Upholstery makers laud Showtime
Buyers happy with designs for Vegas, High Point
Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, December 20, 2005
HIGH POINT -- Upholstery manufacturers gave high marks to fabric introductions at Showtime here last week, and seemed happy with new designs they’ll be taking to Las Vegas in January and High Point in April.
“It’s real simple,” said Tom Jordan, president of Michael Thomas, when asked what he was looking for in new fabrics. “I’m interested in something that’s got curb appeal.”He was looking for fabrics that won’t be all over the marketplace, since Michael Thomas’ products go into five catalogs, and each book wants seating that will differentiate them from the crowd.This Showtime was about a month earlier than previous winter events, which may have contributed to what some said was sparse attendance.Regenia Payne, creative director of upper-end producer Vanguard, felt that “product was a little lighter than usual,” although she added, “I found some really great things.”Overall, she sees the market moving to “a cleaner, more graphic look, and a little more ‘casual’ traditional.” Payne also noted good values in plain cloths, and finer textures available in designs. Bruce Hirschhaut, vice president of marketing and sales for contemporary manufacturer Carter, gave the show good marks and said, “Scaling and coloration is a strong theme.” In particular, Hirschhaut liked Textile Fabrics Associates for “its creativity and design. The color palette is leading-edge” but still very salable. He also liked Bartson for its novelty fabrics, value and timely delivery.Despite the rising costs of raw materials for seating, particularly foam, Hirschhault didn’t think manufacturers were going to skimp on fabric. “I think they’re more willing to spend money to give products a fantastic look,” he said.Rona Greist, consultant for Paul Roberts, was impressed with “large-scale, clean, dramatic patterns, not just contemporary but traditional done in a crisper look for today.” In colors, she cited “fabulous corals and shrimps.”Terry Allen and Jennifer McConnell at Pearson liked the silks at Texture Inc., a first-time Showtime exhibitor from India. “Their line was lovely and their silks were a milestone in both design and color,” said Allen.Barclay Butera, CEO of the West Coast company bearing his name, cited silks at the show for accents, along with striped fabrics with a “bohemian feel” at Roth. Butera also was impressed with mills mixing rayon and linen, and rayon and cotton.The upholstery palette is said to take inspiration from apparel, but the husband-wife team of Fran and Arnold Sude, creative director and executive vice president, respectively, of Los Angeles-based color forecasting company Design Options, said that has changed.“The apparel and home furnishings industries have interfused and (new designs) are being shown on the floor at the same time,” Fran Sude said.Other factors shaping color trends in the home furnishings and apparel industries, the two said, are globalization and the blending of color cultures. Also, today’s population thinks younger, they said, with 60-somethings the new 40s.Some key colors from the forecasters include “fucshia everywhere,” pinks moving to corals, blues moving to lavenders, purples, burgundies, browns, tans and khakis, and bronze and silver metallics for contemporary. Plaids also are on the uptick, the Sudes said.
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Uph. makers laud Showtime
Jan 1, 2006
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