Quaker takes aim at home textiles

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/20/2001 12:00:00 AM

Fall River, MA — In a move that signals a major push into the home textiles world, Quaker Fabric has hired Rosemary Taft as designer for bedding, a new post.

Taft, who begins work at Quaker in August, has been design director for Chris Stone & Associates. "We're delighted to have her joining us and she will work on other residential projects as well," said Larry Liebenow, president and ceo of the giant fabric mill. Quaker had sales of $303 million in 2000. Taft will report to Bea Spires, vp, styling and design.

Quaker already has significant home textiles business with several key customers in top of the bed as well as decorative pillows, mostly using standard width fabrics.

The new effort opens the possibility of purchasing wide looms for top of the bed. "We have a lot we can do with standard width goods. And there are a lot of issues in finishing wide width goods. We're continuing developmental work."