Chateau d'Ax: Interpreting fashion, style
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 3, 2002
Chateau d'Ax, favored for its stylish contemporary designs, has become a high-end department store staple.
"It's not a question of staying ahead," contends Harry Cierler, director of North American operations. "It's a question of being ahead of the styles. We continue to push the envelope. We look at fashion trends in apparel and in cloth upholstery and interpret it as we see it."
The Italian manufacturer, which penetrated the American marketplace a decade ago, today derives 40% — its biggest share — from U.S. programs, followed by another 25% in sales from Italy. Some 4,000 seats are produced weekly.
"We're still growing at a healthy rate," Cierler said. "The leather manufacturers and the tanneries are able to show better values today than ever before, and that is being recognized."
Leather remains its workhorse, but approximately 7% of Chateau d'Ax's April market offerings will feature microfiber. The pseudo-suede covering was added two years ago to address American tastes.
The growth of Chateau d'Ax has been underscored by the opening of a 100,000-square-foot leather production facility in Romania last fall (2001) — its first facility outside of Italy.
"We're doing whatever is necessary to stay ahead in order to compete in the world market. Romania is our China," Cierler said, citing inexpensive labor.
The company, which has always employed a good/better/ best story, is stepping up its line by incorporating even better Italian leathers. As Cierler said, "We have no place to go but up."
-
Chateau d'Ax opens 1st Chinese leather plant
Oct 31, 2004 -
Vitello joins Brinkel as U.S. sales director
Jul 22, 2007 -
Leather sources go globe-trotting
Apr 21, 2004
Featured Company
-
Wright Labels
Bill and Tom Wright founded Wright of Thomasville in 1961 on the idea that printing was a creative medium and the belief that "a promise made is a promise kept." The Wright brothers focused their attention on providing exceptional printing for the... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
