The International Textile Alliance (ITA) hosted its highly anticipated Interwoven Summer 2023 show, attracting a massive influx of upholstery buyers eager to explore the latest trends in the industry. The event featured an array of captivating color and texture stories designed to inspire furniture manufacturers across all price points.
One of the show’s standout collections was Stroheim’s Color II, showcased prominently in Fabricut’s showroom. The collection boasted an explosion of bold and beautiful textile colors, leaving passersby mesmerized in the newly established Market Square location. Fabricut, known for its fashion-forward products catering to designers and high-end furniture companies, delighted in the enthusiastic response from customers.
“We’re showing wonderful ground fabrics and beautiful colors, and we’re offering buyers a lot of product,” said Ben Cain, a sales representative for Fabricut. The vibrancy of the colors resonated well with buyers, reaffirming the brand’s commitment to providing unique and captivating offerings.
Meanwhile, at South Pacific Textiles, texture remained king. Cathy Smith, a company representative, emphasized the enduring appeal of texture and noted the introduction of warmer hues and “perfectly imperfect” textures in their fabric lineup. Rustic, textured linens at affordable price points, as well as geometric textures featuring color palettes of rust, terracotta, and honey or amber, were among the highlights.
In a different part of town, Sunbrella’s new showroom at Congdon Yards offered a stunning view of High Point’s baseball stadium. The expansive space was bathed in natural light, displaying collections from floor to ceiling. Key introductions included outdoor fabrics by Richard Frinier and the Luxury Plains group, which showcased neutral tones and a soft hand. Greg Voorhis, executive design director at Sunbrella, expressed pride in their extensive offering of body cloths, ensuring customers can find the perfect fabric for their needs.
Voorhis also highlighted Sunbrella’s commitment to sustainability and the cyclical economy. “People are investing in their furniture, recovering heirloom pieces, and we want to contribute to that,” he stated. “We’ve created opportunities for performance fabric solutions at different levels, inspiring a new luxury that is more accessible to customers.”
Congdon Yards was buzzing with activity, as Culp’s new showroom wowed visitors with a range of introductions, best sellers, and a special exhibition featuring fabrics designed by recent graduates from North Carolina State’s Wilson College of Textiles. Robert “Iv” Culp IV, excitedly shared, “This is the first time in 20 years that all of our products have been together. We’re thrilled to showcase the new space.”
Culp’s LiveSmart Solutions line stole the spotlight with its versatile indoor/outdoor fabrics suitable for any area of a home. Tammy Buckner, senior vice president of marketing and design at Culp, highlighted the line’s unique features, including a solution-dyed yarn that is bleachable and incredibly soft. Buckner emphasized its performance fabric attributes, being PFAS-free and drawing inspiration from nature and natural aesthetics.
Looking ahead to 2024, the Interwoven Trend Galleries proved to be a major attraction. Curated by global trend forecasting agency Fashion Snoops and sponsored by leading industry players like Crypton Home Fabric, De Leo, Springs Creative, and Culp Upholstery Fabrics, these galleries provided a glimpse into future consumer sentiments through textile introductions. Four distinct textile themes for the spring and summer of 2024 were showcased: Ease, Vitality, Divine, and Honored Legacy.
As the Interwoven Summer 2023 show comes to a close, industry professionals and designers are brimming