ARTS Awards Finalists Announced

Dallas Market Center (DMC) and the Accessories Resource Team (ART) have announced the finalists for the 20^th Annual ARTS Awards. The ARTS Awards honor excellence in the home decorative accessories industry every January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, January 14-20, 2009. This year’s gala will take place Saturday, January 17, 2009, in The Grand Pavilion at DMC’s Trade Mart for finalists.

In November, the judges will convene in Dallas to review each finalist’s portfolio submission, which include company history, philosophy, product development, marketing, merchandising and customer relations. Click here for a complete list of finalists for the 20^th Annual ARTS Awards.

SFC Announces New Name, Consumer Survey Results

The Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC) has changed its full name to the Sustainable Furnishings Council to better reflect the diversity of its growing membership. The non-profit coalition of suppliers, manufacturers, importer, retailers and designers is approaching 300 members in every facet of the home furnishings industry. While still focused on residential furnishings, the group has constituents in accessories, lighting, rugs and other more.

Meanwhile, the SFC has concluded a consumer study of awareness, attitudes and interests regarding green issues in the home furnishings industry. Overall, the study found that many consumers plan to reduce spending on furniture in the next year, restoring an emphasis on long-lasting quality and fair price as significant motivations nearly equal to style. Environmental concerns are lower on the list, but almost half report that they are at least very interested in global warming and have started doing what they can, with the number-one action being to buy a variety of green products.

Very few consumers surveyed have purchased green home furnishings, largely due to the lack of awareness and/or availability of options at their stores. However, a significant number were interested in buying green products if they liked the style and cost. The survey suggests that there is a market for green home furnishings that will continue to grow over time, though style, quality and pricing will remain the main drivers.

NYIGF Recognizes Accent On Design Exhibitors

Four exhibitors in the juried Accent on Design division of New York International Gift Fair, August 16-21, were recognized for design creativity and ingenuity. Accent on Design awards were presented to:

Best New Product Design:

• Artecnica, for the WirePod designed by Jors Laarman.

Best Collection:

• Wabnitz Editions LTD, for nurturing up-and-coming designers as well as established favorites.

Best Booth Presentation:

• J. Fold, for its approach to displaying soft goods.

Best Booth Presentation:

• sällbo design, for its integration of merchandise that blurs the line between display and product.

 

New York Home Textiles Market Announces Best New Products Winner

New York Home Textiles Market at The New York International Gift Fair, August 16-21, honored designers of bed, bath, dining and home accessory textiles. The winners are:

Best Of Market:

• Andrew Morgan Collection, for its Palace Gates sustainable knitted blanket.

Bed Category:

• Winner: Cuddledown, for its limited edition “World’s Lightest Comforter.”
• Finalist: Luxe Brands International, for its Malaike silk-piped bedding collection.
• Finalist: Plover Organic, for its organic-certified cotton bedding collection.

Bath Category:

• Winner: Matteo, for its Ida Baby Bathrobe, made of quilted organic linen with low-impact dyes.
• Finalist: Forza & Home Turkish Towel Collection, for its hand-loomed waffle towel.
• Finalist: Matouk, for its Orlo Towel Collection.

Dining Category:

• Winner: Settings by Mona, for its fringe tablecloth and chair cap.
• Finalist: Alexandre Turpault, for its Ambre tablecloth.
• Finalist: Pom Pom At Home, for its Belle napkin and placemat.

Home Accessories Category:

• Winner: Shades of India, for its Moonbeam Cushion Cover.
• Finalist: Fino Lino, for its Anniversary Patchwork Pillow.
• Finalist: Sheets & Co., for its Silk Trading Company’s Drapery-By-Design Boutique Collection.

WithIt Honors 2008 WOW Award Recipients

Women in the Home Industries Today (WithIt) has named four professionals as recipients of the organization’s 2008 WOW Awards during an evening gala held in conjunction with the group’s annual Education Conference. Additionally, the President’s Award was presented to Mary Frye while Kathy Wall was recognized for her years of service on the WithIt Board of Directors.

The 2008 WOW Award winners include:

• Christy DiFoggio, President and CEO of Genre Brands Communications, Inc., who received the Future Leader Award, given to an individual who is younger than 40 for outstanding achievement and potential to become an industry leader.
• Ed Tashjian, Vice President of Marketing, Century Furniture, who received the Mentoring Award, given to an executive or organization that has fostered the advocacy, development or promotion of women in their company.
• Jaclyn Hirschhaut, Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for The American Home Furnishings Alliance, who received the Education Award, given to a manufacturing executive or company for the creation of programs to educate associates, retailers or consumers about home furnishings.
• Dianne Ray, President of Garden City Furniture, was awarded the Legacy Award, given to a woman who has made significant lifetime contributions to the home furnishings industry. Honored with her were Emily Morrow, Director of Color, Style and Design for Shaw Industries; and Peggy Burns, Owner and Vice President of Circle Furniture.

The 2008 WithIt WOW Award recipients, (from left) Dianne Ray, Christy DiFoggio, Jaclyn Hirschhaut, Ed Tashjian and Mary Frye, were honored at a gala during the organization’s Education Conference.

CMI Announces Renaissance Collection With Sunbrella Yarn

cmi (Colonial Mills, Inc.), a manufacturer of braided-texture area rugs and accessories, has partnered with Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, LLC to create the new Renaissance Collection using a new recycled Sunbrella yarn from Glen Raven’s Renaissance Recycling program.  The rectangular indoor/outdoor rug, made of 100 percent Sunbrella fiber, is fade and stain resistant. The Renaissance Collection has a flat-braid construction, making the rugs durable and reversible. In addition, Sunbrella technology enables the rug to resist fading while retaining its softness.

New Sunbrella yarns were developed for the braided-rug construction and feature 50 percent recycled content from manufacturing and downstream waste, and the 50 percent new Sunbrella fiber maintains color consistency.  Six patterns are available in 12 colorways, which can be customized to a consumer’s specific needs.

cmi’s new Renaissance Collection, produced in partnership with Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, includes 50 percent recycled fibers.

Cohen Welcomes Natori

During the New York International Gift Fair, Richard Cohen, a prominent tenant at 7W New York known for distributing fine tableware and accessories, introduced a wide range of luxurious decorative pillows and throws from the Natori Gift Collection for the Home in his 9^th Floor 7W showroom (Suite 907).

Joining in the celebration of the distribution partnership is (left to right) Richard Cohen, Karen Wolfskehl of HomeFashion magazine, Ken Natori, Josie Natori and Su Hilty of 7W New York.

Uttermost Expands Virginia Facility

Accent furniture and decorative accessory manufacturer Uttermost is expanding its Virginia headquarters by more than 100,000-square-feet, putting the facility at nearly 600,000-square-feet total. The addition will accommodate inventory storage of the company’s growing accent furniture division and additional product categories. Slated for completion by September 1^st, the expansion complements another 200,000-square-foot storage facility nearby, a factory in China and Uttermost’s West Coast distribution center.

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