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Five questions: Spotlight on designer Bess Rosefield

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 13, 2005

GTT:Did you fall in love with textiles early or were you just friends for a long time and then discovered it had grown into love?
Bess Rosefield: "I grew up in Raleigh, N.C., and spent much of my childhood involved in the theater. I spent a lot of time on the stage and just as much time sneaking around the costume shop playing with costumes, fabrics and buttons, but most of all I loved trying on all the old hats. So I guess you could say I was exposed to the bright, fun and creative fabric design at age six and the bug bit me right away."
GTT:What part of your work gives you the most joy?
BR: "I really like working with customers. It's a business and we all want to be successful, but we take a creative road to success. We create our business through color and pattern, and our industry provides people with a place to sit and relax. I believe that the creative process we go through shouldn't be easy, but it should be fun and challenging. That is the best part of the job. "Actually, THE best part of the job is when people ask me what I do and I tell them about it. I'm usually smiling ear to ear and at some point I say how much I love it. I know A LOT of people who do not love their job, or even like their job, and they don't really enjoy discussing work. I am at a point in my career where I can say 'I LOVE IT!' I owe much of my happiness to Chip Stroup. We have managed to put together a unique balance of goals, creativity and mutual respect."
GTT:What's the downside of your job?
BR: "I get tired of all the negative discussion regarding textile manufacturing offshore. Doesn't everything change, in every industry? We are going through changes too. Adapt. Challenge yourselves. For me, it has to be a positive experience with positive goals; if not, it isn't worth doing. I'm very proud to be working with so many domestic mills.
"We are dealing with a consumer that is more educated about home fashion than ever before. Thank you HGTV and Discovery Channel! The consumer is no longer afraid of color, so give them a better reason to buy something other than price. That's been the hardest part of this business for me — I think it's hard for management to take the risk that creative people thrive on. But the biggest risks can bring the biggest rewards!"
GTT:What's your favorite color?
BR: "I have about 50. I can't say I have one favorite color. I love color combinations! I recently told Chip that if I was only allowed to design one thing, it would be a stripe. He quickly followed up with, 'How many stripes?' What a great salesman!"

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