Showtime attracts a diverse crowd

Susan M. Andrews, Fabric Editor -- Furniture Today, December 2, 2007

It's Showtime again — the time when fabric buyers of all kinds congregate in High Point to see the latest fabrics at the largest textile market in the Western Hemisphere.

Selections made at the show will dictate what furniture buyers see at the spring and summer furniture markets in High Point and Las Vegas, but not everyone at Showtime is in the furniture game.

Although the show historically attracts mostly home furnishings manufacturers, the number of buyers from other markets has grown steadily over the past few years.

According to the International Textile Market Assn., which sponsors the semiannual event for its members, the registration list now includes Hollywood costume designers and manufacturers of children's apparel, handbags and high-end women's clothing, as well as custom RV and luxury yacht designers.

Listen: I know there's a lot happening Monday evening, but please stop by the Showtime Soiree at Market Square and check out "Swift," which stands for Sample Waste Initiative in the Furniture and Textile Industries. Sue Patrolia of Regal Fabrics is spearheading this working group and is seeking ideas on ways that the industry can reduce and reuse the tons of fabric samples that are discarded every season.

The Studio at Showtime, introduced in December 2006, is back with more than a dozen design studios exhibiting original artwork and antique documents used for textile development. The Studio is open daily in the Suites at Market Square and stays open an hour longer than the fabric showrooms. So there is plenty of time for exhibitors to shop for designs on their own, as well as with key customers who want to have input on something exclusive.

The Trend Bank has been relocated within the Suites at Market Square to an area near the Studio at Showtime. The Trend Bank is a great opportunity to get a quick overview of the colors and styles of the season. You can see dozens of new fabrics at one time — without an appointment and at your own pace. Each sample is identified with the name and showroom location of its vendor, so if you see something that's just what you're looking for, you can go right to the source, right away.

Our traditional presentation of new fabrics, in musically inspired categories this time, begins on this page with Grace Notes, featuring a look at the fringes, braids, tassels and cords that give personality to furniture both indoors and out.

Grace notes

Classical Elements Delicate Touch

Conso/21421VNT39

American Trim/Kona

Bomar/Glitz

Tri-Tex/T510-18 and T500-18

Phoenix/Glitter

Summer salsa

Bartson Fabrics/Newport and Hype

Blumenthal/Fontana Red

Edgar Fabric/Fendi Limedrop

Robert Allen @ Home/Nautica

Belle Fabrics/Cisco

Chris Stone/Didi and Dottie

Glen Raven/Jakarta Jr. Sun

STI and Glen Read Design/Boogie Nights

Regal Fabrics/Triton Lime

MDS/Watlab Turquoise

Microfibres/Kirby

Wearbest/Briquette

Westlake/Crayola

Spring serenade

Chambers/Woodspring Seafoam

Decoviz/Stripe

Green Hides/EcoLife Natura

Morgan Fabrics/Domino Apple

Craftex/Rei

DeLeo/Infinity and Silky

Heritage House/Empire Haze

Showcase/Nile Desert

American Silk/Springtime

JLA/Malay

Softline/Bel Air Ocean

LTM/Plaintain, Petal and Prism

Swavelle/Alondra and Stripe

Autumn adagio

Bravo/Anatolia

Dicey/Zeppelin Autumn

Home Fabrics by Wesley Mancini/Perricone

Merrimac/Persian

David Rothschild/Huntington Teak

Fabricut/Extraordinary Spicy Bronze

Home Fabrics by Wesley Mancini/Perricone

King Textiles/Kahuna

Lady Fabrics/Wool Luxe

Marcovaldo/LaPlata Wine and tassel

Merrimac/Persian

Peachtree Fabrics/Damon Twig

Valiant/Century Linen

Weave/Villa d'Este Ombre

King Textiles/Kahuna

Peachtree Fabrics/Damon Twig

Charles Martel/Oriental

Lady Fabrics/Wool Luxe

Valiant/Century Linen

Marcovaldo/LaPlata Wine and tassel

Weave/Villa d'Este Ombre

Winter nocturnes

Big Kahuna/Maluhia

Cone/Foundation

Diversitex/Merlin

Gilman/Phenix Plain

Circa 1801/Panponne

Mitchell Group/1475

Portfolio/Jet Set

Richloom/Implosion

TFA/Dacca

the leather collection/Taboo

United Home/Halo

Valdese Weavers/Barbeau Onyx

VIP/Baroque