Fabrics & Furnishings International - Summer 24 Issue

The U.S. Fabric Industry Redefines Itself in a Post Covid World!

Major Converter Richloom Sees 2024 Sales Growth

Third Generation Family Management Reinvents the Company under Michael Saivetz

F&FI News Network

NEW YORK—Richloom, one of the world’s largest home furnishings fabric and upholstery converters has had to change the way it does business and it is paying off in the post Covid world according to President and COO, Michael Saivetz.

Saivetz says sales will be up for Richloom this year over 2023, This growth will be supported by the largest Platinum multipurpose

Arc|Com's Marc Layne Copes with Major Change

F&FI News Network

ORANGEBURG, NY — Arc|Com President Marc Layne has been in the saddle for seven years but the industry he joined since then has changed dramatically more than at any other time in the company's 52-year history.

“We had to reinvent ourselves in the post Covid world; everything we did in the way of managing, buying and selling has changed,” the second family generation President remarks. He follows the lead from his father, Jeffrey Layne, the 82-year-old founder of Arc|Com and works closely with Marisa Pichigian, Executive Vice President, 20 years plus veteran with the firm.

(continued on Page 6)

Today, Arc|Com sells cubicle curtains, upholstery, drapery, Marisa Pichigian, Marc Layne and Jeffrey Layne

Michael Saivetz (left) with his uncle, Jim Richman

(continued on Page 14)

Niko, Karen, Taylor and Ralph Angel

Eddy Abed and his wife Milly, founders of Abed's

Leslie Jee

LETTERS TO EDITOR

Hi Eric,

What a sweet and welcome article you wrote for us. Getting our name out there especially in home decor fabrics is not easy and our collection is really a product of Interwoven! Many thanks.

We are actually going to be at the show in May just for the 7th but would love to come and say hello if you are in the neighborhood! Please let me know.

With much appreciation, Sharman Spector, Britex Fabrics

Some say this but I personally believe that the cancellation of the contract at Villa Erba for Proposte is just a strategic move to negotiate a new contract in the same place.

I would prefer to be in Milano Salone instead of rainy Cernobbio.

—Anonymous Old Friend

Hi Eric, it seems that PROPOSTE 2025 will be held in another place, to avoid the presence of companies, which exhibit outside the fair, the organizers do not consider that many visitors also come to see them!

It's as if the Salone del Mobile in Milan forbids the exhibitors exhibiting in the city! I think this is a provincial and retrograde attitude.

Even at High Point, NC, the city becomes a fair!!

Hello!!!

Piero Agnetta Milan, Italy

Proposte Votes Staying Put;

Villa Erba Again Hosts Proposte

F&FI News Network

COMO,

Italy—Despite reports to the contrary, Proposte will remain at Villa Erba in 2025, adhering to the existing lease agreement.

“The 32nd edition will take place on May 6, 7, and 8,” confirms President Alessandro Tessuto. “In the meantime, we are collaborating with the Exhibition Center management, the Municipality of Cernobbio, and Confindustria Como on a project to regulate companies outside the exhibition.”

There was a lot of speculation about whether or not Proposte would stay at the Billa Erba location prior to the exhibition this year. But thus announcement finally puts that idea to rest. F&FI

Bottom: Luca Ferrari, principal of Di Nole, Nole, Italy with Massimo Mosiello, Director of Proposte. He is smiling because Proposte will stay right where it is—at the Villa Erba. There was some discussion of moving the annual exhibition but it will stay right where it is.

CORRECTION

In the spring issue of Fabrics & Furnishings International, (P. 21) Richloom Senior Vice President, Lauren Pelusio, (New York) was misidentified. Our apologies!

EDITOR & PUBLISHER US, UK, IRELAND, FRANCE, SPAIN Eric Schneider

Mbl: +1.917.251.9922 eric@sipco.net

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ray Parker Brparker415@gmail.com

SECRETARY Candace Muhlrad

Printer Sutherland

Art Director

Roxanne Clapp, RoxC LLC

Distribution APC & Express Air Freight

E.U. Legal Counsel

Herman Nayaert Mauro Battistella

F&FI NEWS NETWORK

India | S. Vishwanath UK | Jennifer Castoldi

SALES

TÜRKIYE, HOLLAND, BELGIUM, GERMANY AND GREECE

Sevim Güneş Mbl: +31 6 8290 9965

Whatsapp: +90 532 2362524 sevim@sipco.net

INDIA S. Wishwanath Tel: +91.93.42821379 vish@sipco.net

SUBSCRIPTIONS

CHINA, SOUTHEAST ASIA

Sonia Tan Tel: +86 133 8601 9288

WeChat: SoniaTan25034704 sonia@sipco.net

Free subscription if you qualify. Otherwise: $125 a year 4 issues Winter • Spring • Summer • Autumn

Exclusive distributor in India: Get and Gain Centre

3rd Floor, 301 The Sagar Shopping Centre Opp to Bombay Bazar, JP Road, Andheri West Mumbai 400058 India

F&FI SHOW CALENDAR

CRUISE SHIP INTERIORS EXPO 2024 June 6-7 - Miami Beach Convention Center

INTERTEXTILE HOME August 14-16, Shanghai, China

Lauren Pelusio

Top: Villa Erba

Under Marc Layne’s Leadership, Arc|Com Copes with Major Changes in the Contract Fabric Industry

wallcoverings, digital murals and wall protection in high traffic areas. “Healthcare along with senior living, education facilities and hospitality is growing nicely for Arc|Com,” Layne says. Corporate office business, especially furniture sales have declined dramatically and there has been a tremendous consolidation amongst the contract furniture manufacturers. “However, the furniture business may be starting to turn up now,” he adds.

