HIGH POINT — A mellow mood characterized Showtime Winter 2002 as more than 200 exhibitors showcased their latest lines for over 2,000 fabric buyers, undeterred by the droopy economy and fallout from the Sept. 11 attacks.
Shoppers were encouraged by a noticeable uptick in business during December, and strained expressions were gone from the faces of mill executives. There was a genuine, and almost universal, optimism about business in 2002.
Early forecasts for a winter storm, which did not materialize, may have caused some buyers to cancel travel plans, and several exhibitors had a list of no-shows on Monday. But none was discouraged because attendance was nevertheless within the normal range.
Catherine Morsell, director of show sponsor the International Textile Market Assn., said at-the-door registration was at an all-time high, and exhibitors told her that appointments and walk-up traffic both were up.
"Our customers and retailers are saying business is good and their December sales were just flying," said Ray King, president of Mastercraft. "Reaction to our line was excellent and everybody is more optimistic, and we're all ready for that. We were booked solid with appointments and had to turn some people away — if they didn't have an appointment, there was just no way to work them in."
Among busy showrooms that opened early and stayed busy until the show closed was Burlington Interior Fabrics, where Mike Durham, executive vice president, was elated by the support and enthusiasm shown for his company's new line. "We had our best pre-sell in memory, and for Showtime we had five showrooms about 100% booked."
At Cone Jacquards, "everyone's mood was upbeat and, response to the line was very good based on the sampling and the compliments we got on the new line," according to Tom Finneran, senior vice president. Cone hasn't been a household name in furniture for a while, but the company aimed to strengthen its furniture business, Finneran said, and this season's line was "much more high-styled, and the price points are up. We aren't competing on price. We've gone another direction."
Something besides chenille
Buyers noted an abundance of soft, simple basecloths at several sources including Main Street Textiles and Mastercraft, and were gratified to find textures other than chenille.
"Thank goodness there was something besides chenille," said Beverly Murphy, who was shopping for her next two collections at BenchCraft. "Quaker was amazing, with everything from $3.50 to more than $20." Murphy especially liked the company's new Kashwere product and its soothing spa colors.
Faux suede was on a lot of shopping lists, and several producers offered new directions in the category, including Milliken, which introduced PerSuede, a velvet that marks like a suede but is actually a twill weave. The fabric, with a price point of about $4.50, is made entirely in the United States, including the microdenier polyester fiber from which is it is constructed.
Tammy Branham, shopping for PFC Pioneer and Longhorn Leather, liked a new product called Stagecoach that was introduced at Deitsch Plastic, as well as the easy-care story at Microfibres on its MicroSuede line of faux suede.
Alice Stegall and Bob Williams, shopping for Mitchell Gold's April covers, were impressed with several lines, including the new linen constructions at Chris Stone, basecloths at Mastercraft, small scale plaids at Elizabeth Weaving and a menswear-look plain at Bartson Fabrics.
Bob Eller, vice president of sales and merchandising at Alexvale, said manufacturers are "doing a better job of introducing color." Eller liked the juiced-up warp colors like buttercup, bottle, petal and aqua that he saw at Craftex as well as the lines he saw at Hoffman, Covington, Golding and others.
Producers known for a particular look, including Chris Stone and Valdese Weavers, took bold steps with design and construction to ensure they can no longer be pigeonholed. Those mills were notable among buyers for new lines with unexpected styling.
| ABOVE: Trio Leather drew attention to its booth with this hand-painted hide, done by local artist Sherry Camras. |
| LEFT: Wearbest Sil-Tex's Tom Notaro looks on as David McCoy shows the company's latest offerings to Bob Choppa, front, Marguerite Judge and Laurie Reed, all of Century. |
