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Julian, Sullivan: An official team at last

By Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, January 16, 2005

High Point — Alexander Julian and John Sullivan Jr. are longtime friends and — at last — collaborators on the Alexander Julian for American Silk collection of luxury upholstery fabrics.

The initial line, which debuted at last week's Showtime, features silk fabrics, including 100% silk-faced, silk and wool blends, and silk and rayon blends. About a dozen patterns are in a broad range of colorways, bringing total SKUs in the line to about 175. Prices for the domestically produced fabrics range from $12 to $30.

Considering that Julian, CEO of Alexander Julian Inc., is first and foremost a textile designer, and that Sullivan is president and the sixth generation of his family to oversee American Silk, the collaboration seems natural, but the pairing was some time coming. They did work together earlier on an apparel line.

"I've known John for a long time," Julian said. "I've always enjoyed his joie de vivre and incredible enthusiasm about his product. My wife jokes that we might have been separated at birth because of the similarities in how we approach life."

In the end, it was Julian's wife, Meagan, who suggested the obvious match-up.

Julian said his life is informed by his passion for textile design: "Textile design is the core of every problem I try to solve." He has been designing home furnishings for over 10 years, including case goods for Universal Furniture and upholstery for Décor-Rest.

A second round of Julian/American Silk introductions this spring will focus on Julian-inspired colors of American Silk's exclusive high-end Sensuede fabric. Print advertising will accompany this launch.

American Silk's upscale heritage goes back to 1896. The vertically integrated, design-driven company has manufacturing facilities in Plains, Pa., design studios, showroom and sales offices in High Point, and corporate headquarters in New York.

Julian oversees a comprehensive line of men's and women's luxury apparel, home furnishings and home décor products. He is the only fashion designer to win the American Society of AlFurniture Designers Pinnacle Award for outstanding furniture collection design.

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Julian, Sullivan: An official team at last

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