Sunham expands scope of imports

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Sunham

New York

President: Howard Yung

Principal businesses: Quilts, sheets, pillowcases, duvets, dust ruffles, shams

Sunham has been sourcing textiles out of China to the United States since 1956. Like most companies, this one began simply, with table linens, making the switch to quilts in 1990.

Since then, Sunham has expanded its product line to nearly all types of bedding, specializing in embroidered designs.

"China may have opened up, but one thing you can't turn your back on — it's still about relationships," said president Howard Yung.

Sunham also has a permanent office in Shanghai focused on quality control, documentation and packaging issues.

Sunham owns no production facilities of its own. Rather, it works with a network of factories and sewing houses across the country, depending upon their expertise.

The nucleus of Sunham's operation is its New York-based design studio, which turns out up to 36 new quilt designs every market.

More recently, the company has branched out into the sourcing brokerage business, working with retailers and one major mill to develop and shepherd private label programs for its core products as well as rugs, blankets, griege goods and fabrics.