Domestic Fabrics Gaining Ground
Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, May 4, 2011
C.R. Laine’s Marcoux sofa in a cover from David Rothschild Co. in Tweedle Dee Maple.
HIGH POINT - Upholstery furniture manufacturers were showing more covers from domestic mills at this month's High Point Market, and the mills are saying that they're beginning to see a pick-up in their business.
In fact, "Made in America" was a central theme in sales pitches throughout the April market, particularly in the mid-to-upper price points. While the appeal was a subtle nod to helping the U.S. economy, other factors were the driving force behind the switch from imports to domestic.
A key factor, according to several factories touting U.S. goods, is that because of the increased cost of labor and transportation, inconsistency in product quality and long delivery times, the value of imported goods is not as high as it once was.
Several companies said that domestic mills are supplying them with more goods. Higher-end manufacturer 
The fabric on Taylor King’s Rockeliffe sofa is from STI and the pillow fabric is from Sunbury.
Taylor King, for example, said that its fabric covers are now 70-75% domestic.
"This particular market we were 65% (domestic) only because we bought from other countries excluding China. In particular, we steer clear of China because of the quality issues and delivery problems," said Tanya S. Comer, director of marketing.
"We've always supported our top five domestic mills (Valdese Group, Circa, Weave, Sunbury, Craftex)," she said, adding, "However, we have definitely steered even more domestic in the last three years - probably 20%.
"Certainly we have seen a significant move (to domestics) from the middle to the upper end, which is really our core business," said Debbie Lustig, vice president of Cone Jacquards.
C.R. Laine’s Shelburne swivel chair is in a Schooner Slate fabric from Marlatex.
"More than ever what I saw walking the market were manufacturers promoting domestically made product and getting a great response. And that's what we're seeing playing out in after-market orders," she said.
Lee Inds., one of the first manufacturers to go green with products, made a point of its domestic connections in everything from foam to packaging, saying that 98% of components are sourced from U.S. suppliers.
But its biggest challenge may be in fabrics, the company said, noting that domestic mills have been shutting their facilities. "For many years, Lee focused solely on domestically produced fabrics, but as production shifted to overseas suppliers, so did certain styles," the company said in a news release. "However, Lee has never backed down on its commitment to the community and the industry, and today its fabric is 69% domestically produced."
During High Point, the company said that, of the 65 SKUs introduced, more than 50% were entirely American-made. The company said it works with domestic mills in the design and production of fabrics suitable to 
Massoud’s 6901 sofa uses Valdese’s richly textured Loomed Admiral fabric for its cover and is designed to retail at $2,999.
the Lee brand.
"The mills love working with us because we love working with them," said Ginny Collett, Lee's fabric buyer. "It's about the business relationship and the community."
Walter Rothschild, president of David Rothschild Co., said six months ago that he heard that upholstery producers were turning to domestic mills for product "but I didn't see the action.
"Now, I think the action is starting a little bit. It's not a tidal wave by any means, but a little bitty rise on the water. It's a little duck floating on a wave ... it might continue to rise or drop down a little bit. But it's not been a big wave."
There have been some complaints from upholstery makers that domestic mills might be suffering from a shortage of yarn from spinners that they weave into fabrics, but Rothschild said "you can get as much as you want."
He cautions, however, that mills must plan ahead if they require imported yarn, especially colored yarns.
David Petrusch, vice president of marketing and design at Marlatex, said his company has been "experiencing 
This striking chair from Lee Inds. is covered with Valdese Weavers’ Pinnacle Taupe.
more interest in our product recently" since it is a U.S. made-to-order mill creating a niche product for today's casual lifestyle.
"Marlatex product is designed and produced specifically with the U.S. market in mind," he said. "With our increased business, we are receiving requests for shorter lead times, despite the fact that manufacturers are not taking into consideration the absence of suppliers to the textile industry that have closed their doors because of global sourcing."
Petrusch said that with limited suppliers for yarns, a handful of die houses, and complications purchasing machinery that has been sent overseas, capacity and lead times will continue to be an issue.
"Many of the best domestic mills in our time thrived with longer-than-anticipated delivery lead times," he added. "Their product was good and we forecasted orders to include these delays based on high demands of those times. There was a demand then for fabric produced in the U.S. As manufacturers now consider original designed and produced domestic product, it is my hope that Made in America will override the importance of price and delivery lead times."
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