Neocon, the annual contract furniture exhibition at the Chicago Mart has also been affected. Layne points to the growth of freestanding furniture showrooms in the Fulton district of Chicago in lieu of showrooms at the Mart.

“Furniture manufacturers are 20 weeks out and they want the upholstery fabric right away; no more waiting for fabrics for 10 weeks. Furniture manufacturers want delivery from an in-stock position. For this reason, we are considering open line items for the first time in our history,” Layne says. “We’re carrying 5,000 sku’s. That’s a lot of inventory!”

“We could not stick with our original model. We had to rethink everything we did. We had to retrain and retool our salesforce, create digital materials to show on Zoom. Eight years ago, we spent $300,000-$400,000 on print advertising to the designer and now we do way less spending and everything is presented in our digital look books. We even show how the fabric looks on the furniture frame.”

Other costs skyrocketed. “Container shipping prices went from $2,500 per container to $18,000 during Covid and hit $26,000 at one point,” he explains. With the problems in the Panama Canal and the Baltimore bridge accident, containers are now at $6,000. Landing costs of globally sourced goods are 20-40 percent of the value of the goods! That includes customs duty, tariff, freight, and processing.”

Sourcing for Arc|Com has also changed. “For 52 years, we sourced domestically in the USA but now 40 percent of what we buy comes from Asia by boat and plane. We have lost so many mill sources in the USA. We’re even competing with U.S. mills like Valdese with its Symmetry contract brand,” he explains. Arc|Com sources from India, Turkey, China, Taiwan, and South America today.

“When we started in this business, 100 percent of the fabrics were woven. Now, more than 50 percent of

what we sell is coated—printed vinyls, urethane, and silicone from Turkiye and India. Today’s buyers want coated fabrics to look like woven fabrics. The topcoat must be bulletproof and disinfectant proof for the healthcare environment. It takes years to qualify the vendor,” he says. “Healthcare customers want upgraded fabrics like we offer to the hospitality trade. As a result, we are pushing our suppliers in new directions to cover sustainability, transparency, and lack of chemicals in the finished product.”

“The buyer we serve is hardly ever in the office when our salesman calls and the buyer doesn’t have the understanding of the changes in product. Some even ask us to put a finish on the finish because they don’t understand the changes in product. They also must be aware of using drapery fabric only in certain areas because it may be too delicate in certain environments.”

The complexion of the contract jobber market has also changed, Layne says. “Family ownership of jobbers has declined due to private equity acquisition or purchase of the family jobber by furniture manufacturers.

“Only Architex, Arc|Com, Mayer and Kravet are left in the contract business in family hands. Momentum, Carnegie, and Stinson are in the hands of private equity; Maharam, Knoll and Designtex are owned by furniture manufacturers.”

“Private equity is on a short leash; they have to resell the company they bought in a few years,” says Layne, who came to textiles from the investment banking business. F&FI

Filza Khan of Dehradun, UT, India Joins F&FI as Online Sales Manager

MIAMI BEACH — Filza Khan will be based in her home office in her new post in Dehradun, India in her new post as Online Sales Manager for Fabrics & Furnishings International as of June 1, 2024.

In this new position, she will be responsible for all online advertising sales to the decorative fabrics, curtain fabric and upholstery fabric industry calling on manufacturers by telephone worldwide to advertise on the FandFI.com website which has been established now for at least 10 years.

This is the first time F&FI has had a dedicated person to focus on online advertising sales.

Filza previously had experience in selling newspaper advertisements and is a gifted telemarketer. She is also working towards her MBA in marketing.

"We are lucky to have such a young, dynamic individual join our team,” according to Eric Schneider, editor, publisher and founder of Fabrics & Furnishings International. F&FI

Leslie Jee Textiles, TSG Finishing Partners; Expands Distribution to North Carolina

F&FI News Network

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — Leslie Jee Textiles, a Southern Californiabased residential and contract upholstery textile design and distribution company, is teaming up with TSG Finishing for warehouse and distribution services in Hickory, North Carolina.

"This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory, poised to enhance delivery efficiency and service, thus furthering Leslie Jee Textiles' dedication to optimizing its

supply chain performance for the benefit of its valued customers,” says Leslee Jee, a principal

Jee hopes this partnership with TSG will make the "selection of products more of an attractive value when it comes to distribution and supply chain efficiencies and cost. We have wonderful relationships with our current client base and hope this expands our reach, “ she says.

"We currently import from overseas to our primary Southern California distribution center. We will now be importing items specifically for our customers to the North

Carolina facility per customers’ request, commencing June 2024. We export directly to Canada and Mexico for customers on an FOB basis, again as per their specific request."

With a 123-year history, TSG Finishing is “celebrated for its commitment to technical excellence, constant innovation, and catering to the evolving needs of the textile industry,” says Jee. Its distribution center is said to house the largest installation of fabric storage tubes in North America with a 50,000-roll capacity as well as 30,000 square feet of open floor space for specialty product storage. Three additional processing facilities house its upholstery and industrial coating services.

“Having established a sterling reputation for product quality, operational excellence, and customer care since 2009, Leslie Jee Textiles’ decision to partner with TSG underscores its dedication towards continuous improvement and innovation,” Jee states. “This strategic alliance aims to harness the collective expertise of both entities, leveraging advanced inventory management systems to seamlessly optimize logistics and distribution, thus reaffirming Leslie Jee Textiles’ to strengthening its position in the market and ensuring sustained growth.”

Norman Zoref and Leslie Jee co-founded the company and together retain sole ownership. "He is retired and I am the active partner managing the day-to-day business" Jee explains. "Of course, we still confer with each other regarding business direction and strategy."

