American Down Assoc. joins HFPA

By Marvin Lazaro -- Home Textiles Today, 2/25/2002 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

After years of operating as an independent organization, the American Down Association (ADA) has agreed to join the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA) as the new American Down & Feather section, it was announced last week.

The last serving president of the ADA, Leo Hollander, will now assume the role of chairman of the new section and has also been made a member of the board of directors of the HFPA.

"We do have a lot of mutual agendas and concerns," said Hollander.

The section met for the first time under the HFPA banner on Feb. 6 and agreed to a mission and objective, which states: "To foster and further, by all lawful means, the common interests of the down and feather industry (dealers, buyers, sellers and processors of raw feathers and down) in the United States; to promote a spirit of cooperation among its members in advancing the common interests of the industry; and to increase the amount and improve the quality of service to users of the products of the industry and to the public."

Hollander, who is also the chairman and ceo of Boca Raton, FL-based Hollander Home Fashions, also said the new section will do more to promote itself, its products and the welfare of the industry. It will also discuss establishing a standard of labeling for down and feather products and will also be able to more effectively police itself.

"We're definitely able to get our message out more effectively now. We're going to meet on a regular basis instead of just for emergency situations or reacting to changes, and we're going to become a much more professional industry," said Hollander.

On a worldwide level, the section will retain its membership in the International Down and Feather Bureau. Also, the offices of the new section have been relocated from Sacramento, CA, to 355 Lexington Ave. here.

Members of the new section include Hollander Home Fashions, Allied Feather & Down Corp., American Fiber Industries, Atlas Father & Down, Blue Ridge Home Fashions, California Feather Co., EA International, Louisville Bedding Co., Pacific Coast Feather Co., Pillowtex Corp., United Feather & Down and WestPoint Stevens.