equally remediate the land and water and capture more carbon in the process of harvesting it than it emits.”
Jennifer Castoldi is the CEO and Chief Creative Director of Trendease International. Since 2004, Trendease has been providing cutting-edge and competitive design information to readers and clients spanning over 170 countries. Trendease is an influential resource reporting and consulting on global trends and key international design events. Hundreds of images and forward-thinking articles are presented on www. Trendease.com each month, additionally videos and podcasts are available on www.Trendease.TV.
F&FI News Network
VALDAGNO, IT—Marzotto Lab, a division of Marzotto Group has merged the Prosetex and Redaelli Velluti brands under the new brand of Marzotto Interiors according to Luca Vignaga, CEO, MarzottoMarzottoLab.Interiors now offers a wide interior fabric range from jacquard and solid velvets and woven jacquards in natural fibers, Vignaga says. He says that Marzotto Lab had 2021 sales of 52 million Euros with over half in home
Dr. Isabell Krieger
F&FI News Network NEW YORK—Mark Teppel, President of Charles Samelson Inc. the converter, has purchased 100% of the company from Harry Samelson as of December 31, 2021. The pur chase acquisition,disclosed.waschasedivisions.CoralChatelaneownershipincludesofandFabricsThepurpricenotPriortothe Teppel owned 60 percent of the company which he joined in 1981. He purchased the balance of 40 percent in this transaction. The purchase includes a separate acquisition of KST Corp., with its principal asset of a 60,000 square foot warehouse, distribution center, offices a transfer printing operation in Spartanburg, SC. Harry Samelson, the seller, will remain as a consultant to Samelson Chatelane until the end of Although2022. he sees a pent-up demand in the hotel industry for refurbishment, he is cautious about the economy due to increasing mortgage rates, gasoline prices, leadtimes, containers and freight.
F&FI
Mark Teppel
Belle Maison Fabrics Looks to Spain, Turkey But Readymade Line Still Offers Chinese Imports
Trevira Yarn Sales On Upward Curve, 2021-2022
Marzotto Lab MarzottoLaunches Interiors
BOBINGEN, GERMANY—Despite its challenges, Trevira, turned in a better year than expected with sales at around €232 million in 2021. “As early as the first quarter of 2021, Trevira, a brand owned by Indorama Ventures in Thailand, saw a significant upswing in all areas, a devel opment stimulated by the roll-out of the vaccination pro gram and the consequent hope for a speedy end to the pandemic,” says Dr. Isabell Krieger, Trevira Communications Manager, during Heimtextil in June. The Trevira Heimtextil stand focused on long stay hotel apartments as an expanding segment of the hospitality market. “The first five months of 2022 have continued to go well, and we are seeing major development activities from our customers in relation to our new Trevira CS brands,” Kreiger says. The over all trend towards sustainability continues and is reflected in the high demand for our Trevira CS eco product. Our UV-resistant, spun-dyed filament yarns – which were developed specif ically for the outdoor market and are not only flame-retardant but also demonstrate excellent resistance to light and tearing – are also expe riencing high demand, with the cruise shipping industry gradually gaining in momentum after two long Covid years.” “Looking ahead to developments in our Trevira CS business in 2022, we anticipate that the upswing from the catch-up effect after the Covid lockdowns will have a greater impact than the potential downsides caused by rising energy and materials prices and the resulting economic inflation.”Inaddition to its CS Flex yarn which can be mixed with other fibers, Trevira has also seen increased sales of its CS Eco brand, a recycled flame retardant yarn consisting of 50 percent recycled post-consumer content from PET bot tles. The yarns meet the GRS or global recycled standard, the makers say. “The market continued to give increasingly positive signals, especially in home textiles. This followed a challenging year for Trevira CS ® in 2020, when the hotel and events sector was under especial pressure because of lockdown measures. By contrast, 2021 saw a revitalized market, with significant improvements in Italy, Germany and Scandinavia. However, Trevira also faced major challenges because of massively increased costs, especially for energy, but also for raw materials, chemicals and packaging.”
