April 2009 Issue

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  Consumers spending less on luxury

  Affluent shoppers are spending less on upscale home furnishings, according to marketing consulting firm Unity Marketing.

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  Nanofibers reduce foam flammability

  Carbon nanofibers have been found to reduce flammability of upholstered furniture when added in small amounts to polyurethane foams.

• Orders up at Las Vegas Market

  Orders were up for upholstery vendors at the Las Vegas Market in February.

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  Lacey Act postponed

  Enforcements of amendments to the Lacey Act for wood furniture products have been postponed for 10 months.

• AHFA supports formaldehyde standard

  The American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) favors a U.S. national standard on formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products, and that any U.S. rule should harmonize with global standards.

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  Furniture created for Obama inauguration

  Kittinger Furniture of Buffalo, N.Y., was commissioned to produce some of the furniture for Barack Obama's inauguration.

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  Recycled polyester fibers

  The Repreve fiber line from yarn producer Unifi now includes a recycled polyester staple fiber.

• Authenticating backing for Enduratex

  Enduratex is printing an identifying backing on its products to combat imitations and knock-offs.

• Blunt named YKK fastening business leader

  The YKK Corporation of America named Michael Blunt as fastening business leader for its north and central region, as well as president of its subsidiaries, YKK USA and Tape Craft Corporation.

• Design & Craftsmanship deadline extended

  The entry deadline for the Upholstery Journal 2009 Design & Craftsmanship Awards has been extended to May 15.

• CMI catalog emphasizes green products

  A new 40-page catalog from Colonial Mills Inc. (CMI) emphasizes its green initiatives and eco-friendly products.

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  Bright color trends for 2009

  Color and design trends suggest that consumers seek light, bright, uplifting palettes.

• Saving space in outdoor living areas

  >Outdoor living environments in urban areas are becoming more popular, and furniture makers are responding to the need for smaller-scale pieces.

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  Three collections play on trends

  The 2009 Collection from Bella-Dura includes three different groupings.

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  Fabric collections available in wholesale program

  Showcase Fabrics from Burch Fabrics offer a mix of traditional and contemporary fabric patterns created by Burch's own design staff.

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  Recycled, PVC-free heavy-duty material

  Wired from CF Stinson is made using 80-percent recycled material and is PVC-free.

• Environmentally friendly antimicrobial vinyls

  Dimensions from CMI Enterprises are coated with CMI's Nanocide Antimicrobial and are 99.9 percent resistant to Staphylococcus germs.

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  Environmentally friendly leather

  EcoHides from Danfield Inc. uses natural colorants, vegetable dyes and waxes on its leather without harming the environment.

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  Color-coordinated jacquards

  Duro Decorative from Duro Textiles is a color-coordinated jacquard line constructed from polyester and acrylic fibers that lend durability.

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  New warranty, water repellency

  Awning & Marine by Sunbrella, available from J. Ennis Fabrics, is now backed with a new 10-year limited warranty and is manufactured with a 25-percent increase in water repellency.

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  Extra-wide marine fabric

  Sunbrella 80 inch, available from J. Ennis Fabrics, is extra wide so there are fewer seams in boat tops and awnings.

• Solution-dyed acrylic for awnings and marine

  The Tempotest Collection, available from J. Ennis Fabrics, is suitable for awning and marine applications, and is available in a range of colors and designs.

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  Self-cleaning fabrics

  Tempotest Marine Collection, available from J. Ennis Fabrics, includes solids and tweeds in 47-inch and 60-inch widths.

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  Durable hemp textiles for residential use

  Hemp textiles from Hemp Traders can be stretched and pulled tight for repeated use without losing their shape.

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  Earth-inspired, earth-friendly collection

  The Winds of Change collection from Silver State combines designs influenced by the earth with earth-friendly production processes.

• Heavy-duty vinyl-coated polyester

  PVC 18 from Manart Hirsch Co. Inc. resists tearing, ripping and abrasion and is available in nine colors.

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  Polyester blockout fabrics

  SolvoTex No-Lite 335 and SolvoTex No-Lite Double Poly from Neschen Americas offer blockout effects suitable for hotel drapery, or theatrical or event applications.

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  Custom-printable, water-repellent fabrics

  Deko-Tex Lotos from Pacific Coast Fabrics can be printed for custom patterns on upholstery or umbrellas.

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  Earth-friendly blockout fabric

  SheerWeave Infinity from Phifer looks and acts like standard SheerWeave blockout fabric, but is PVC-free, 100-percent recyclable and manufactured from post-industrial waste byproduct.

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  Durable, maintenance-free collection

  Designed Fabrics by Phifer include a variety of dobbies, wicker weaves, stripes, jacquards and blends.

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  Durable fabric in crisp color palette

  The Country Living collection from Silver State mixes casual comfort and American aesthetics with Sunbrella performance.

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  Eco-friendly residential fabrics

  The Victor Group expanded its residential eco-fabrics line to include intricate tapestries and luxury chenille velvets.

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  Luxury high-performance fabric

  Fresca Tela from Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills Ltd. combines luxurious textures with high-performance construction.

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  Patterned headliner kits

  Optionz headliner kits from Headsup Industries are available in trendy patterns and textures.

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  Blockout fabric with flocked backing

  SheerWeave 7000 from Phifer uses a flocked backing to block light, providing maximum energy efficiency.

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  Matching antique chairs

  A pair of antique chairs gets revitalized with a little time and new materials.

• Antique upholstery trends

  Trends are more varied today than they were in the past.

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  Identifying tax benefits in the Recovery Act

  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a nearly $800 billion stimulus package that includes nearly $300 billion in potential tax savings.

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  Green upholstery products and processes

  Upholstery fabric manufacturers are implementing earth-friendly production processes and developing high-quality fabrics with eco-sensitive features.

• Simple tips for going green in your shop

  A list of ways to go green and cut costs.

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  Marketing your antique upholstery skills

  Antique restoration can be a profitable market to tap by marketing yourself in person and online.

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