Leslie Jee imports upholstery fabric primarily from China but also has product from Turkey and India, she says. F&FI

Leslie Jee

DESIGN: Responsible from Fiber to Finish: Design goes Deeper than Aesthetics

By Jennifer Castoldi

Looking good just isn’t enough. If you visit any reputable trade event, the design highlights go beyond surface appearances to raise awareness of what happens behind the scenes. If a product is not sustainable, circular, or regenerative, it has missed the boat. Textile production is harsh on the environment, but here are some companies making a positive difference.

The circular fiber. Found at Heimtextil and Techtextil, NOOSA fiber is a bio-renewable textile fiber, endlessly recyclable. From Belgium, NOOSA provides an innovative fiber, and spun or filament yarns, to textile manufacturers; these demonstrate properties such as increased breathability, UV stability, low flammability, low odor retention, they are bacteriostatic, and 100% recyclable. NOOSA combats textile waste at pre- and post-consumer level by revalorizing it and producing a 100% virgin fiber through a patented recycling technology that divides blends and eliminates contaminants. NOOSA also promotes reduced consumption and educates customers to make more conscientious and responsible purchasing decisions. The environmental benefits:

• Bio-based and bio-renewable material

• 100% recyclable

• Water consumption is 50% less than regular cotton

• 30% reduction of CO2 emission compared to cotton Recycled-sustainable yarn. Discovered at Texprocess, Ascolite recycled yarn is both Oeko-Tex Class 1 and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified. The novel yarn is manufactured with polyester sourced from 100% ocean recycled PET bottles, which aids in conserving our natural resources and lessening environmental impact. To further reduce the environmental impact, they are no longer using plastic cones; instead the yarns come on recyclable eco-friendly cones made from FSC certified recycled paper.

Waste textile yarns. Making the textile industry cleaner and transparent is a goal of Tearfil Textile Yarns, Portugal, that is achieved

with Eco Heather. By reclaiming the spinning waste from its mill, a blend of all the fibers used in standard production is gathered, mainly cotton but also modal, lyocell, viscose, wool, cashmere, linen, silk, and others. A streamlined industrial process converts this blend of fibers into a unique and innovative assortment of colored melange yarns certified by GRS. This is an example of Econogy Best Practice at Techtextil.

Bottled up felt. From waste to new resource: in Italy, PET bottles become fibers. The procedure begins by separating household plastic. Colored PET is separated from transparent PET. It then goes through washing, grinding, drying, extrusion, dyeing, carding preparation and needling, followed by heat setting.

Environmental savings indications per 1 kg equal:

• Water 39 Liters

• CO2 2.1 Kg

• Energy 15.6 kWh

Or a 5-minute shower, 21km of driving your car, and 3120 hours of running an LED light.

Regenerated wool. Another feelgood felt option: clothing items are transformed into recycled fibers during the ragging process, which are then sorted by color and type. The regenerated wool production process is selection, carbonization, ragging, washing, centrifugation, drying, carding, needling, and heat setting.

Environmental savings indications per 1 kg equal:

• Water 236 Liters

• CO2 26.5 Kg

• Energy 10.3 kWh

Or eight 5-minute showers, 265km of driving your car, and 2060 hours of running an LED light.

For both felt collections, Lanificio Bigagli has adopted the 4sustainability Chemical Management Protocol to remove hazardous and detrimental chemicals from manufacturing processes, and GRS assures that products have been recycled.

Coffee adds heat. It is a blend of cutting-edge Swiss engineering and sustainable practices, a collaboration between Nespresso, Mammut, and HeiQ. HeiQ XReflex heat-retention technology contains aluminum from recycled Nespresso capsules. The cutting-edge advances add a 20% heat retention over what is currently on the market, which means it upholds optimum warmth while employing less insulation material. This Oeko-Tex certified innovation is utilized in the Extraordinary Jacket and can also be applied to duvets and blankets. Printed denim waste. Fashion and design came together at Milan Design Week where Casati Flock&Fibers, in alliance with architect Stefano Casati, presented Denim Euphoria, a tangible example of recycling textile waste. Pulverization technology transforms denim waste into a powder, which is inserted into plastic granules, giving a 3D-printed chair an iconic blue denim look. This is paving the way towards an “environmentally friendly textile future where creativity is at the forefront of revolutionary initiatives”.

From a cup of tea to eco-leather. A bleeding-edge novelty from Germany, this is a 100% sustainable, plant and bio-based, vegan, new gen material made out of industrial tea waste with no future lifecycle: Wastea.

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 190 countries.

PHOTO GALLERY - Interwoven

Lindsay Miller, merchandising at Vanguard Furniture; Laura White, VP of marketing and creative at Vanguard of Conover, NC; and John Shane, sales rep at Regal Fabrics.

(L-R)Tara Rogers, VP of sales and merchandising; Neil Barrier, sales rep; Valdese Weavers; and Tanya Comer, daughter of the founder of Taylor King Furniture in Taylorsville, NC.

Jill Harrill, Retail Sales & Outreach Manager at Valdese Weavers, sits in the lobby, where the walls are decorated for Archival Revival.

The trend is big! What does this mean for fabric design?

his

with friends and

Herb Kahan celebrated

90th birthday

family at the Home Furnishings Hall of Fame on May 8. The main event included videos from fans around the world.

(Continued from Front Page)

Richloom, One of the World’s Largest Converters Sees 2024 Sales Growth

collection ever introduced by Richloom in 25 years at the recent Interwoven event in High Point.

The furniture business was strong during Covid, he points out, but it faced a lull in business after the Covid lockdown period. It’s just beginning to recover, he feels. (During this period, several major furniture manufacturers went out of business.)

“Today, we do more with less,” Saivetz says. “That also extends to employee count which today is at 300. This breaks down with 75 in New York headquarters; 100 at the Clinton, South Carolina warehouse including customer service for residential upholstery; 75 at the Richloom Weaving plant in High Point, North Carolina including the design team at Market Square in High Point, North Carolina and 50 in Shanghai.”

