FIT Breakfast to Bestow Honors

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/10/2008 12:00:00 AM

New York —

The Fashion Institute of Technology Home Products Development department will hold the 12th Annual Home Products Development Fundraising Breakfast on Tuesday, Feb. 12 to honor four industry executives.

The event will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street, 7 a.m. - 9 a.m.

The Industry Leader of the Year Award will go to Neil Cole, president, ceo and chairman of Iconix Brand Group. Iconix last year acquired the Cannon, Royal Velvet, Fieldcrest and Charisma brands. At this week's market, Iconix-owned Badgley Mischka and London Fog will launch in home under licensing agreements.

This year's Outstanding Achievement Award will be given to Arthur Tauber, chairman of Avanti Linens. The leader in the embellished towel business and the dominant brand in the category at department and specialty stores, Avanti was founded in 1969 by Tauber and his wife Sandra. After 37 years of producing towels, Avanti expanded into fully coordinated bath accessories last year.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Fred Richman, president emeritus, and James Richman, president, Richloom Fabrics Group. The converter has grown over the years into a creator of decorative fabrics for the counter piece, jobber, furniture, casual furniture, recreational vehicle and hospitality trades as well as finished home textiles for the retail trade. Last year, the company launched a new trading company, Richloom Shanghai Trading, to pursue global business.

For tickets and information contact Vicki Guranowski at vicki_guranowski@fitnyc.edu or (212) 217-7820.