Valdese Launches V.I.P. Division

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/15/2005 1:40:00 PM

VALDESE, N.C. – Valdese Weavers is launching a new business, Valdese International Products (V.I.P.), a two-pronged effort: one that is focused on designing and developing fabrics to be sourced off-shore; the other, an imported piece goods program featuring all-silk fabrics.

In the off-shore program “we will design and develop the fabrics in the United States,” said Mike Shelton, president of Valdese. “We will then source the fabrics off-shore with specific mills that we work with for customers that already have cut-and-sew capabilities abroad.” Designs will be both archival and original. While other countries can be involved, V.I.P. is referring to the program as China-to-China. A key plus, Shelton emphasized, is that “V.I.P. has a quality control and logistics agency in China that will follow the progress of each production order, ensure on-time delivery, and perform a 100-percent quality inspection before shipping.”

The import piece goods program, Silk Road, will initially offer two styles, Charmeuse and Copland, to complement Valdese core offerings. Charmeuse in 36 colors is a heavy weight Dupioni at 105 grams/square meter, available by the roll in 50- to 60-yard pieces, as a cut yardage program with a surcharge, and with a knit backing at a surcharge. Copland is an up-the-roll stripe featuring a lustrous satin stripe against a matte ground. In six colors, it also is offered in the same ways as Charmeuse. By the piece, Charmeuse is $8.95, Copland is $16.95.

Joel Crisp, director of global operations, is in charge of the program; Mark Moss, international product manager, will interface with the quality and supply chain agency in China.