The company is a major supplier to residential furniture producers, over the counter fabric retailers, hospitality, recreational vehicles (RV) and jobbers. It also produces product for outdoor furniture manufacturers and cushion producers. Top management includes Nolan Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Upholstery; Jeannie Corey, Vice President of Merchandising; Chuck Zaberto, Senior Vice President Outdoor; John Ringer, Senior Vice President of Decorative; Hannah Alderson, Creative Director of Decorative; Lauren Pelusio, Senior Vice President of Richloom Contract; and Sean Prouty, Senior Vice President of Operations & Retail.

“The biggest change right now.” says Saivetz, “is that U.S. customers are leaving Chinese sources because of their experiences during Covid and concerns about continuity of supply.” As a result, U.S. furniture manufacturers are moving production out of China to Vietnam and Mexico, he notes. The USA continues to be Richloom’s largest market in the world. However, he points out that “leaving China as a source country would be a big mistake because China knows how to produce quality textiles. People need to identify what each country is good at doing. We buy polyester upholstery and vinyl in China as well as narrow and wide width blackout. The good Chinese mills are here to stay.”

Still, 45 percent of its products are sourced in China, but this leaves more room to source in other countries: USA

(15%); Turkiye (10%) hospitality sheers which Saivetz says is very competitive with China sources today; Pakistan for cotton prints and India for Richloom’s higher end Platinum decorative line-20% and Taiwan (10%) for outdoor prints. The company buys printed product from India, Pakistan and prints converted fabric in the USA at Swan in New England, one of the few printers left in the USA. Originally, Richloom was a converter of home furnishings fabrics as well as finished draperies and bedding it sold to big box retailers. Today, Richloom globally sources lots of textile products.

Richloom also makes finished window, bedding, accessories, pillows and bedding for the hospitality industry. The company sells its products in China (China to China) and FOB to other parts of Asia. The other division of Richloom is 20-year-old Richloom Shanghai, a China based trading company which sources upholstery from about 30 Chinese fabric mills.

As President & COO, Saivetz reports to his uncle Jim Richman CEO, 74. Jim is the second-generation manager and the founder Fred Richman’s son. (Fred, who created the company from scratch in 1957 passed away a few years ago but you can still find his corporate phone extension on the company’s digital phone directory. (Fred’s father had a cotton fabric closeout business—Richman & Co., in lower Manhattan (New York) which had little in common with today’s Richloom except that fabric is in the DNA of the Richman family.)

Jim is still active in the company at corporate offices at 261 Fifth Avenue, New York on most days when he is not traveling. (His last trip was to Bhutan). Jim advises his

Spain’s Antonio Ferre, King Textiles USA Tie Up

F&FI News Network

Valencia, Spain—As of May 2024, Hijos de Antonio Ferre, SA a linen and natural fiber upholstery fabric producer since 1914, has made an agreement with King Textiles, LLC. to stock and distribute a limited range of its products in the USA according to Silvia Sanz, Export Manager, Antonio Ferre.

“We have started to work with King Textiles to distribute all our upholstery fabrics in USA,” Sanz says. Previously, Ferre had a traditional distribution arrangement with a U.S. sales agency with no stock available in the USA.

Under the new formula, Ferre will have stock in the USA at King’s warehouse in the hopes this will increase sales with the more rapid delivery from King as opposed to FOB delivery from Ferre in Spain..

Matthew Underwood, King Textiles President could not be reached for comment as he was still traveling overseas. He was last seen at Proposte in Como, Italy earlier this month having lunch at Harry’s Bar.

Ferre was also an exhibitor at the recently concluded Proposte.

Antonio Ferre is a fourth-generation family owned vertical mill with a 250,000 square foot factory and 140 employees.

King is based in Archdale, North Carolina. It is a distributor and importer of residential upholstery fabrics in the $19-$28 price range. King also has a showroom at 312 Hamilton Street and participates in Interwoven, the US based fabric exhibition. F&FI

nephew Michael Saivetz, the third-generation family manager of Richloom. Richloom, as a converter, is also the owner of Richloom Weaving, an upholstery mill in North Carolina acquired in 2019 when it was known as Chambers. At one time, Richloom owned Berkshire Weaving, but this was sold in 2006. F&FI

Michael Saivetz

FLORENCE RESTAURANT REVIEW

Ristorante Il Profeta, Firenza

by Seth Pariser

When Fabrics & Furnishings International Editor-In-Chief

Eric Schneider asked if I would like to write a third installment about my favorite restaurant, I was not hard pressed to think too long on this. Ristorante “Il Profeta” in Firenze, Italy, a Michelin rated restaurant of traditional Tuscan cuisine for me has long been a standout and one of those special, warm little gems that is like visiting an old friend or second home. When I walked in for my Saturday night reservation, I was met with “Ciao Seth” and big hugs. I’ve been coming here since 2017 and this was my fourth time. I’m such a loyal fan that I’ve probably sent over three dozen people there over the years.

Family owned and operating since 1979 when founded by ‘Uncle Franco’, Claudio and his lovely bride Martina (who happens to make the most sinfully tasting, cheek watering chocolate fudge desserts of her own) took over in 1992 and have been tending to their patrons ever since as though each person dining is a part of the family. But make no mistake, Claudio is the consummate director, conductor, ringmaster and puppeteer all rolled into one and his effervescent character which is like a playful papa visiting his grandkids on Christmas Day keep their customers coming back time and time again. He often loves to playfully banter with the guests and occasionally, personally feed them a special dish or dessert while taking fun photos as keepsakes. In particular, he’s a fan favorite of many exchange students studying abroad, including my son who studied in Florence last Spring.