Kreiger says Trevira prices are going up due to increased energy costs. F&FI
F&FI News Network
F&FIyarns.ricselinbalanceandfabricstheapparfaband Luca Vignaga are struggling with returns from their customers and too many of them are doing the same thing. As a result, the smaller guys are going out of business. We concentrate on our existing base of customers, but we are aware that some big chains will not survive.” Belle Maison had a showroom on Fifth Avenue for 15 years, but this closed two years ago due to the Pandemic. Now, Belle Maison is a regular exhibitor art Showtime twice a year in High Pojnt, NC. The company operates out of Queens and maintains a 25,000 square foot warehouse in Queens and another 50,000 square feet in Bridgeport, CT. F&FI
20 • www.FandFI.com • Autumn 2022
Teppel Buys Samelson Chatelane
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Mr. Hashim from Doha, Qatar based Excell Collection with Ute Singer, Export Sales Manager, Gebrueder Munzert, fabric mill based in NailaMarlesreuth, Germany with Martin Kolb, Kolb Interior, Wurzburg, Germany and Anwar Hussain, Hussain Interiors, Doha, Qatar
of De Negri Luxury, Plana di Monteverna, Italy Jeremy Todd, MD of H&S Fabrics Ltd., Dorset, UK with Ana Rios, Export Manager, Aznar of Valencia, Spain with Glen Johnson, H&S National Sales Manager
Antonio Ferre Molina, GM, Antonio Ferre of Alicante, Spain with Polish retailer/ designers Marta Mankiewicz and Claudia Gorlitz, Warsaw.
At Heimtextil: Thomases Sees Fabric Prices Moderating FRANKFURT—In the face of a potential worldwide recession, “I see fabric prices coming down,” says Jeff Thomases, Chairman of Swavelle Mill Creek, a large American converter, mill owner and distributor.
Jo De Munster, Managing Director, Muvantex & Bekaert Depla, Deerlijk, Belgium mill with customers Ellen Burke, Head Designer and Emily Spencer, designer for Buoyant Upholstery, Lancashire, UK furniture maker
Brazil Meets Belgium: Willy Van Eeckhout, sales manager Annabel, Ghent, Belgium with Karsten team of Bluemnau, BrazilKitty Grabinger, outsourcing manager, Lori Kornatcher, Lois Nicolletti and Leoni Passed. Karsten is a towel manufacturer with an expanding piece goods collection sold through its retail stores
AmitabhCrypton Narvankar, senior marketing manager, Dicitex Furnishings, Mumbai with customer Allon Yaghoubi, J. Allen Fabrics, Whittier, CA and Parag Parekh, senior manager US & UK sales division, Dicitex Jay Vikram Singh, principal of Brueder Batman mill, Gmund, Austria with friend Oscar Reig-Plaza, CEO, American Silk Mills and Sutlej based in Dallas, Texas.
Autumn 2022 • www.FandFI.com • 21
PHOTO HeimtextilGALLERY
F&FI queried Thomases about skyrocketing freight and fabric price increases during the summer Heimtextil FairHehere.was one of the few American buyers at the Fair which was well attended by Europeans. Most suppliers were pleasantly surprised by the better than expected business activity at the off season Heimtextil.
Jeff and Greg Thomases
Ram Raja and Mohana Nargana (back) of Ramco Spinning, Tamil Nadu, India with Amit Suryavanshi, Export Manager, Sutlej, Mumbai and Smith Joshi, VP Exports, SutlejNegri,withdevelopmentproductGermanyJABPascalHeidholterTatjana(front)andWalter,ofBielefeld,Gustavodeprincipal
Johannes Snelders, Eurotex of Bielefeld, Germany principal with customers George and Kostas Metridis of Athens, Greece. Metridis has opened a new fabric showroom with all of the top editeur lines!
Guy Parmentier, Vice President of International Sales, Crypton Europe withLance Keziah, President, Crypton, Bloomfield Hills, MI and Thilo von Hahn,
Johnny Keeton recalls that Mo met Diane Harding on one of the Johnny Keeton Studio tours in South America and went to work as her export manager for Wilson Wilcox, a print converter.
Later, Mo was an agent for Ashley Wilde Group Ltd. from 1996 to 2004 and then he finished his career beginning in 2016 at Clarke & Clarke as international account manager based in France. Mo met his wife Tina in England, and they eventually made their new home In France. His wife Tina previously passed away and Mo is survived by his only son Mikael Jouhair.During his career, Mo traveled extensive ly on every continent and has close friends all over the world who will miss his smile. As Diane Harding recently said, “Mo is never to be forgotten.”
F&FI Mohamed Jouhair
22 • www.FandFI.com • Autumn 2022 Mohamed Jouhair, 50 F&FI News Network
BEACHEXPO,INTERIORSCRUISEATSHIPMIAMI
PARIS — Mohamed ‘Mo’ Jouhair, export manager for Clarke & Clarke, a division of Sanderson Group in the UK, died the last week in June from an unspecified illness with his exact age not known “Mo’ as he was known to his friends, began his career working for Sedac Mobel in Belgium selling furniture frames to the international market
SCENE
James Lewis, account manager for Sunbury Design, a 75 year old business owned by Lewis & Co. in London with Gunnar Bratland, global sales manager, maritime, of Ekornes, Ikornnes, Norway. The cruise industry is slowly awakening from the sleep induced by the Covid Pandemic these last few years.
