Showtime intros aim to raise styling bar
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, July 9, 2007
High Point — Most suppliers of performance fabric — including sources like Glen Raven, maker of Sunbrella; Richloom Fabric Group, which supplies Solarium; and Quaker Fabric, maker of Terrazzo — are focusing on expanding the indoor styling of their outdoor fabric lines.
Here's what was new at Showtime from other suppliers:
-
The Meridian Sun line of performance fabrics from Craftex Mills continues to expand, according to Denise Gutierrez, director of merchandising. The company added about 40 patterns this season. "We exclusively use polypropylene fiber from American Fibers and Yarns and a tapestry warp construction, which gives us unlimited styling ability," Gutierrez said.
-
Weave Corp. expanded its WeatherWize collection of performance fabrics with patterns that cover all style categories, from transitional and traditional to contemporary. WeatherWize is 100% polyester and available in an extensive color range.
-
Shuford Mills, maker of Outdura performance fabric, is looking for a larger piece of the indoor furniture market. "We want to create a consumer-recognized brand," said Natalie Scott, vice president of customer development, "and the key to that is having a solution-dyed acrylic product that works indoors and outside and is cleanable. It's that simple."
-
Ultrafabrics added more than 20 colors to its line of Ultraleather Brisa performance polyurethane, including metallic sterling and gilt as well as bright parrot, lawn and citrus greens, blues, apricot and mandarin orange. Brisa is also available in an outdoor version called Brisa Soleil. A new patent leather look was a big hit this season.
-
Valtekz, a specialist in synthetic leathers, faux skins and premium composite fabrics for both indoor and outdoor use, has launched the Celerie Kemble Volume 4 collection, which includes pearlized ostrich skin looks and a new eelskin pattern.
-
Tietex Interiors continues to enhance the color line and styling of its Murena line of pile fabrics, which boast the company's Body Guard brand of high-performance durability and ease of cleaning. The latest version has the look of cut velvet.
-
Big Kahuna Fabrics, a specialist in tropical prints for both interior residential and outdoor furniture, offers prints on bark cloth in acrylic and spun polyester constructions with inherent outdoor-worthy performance such as resistance to sun fading.
-
Marlatex continues to grow its Sunsation outdoor line, adding new looms at its plant especially to weave the product.
-
Altizer & Co. is growing its Al Fresco line of performance fabrics, which are available in full pieces, half pieces and cut-yardage programs.
-
Valdese Weavers' Extreme Weave collection, designed to perform at contract standards, is available in chenille, boucle, tapestries and damasks that will hold up in residential settings that include pets and children.