Not to get lost in the festive experience though, the food at Il Profeta is just tantalizingly delicious and worthy of comparison to any of the famed restaurants in the Florence culinary scene.

Some extraordinary dishes I favor and perhaps his most famous, is the “Travolta Pasta”. Yes, that’s John Travolta and the actor once went out of his mind for a particular pasta dish while dining at Il Profeta which is bathed in a sauce that probably stems from the vodka sauce family, but better than any sauce I’ve ever tried that the dish has become eponymously known. His

recipe is their well guarded secret. In my own past attempts to recreate, I could only come in a very distant second.

Another

great dish is the parmesan crusted bowl with angel hair in truffle cream which is a flavor explosion like no other. In this nest like creation, there is a certain way to eating it that Claudio has to show you so all the flavors combine. If it’s a perfectly cooked steak you favor, look no further to their Bistecca alla Fiorentina which chef Vittorio cooks to absolute perfection. Their crostini selection and bruschetta starters could be a meal all alone.

A special starter was prepared for my arrival of the most tender and warm calamari which was paired with quartered artichokes hearts. The calamari melted in my mouth while absorbing the lemon, olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar. It was purely hedonistic.

But, what I am most crazy for is their tiramisu! There is no other version like it in the world and from the moment I first tried it in 2017, I still cannot stop thinking about it and for the purpose of writing this review, I traveled by rail from Lake Como to Florence after Proposte fabric fair for dinner just to have it again, and to of course to feel the love and get pampered.

They also produce their own olive oil, Galardi Olio, which is made in the foothills of Fiesole which overlook Florence and is the smoothest, most flavorful and peppery olive oil. Their house brand of Chianti is classically outstanding but if it’s a Sassicaia Supertuscan, Campobruno Brunello di Montalcino, Colombaiolo Epibios Sangiovese blend which I enjoyed a couple of glasses with my dinner, or some other DOC you prefer, their extensive list of wines

produced in Bolgheri are countless. Of course, no meal is ever replete without some handmade limoncello which Claudio will often enjoy with his customers.

Guests can be overheard asking for a bed because they “need a nap from all the good food”. The lady next to my table told Claudio he would need to “wheel her out of here”. But the most heartwarming comment was from Claudio to me, and I quote, “I like that we are growing older together”.

This charming Italian restaurant with cozy ambiance is nestled in the back streets of Florence on Borgo Ognissanti 93/R is just steps away from the beautiful Arno River. After Claudio has plied you with savory food and dessert, the best thing to do is take a slow stroll up Lungarno Corsini under moonlight towards the Ponte Vecchio and the Piazzale degli Uffizi in this magical, historic city of the Renaissance. I don’t think it can get much better than that.

You must make a reservation in advance as his dining room is usually full. If you go, tell him Seth sent you. F&FI

PHOTO GALLERY - PROPOSTE

Proposte Turns Out Another Good Fair

In Spite of Bad Weather!

COMO,

Italy--It Rained on the Proposte parade on Day 1 but at least it held off on day 2 until after the Fair.

Here's a who's who of people at Proposte 2024. See you next year...and please...no rain!

Scott Kravet, Chief Creative Officer, Kravet Inc., and Daniel Kravet, VP of Sales, Kravet (right) with old friend Michael Landau, VP Sales & Marketing, Brewster Wallcovering, Waban, MA., USA

Here’s Ramona Farhat with her husband Elias Farhat (right), principal of William Farhat Corp., a major Beirut, Lebanon fabric wholesaler and friend Sam Rayess, Vice President Export, Morgan Fabrics Corp., Los Angeles based fabric exporter with a warehouse in Dubai.

Christoph Haussler, CEO Rohleder, Konradsreuth, Germany with Klaus Rohleder, principal and daughter Leni Rohleder, who is responsible for Change Management and Sustainability at this upholstery manufacturer.

Cornelius DeKort, Dekortex and Reynaldo owner (Holland and Canada, seated) with his friend

Seth Pariser, Christopher Highland (New York wholesaler) VP.

Rafael Pascual, principal of Aquaclean, Muro de Alcoy, Spain with his CEO, Juan Carlos Vicent

Derek Freeney and daughter Kara who recently joined his Furnishing Fabric Agencies based in Hertfordshire, UK

Rohleder was showing its products during Proposte just outside the fairgrounds. The rain first day did nothing to dampen their enthusiasm— Matthew Mackenzie, Sales Manager, USA & Great Britain with Elvira Weber, Rohleder’s Head of Flatwoven Design

She never misses Proposte! Kathy Carr Rickwood, principal of Mixed Bag LLC, a New York City based textiles sales agency with Elizabeth Mahon, one of her new recruits to the Agency.

The Schouttetens Family own the six loom Belo mohair velvet mill in Anzegem, Belgium. Mom, dad and their two sons, Bert and Laurens.

The IMO certified line sells primarily to the cruise ship industry priced at 40-180 Euros.

Margaret Bloom, US based agent ran into a snow boarder skiing in Colorado. Nothing stops her!

F&FI Publisher Eric Schneider with Mayer Zeiler, owner of Flocktex Mills in Keir Malachi, Israel.. 'Am Israel Chai'

Say bonjour to the lovely Emilie Paralitic, buyer for Metaphores, Paris

Nabil Tazi and his brother Samir (right), principals of PIF Textile, Morocco with Claus Anstoetz, (middle) principal of JAB, Bielefeld, Germany.

No trip to Como is complete without a lunch at Harry's Bar, Cernobbio.

Also spotted at Harry's Bar: Jeffrey Rocque, US sales agent for Para's Tempotest fabrics (Right) and Matthew Underwood, President of King Textiles, Archdale, NC

That’s Jason Asch, principal of Diamond Foam, the fabric retailer in Los Angeles, CA with Marco Parravicini, CEO of Para Tempest solution dyed acrylic outdoor fabric, Viale Monza, Italy

Christos Stamatopoulos, Owner of the Fab Group, Greece with his precious little girl Aikaterina at Harry's Bar.

