Valdese launches offshore fabrics program
By Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, January 1, 2006
Valdese, N.C. — Valdese Weavers is launching a business called Valdese International Products — V.I.P. for short — featuring goods produced offshore.
One part of the business will focus on designing and developing fabrics to be outsourced, and another on importing piece goods featuring all-silk fabrics.
Valdese President Mike Shelton said that in the outsourcing program, called China to China, the company will design and develop fabrics in the United States and work with mills in China or "anywhere in the world" to produce the goods.
Specifications will be adjusted to the capabilities of the offshore mills, he said.
Fabrics made offshore will be priced "significantly less" than American production, and will be produced within six weeks from receipt of order.
Designs will be primarily archival and translated into Chinese constructions, although original designs also will be offered. Valdese will own U.S. copyrights on the designs, Shelton said.
"V.I.P. has a quality control-logistics agency in China that will follow the progress of each production order, ensure on-time delivery and perform a 100% quality inspection before shipping," he added.
Valdese also will make the designs available for initial market samples produced in its mill here at U.S. prices. Roll goods also will be available from China for shipment to the United States.
V.I.P.'s import piece goods program, Silk Road, initially is offering two styles.
Charmeuse, in 36 colors, is a heavyweight (105 grams per square meter) Dupioni that will be available by the roll in 50- to 60-yard pieces, as a cut yardage program with a surcharge, and with a knit backing at a surcharge. It is $8.95 by the piece.
Copland is an up-the-roll stripe with a lustrous satin stripe against a matte ground. In six colors, it is offered the same way as Charmeuse. Copland is $16.95 by the piece.
Joel Crisp, director of global operations, is in charge of the program. Mark Moss, international product manager, will interface with the quality and supply chain agency in China.
-
Valdese to produce certain goods offshore
Dec 21, 2005
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
