Share this on

Letter to the editor

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

Letter 'misstated the facts'

I would like to respond to Roger Berkley's letter to the editor titled "China conducting 'no-holds-barred assault' on U.S. textile industry" on page 38 in the Feb. 28 Furniture/Today. I respect that Berkley is entitled to his opinion, but he has simply misstated the facts.

The International Textile Market Assn. has never existed to promote or support any particular mill and/or country of origin. Our charter has always been to offer a professional show to our customers and to support our educational initiatives. His assertion that the ITMA has evolved from a U.S. organization to an organization run by and for international firms is simply not accurate. While it really isn't relevant, I must point out that our board of directors is made up of a majority of American companies.

In regard to moving the show dates, he states, "It's an intentional step to undercut the business of American mills by the Chinese and those converters that are foreign based." To suggest that there is some kind of conspiracy between the ITMA and its international members, specifically China, is ridiculous. In today's global market there is no room for xenophobia.

Moving the dates of Showtime has not interfered with any member's ability to preview their line. If our customers want Showtime to occur in December and June, then it is logical that the previews will now occur in November and May. Every exhibitor at Showtime will have to move its development schedule forward by one month, so I fail to see his issue here. It is important to point out that we surveyed our customers and members regarding the change in show dates. Our decision was based solely on the results of the survey.

What Berkley fails to mention in his letter is that he actively imports fabric from China via his Glasgall Silk Co. To quote the listing on the Weave Corp. Web site: "In the fall of 2000, Weave Corporation began developing 100% silk upholstery fabrics in China through its Glasgall Silk Company division." This is an obvious double standard. It seems that importing fabric is acceptable only when he defines the terms. Perhaps Berkley is one of the "American industry veterans" that he says "should be ashamed of themselves."

Jack Cobb, president, American Decorative Fabrics, president, International Textile Market Assn.

Share this on

China conducting 'no-holds-barred assault' on U.S. textile industry

Mar 13, 2005

Letters to the Editor

Apr 10, 2005

Also by this author

Also by Staff Staff

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