George Metridis, the Athens, Greece fabric wholesaler with Lemonia Kampala, Contract Solution Manager, also Metridis

Kirsten Vangenechten with Omexco Wallcovering, Belgium with Thomas Dubaere, MD, Omexco and Francesco Besana , Product & Design Manager, Print 4 Wallcoverings, Milan, Italy

Hakan Donmaz, General Manager, Marteks, Bursa, Turkiye with the big Marteks boss, Kaya Cinolglu (right) and Chris-Jacob Schminnes, JAB President.

The lovely Jean-Marie Clarke, founder of Pax Philomena, a rtw and jewelry line inspired and made by Hopi Indians in Arizona. Jean is also part Hopi and Calcutta, India born; also Ratti agent

Claus Rosemann, Mideast Sales Consultant with old friend Lean Vandaele, a Queen of Belgium textile design and now a contract designer based in Dubai.

At Proposte: Jill Kelly, Holly Hunt’s Director of Product Development, soft goods, based in Chicago, Ill. with her associate JoAnnah Kornak and Lucas Ferrari, principal of DiNole, the velvet manufacturer from Nole, Italy.

Jo Demuenster, principal of Muvantex, Deerlijk, Belgium with Reinhardt Backhausen, industry consultant and former mill owner.

Matthew Helliwell, MD, Prestigious Textiles, Ltd., Bradford,, UK with Gurvinder Singh, principal, GM Fabrics, Mumbaim India

SEVIM’S 60TH BIRTHDAY IN TÜRKIYE

Yasemin Gultekin, owner of Bezz mill in Türkiye and Sevim Güneş mix it up at Sevim's 60th birthday. Sevim was so surprised!

Emre Keskinci, his mom Sevim, Diana Krasnova and Sevim's husband Ton Merkx celebrate her 60th birthday in April.

Sevim Güneş, sales agent for F&FI in Holland, Belgium, Greece, Germany and Türkiye

High Inflation Squeezes Turkish Textile Profits

by Ray Parker

ISTANBUL

– Turkiye's once-booming

textile industry faces a new challenge: high inflation. With prices rising rapidly, businesses are adopting creative strategies to stay competitive.

“It’s about priorities and being intentional (in business decisions),” says Sinan Esen, sales and marketing coordinator of upholstery fabric for Aydin.

Aydin has 3,000 employees, and about 30% of its sales are domestic.

During Hometex 2024, Esen and others say they have dealt with inflation in the past. Still, this is a new era.

Turkiye’s inflation rate is 69%, up from 43% last year. This is higher than the longterm average of 27%.

Businesses are carefully evaluating product pricing. Some opt for smaller profit margins to remain competitive, while others focus on higher-end, value-added products that command premium prices.

International promotion helps. Esen attended Proposte in Italy on May 2-4, returned to Istanbul, flew to the United States for Interwoven on May 7-9, then went back home to Turkiye for Hometex on May 21-25. He says the company has developed new yarn techniques and weaving construction, such as combining chenille and boucle. They’ve also hired freelance designers for the European and U.S. markets.

Businesses are increasing their export efforts to benefit from foreign currency earnings. This helps them hedge against inflation, as their income becomes less

PHOTO GALLERY - HOMETEX

Ali Orhan, export sales manager for Flokser, Haluk Hocaoglu, sales manager for Flokser, G. Baris Peksirin, cofounder of Adatex Pro, along with Filiz Ermis of Adatex, and Fatih Altunyurt, regional sales director at Flokser.

Aren Gurdikyan, managing director of home furnishings at Arevdour Ltd. in the UK, and Ahmet Okcuoglu, managing partner of Kacar Textile.

Murat Canik, general manager of Elvin Tekstil, and Shafiq Al Tahar, director of BigTree Furniture in Dubai, UAE.

Ozan Sever, area sales executive for Weavers, Tikman Dag, Tunget Ilbasaals, Metin Keser, Sefa Karaaslan, Sureyya Oztunk, Ebru Tslertas, Fatih Aydemin, all of Bellona. It is the largest Turkish furniture manufacturer, extending beyond Turkiye, with a presence in over 55 stores across five continents.

dependent on the weakening Turkish Lira. With traditional European markets facing their own economic woes, Turkish textile companies are exploring new export destinations like Southeast Asia and Africa. Hakan Yilseli, sales and brand chief at Weavers, points out that Germany has experienced unprecedented inflation.

“In the world, textiles have decreased by 10%, so for sure, we are affected by that,” Yilseli says. “But we still have big orders. We are still working three shifts (a day at the mill). We cannot say all our news is bad.”

Despite these strategic efforts, many in the industry call for government support. Tax breaks, subsidized loans, and readily available credit lines could provide a buffer.

“We’re hopeful,” says Murat Canik, general manager of Elvin.

Sinan Esen, sales and marketing coordinator of upholstery fabric for Aydin, and Saad Benjelloun, manager for Ghizlancom in Casablanca, Morocco.

Joann Inc., 829 Store Chain Files Bankruptcy

Expects to Emerge as Private

F&FI News Network

HUDSON, OH — JOANN Inc. (NASDAQ: JOAN) (“JOANN” or the “Company”), has entered into a Transaction Support Agreement (“TSA” or “Agreement”) with a majority of its financial stakeholders and additional industry financing parties to strengthen its financial position.

In connection with the TSA, the Company has received commitments for approximately $132 million in new financing and related financial accommodations and expects to reduce funded debt on its balance sheet by approximately $505 million.

The financial restructuring contemplated by the TSA will be implemented through a prepackaged court-supervised process in which JOANN will continue to operate in the ordinary course of business. JOANN’s stores and the JOANN.com website will remain open and continue operating as normal and customers vendors, landlords, and other trade creditors will not see any disruption in services.

The parties have also agreed to a sixmonth extension of the Company’s existing ABL and FILO credit facilities, effective upon the Company’s emergence from the court-supervised process. Under the TSA and related transaction documents, all obligations to employees, vendors, landlords, and other trade creditors will be paid or otherwise satisfied in full and honored in the ordinary course of business.

To effectuate the recapitalization transactions, JOANN and certain of its affiliates have initiated voluntary prepackaged Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. With the significant support of the Company’s financial stakeholders, JOANN expects to complete this process on an expedited basis, as early as late April 2024. Following this process, the Company expects that JOANN will become a private company owned by certain of its lenders and industry parties, and its shares will no longer be listed on Nasdaq or any other national stock exchange. In connection with this process, JOANN is filing a number of customary “first day” motions to enable it to continue uninterrupted operations during the financial restructuring, including, among others, to continue paying wages and providing benefits to employees and to pay trade vendors and other general

Company

unsecured obligations in full in the ordinary course of business.

“Over the past several months, JOANN has made meaningful business improvements through the execution of our Focus, Simplify and Grow cost reduction initiative,” said Chris DiTullio, Chief Customer Officer and co-lead of the Interim Office of the CEO. “We are excited by our progress on both top and bottom-line initiatives in the past year and are confident the steps we are taking will allow JOANN to drive longterm growth. We appreciate the support from our financial and industry stakeholders in this agreement, and their confidence in our ability to continue driving positive business change. There is no other retailer with the same ability to serve sewists, quilters, crocheters, crafters and other creative enthusiasts as we have for the past 80 years, and we take great pride in seeing the passion and engagement of our millions of customers and our Team Members.” Scott Sekella, JOANN’s Chief Financial Officer and co-lead of the Interim Office of the CEO, added, “This agreement is a significant step forward in addressing JOANN’s capital structure needs, and it will provide us with the financial resources and flexibility necessary to continue to deliver best-in-class product assortments and enhance the customer experience wherever they are shopping with us. This includes our more than 800 stores across the United States, 95 percent of which are cash flow positive. We remain committed to our suppliers, partners, team members and other stakeholders, and are focused on

ensuring we continue to operate as usual so we can continue to best serve our millions of customers nationwide.”

From a single storefront in Cleveland, Ohio 80 years ago, this major retailer in sewing and fabrics and one of the fastest growing competitors in the arts and crafts industry has grown to include 829 store locations across 49 states with a large e-commerce business. F&FI

Scott Sekella

Seasons Furnishings Expects 20 Percent Sales Growth Over Next Three Years

by Vishwanath.S

NEW DELHI — Seasons Furnishings, (member of Seasons group) a 35-yearold weaving company based in New Delhi, is embarking on a new marketing strategy to boost its fabric offerings. “The company aims to achieve a 20% annual growth over the next three years,” says Mandeep Wadhwa, the Managing Director of Seasons Furnishings Limited. Wadhwa also highlighted the need for a shift in their approach, noting that the traditional method of selling fabrics alone was becoming monotonous due to increased competition and pricing pressure from fabric suppliers.

“We have refocused our efforts on providing total home solutions with significant value addition as our core strength lies in continuously creating new designs, and the company is well-equipped with the necessary infrastructure for this purpose,” adds Wadhwa.

“Apart from its own line of fabrics, Seasons Furnishings has introduced exclusive home collections sourced from premium design houses in Europe. These fabrics are transformed into high-quality sofas, curtains, pillows, and wall decorations, aligning with the latest global fashion trends,” says Wadhwa. The company also caters to commercial spaces like hotels, public areas, and restaurants, using specialized fabrics from Belgium, including flame-retardant,

water-repellent, and coated fabrics, briefed Wadhwa.

The Creative Director, Manjit Kaur, emphasized the commitment of Seasons Furnishings' highly skilled design department to deliver flawless designs that meet the expectations of architects, 5-star hotels, and luxurious homes. “The Seasons Matrix collection offers a diverse selection of soft, warm tones, while the new flame-retardant fabrics feature unique styles with captivating colours and textures,” she said.

The Live Home concept introduced by Seasons Furnishings involves curating and showcasing the best statements from around the world. This collection includes upholstery fabrics and lifestyle products designed to enhance overall interior space decoration, added Kaur. Mandeep Wadhwa shared that each design is carefully handpicked to cater to the diverse themes demanded by the hospitality segment, allowing architects, designers, and individual customers to customize their styles, whether traditional, contemporary, minimalist, or modern.

Seasons Textiles Ltd, member group company, which also completed 35 years is engaged in weaving upholstery outdoor, drapery in FR and non-FR also produces outdoor and sheer fabrics. “We continue to export 80% of production to USA, UK and Europe apart from Southeast countries”, said Inderjeet Wadhwa, Managing Director,

Seasons Textiles Limited, New Delhi. “The demand currently is lower because of various global issues in last 3-4 years and now covid eliminated company expects demand to revive. Once the market is stable and on upward trend, we hope to substantially increase our business, add Inderjeet further. We hope the future market conditions improves as we are also planning to add some more machinery to improve value addition further on fabrics for high end markets,” he added. F&FI

Richard Wagner, 87, Former Knoll Textiles VP

CEDAR

GROVE, N.J.—Dick Wagner, the former Vice President & General Manager of the textiles division of Knoll International died April 20, 2024, from complications following a stroke.

He was known to his friends as ‘Bucky’.

Wagner built a successful career in textiles beginning with F. Schumacher & Co., but he spent most of his career with Knoll International as Vice President and General manager of its textiles division starting in 1977.

Wagner was also a co-founder of ACT, the contract fabrics industry trade organization. He also founded his own company, ConTex International.

Wagner was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., March 25, 1937. He graduated Syracuse University cum laude in 1958 where he earned a BFA degree. He served four years in the National Guard, earning an honorable discharge in 1963.

He would have celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife Alice on May 17th, 2024.

He had two children, Amanda, and Grant. Amanda Eaton is the design director of Arc/Com, an important contract jobber in Orangeburg, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bucky’s honor to Tunnel to Towers Foundation. F&FI

Tanveen Wadhwa, Marketing Manager; Manjit Kaur, Creative Director; Mandeep Wadhwa, Managing Director of Seasons Furnishings Limited

Richard Wagner

Abed’s, 60-Year-old Barbados Retailer Keeps Finding Fabric Niches

By Rolando Henao

BARBADOS

— Abed’s, a 60-year-old retailer and wholesaler of all types of fabrics in Barbados will open its third store in this island nation of 300,000 people.

The Abed’s brand is associated with fabrics, from upholstery and drapery goods to uniforms and fashion. They import goods from many different parts around the world, with some private label programs, and are always looking for niches in the market.

The country, as most countries, has gone through difficult years since the pandemic. Some competitors have gone out of busi-

ness. But Abed’s continues to find avenues to grow focusing on crafts, custom work for home and personal apparel, events, and hospitality.

The company is managed by Eddy Abed, second generation and a civil engineer by trade. Eddy’s daughter, Nikita, is already firmly in charge of the company’s marketing and merchandising, as well as purchasing, while his son, Alex works as the comptroller and operations director.

This is clearly a continuation of what Eddy’s father Shouket and mother Milly started way back in the 50s, when they migrated to Barbados via Trinidad and eventually took a chance starting their own business in 1964. Now, in its third generation, Eddy sees the name Abed’s as an important part of the family legacy associated with hard work and quality. No doubt if his parents were alive today they would be proud.

Shouket originally migrated from Syria and his three pillars were: learn English, understand what people want, and be grateful. After hearing Eddy talk for a while, it is clear that understanding people and being

This is part of a digitally printed collection for Abed’s of Barbados.The top fabric shows typical scenes and colors from Barbados. Abed’s has used this collection in several ways in all types of accessories and indoor and outdoor furniture Abed Shouket,the founder and his wife Milly are depicted on the fabric.

grateful are still at the heart of this family run fabric business.

Eddy joined the company in the early 80s and spent the following 40 years working the floor and learning all aspects of the business. A long way from where Shouket started a few decades earlier, by going door to door, looking for new clients and giving credit with no other system than a notebook and the trust that they would pay every month the agreed amount… a system really based on trust. As you talk to other merchants and traders from similar origins in the region, you realize they have this thread in common, trust and an unbreakable work ethic and strong desire to become part of the community and above all else, failure was never an option! F&FI

Barbados is an island country in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, located some 100 miles east of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Gap at night

Typical Barbados house

Barbados is a very green island

Painter painting The Crane Hotel

Left to right: Alex Abed (Eddy's son), Eddy, Nikita (Eddy's daughter)

Hunte’s Garden, a must see

Angel’s Product Innovations Boost Drapery Linings Growth

F&FI News Network

INDIANOLA, PA—Angel’s Distributing

Inc. started as a small mom and pop business in 1970 in a 1,000 square foot basement and is now a major drapery linings importer with nearly 40,000 square feet in warehouse space in this suburb of Pittsburgh, PA.

“We added and grew product lines and were forced to outsource these products due to many USA mills closing,” explains Taylor Angel, Vice President in charge of marketing and sales. She is the daughter of the founder Ralph Angel, CEO and his wife Karen, CFO. Her brother Niko is COO and oversees all operations.

“Through the outsourcing of products, we have been able to bring expected quality at appreciated pricing to our customers,” Taylor says.

Today, Angel’s sources product from the USA, UK, New Zealand, Turkey, Taiwan, Pakistan, and China.

The need to source internationally was pushed by the customer who wanted a greater variety of linings. “The lining industry years ago was always basic linings,” Taylor explains. ”There were no high-end levels years ago, but we have been able to make a difference in developing new products such as napped sateen, soft blackout, English bump cloth, and many other items

that contributed to the growth of the lining industry. This helped enhance the overall luxurious look of custom-made window treatments in the market today.”

Taylor continues: “We carry a complete line of over 300 sku’s of drapery linings, which include 100% cotton sateen, 50/50 sateen, 70/30 linings, interlinings, heavy flannels, FR products, blackouts, dimouts, shower curtain linings, pillow ticking ining, decorative pillow inserts, threads, buckram and drapery weights. Angel’s also has some fashion fabrics ‘dribbled’ in like decorative blackouts with seven patterns and about 30 colors per pattern. We also carry 130’’ wide FR sheer batiste and sheer voile.”

Pieces make up the bulk of the business for Angel’s with cut order accounting for about ten percent of the overall business, Taylor says. “We offer all our product lines to our customers in cut yardage pricing, bolt pricing, case pricing and contract pricing. The percentage

of business between cut and pieces has remained the same split throughout the years but the sales growth of cuts and pieces has gone up equally.”

“We have an entirely separate cutting service we offer for our 110’’ wide blackouts. We will do all custom cuts, book folded with cardboard inserts, with side marks and shipped in a sturdy box which makes the 110’’ wide program affordable by bypassing the common carrier charges for the wide blackouts that come on a straight tube.”

Angel’s is currently enjoying the 4th family generation management but this is expected to change with the birth of Taylor’s first child this past April. F&FI

Niko Angel

Karen and Ralph Angel

Ralph, Karen, Taylor and Niko Angel at warehouse entrance

Angel warehouse