Atretis to Debut at Showtime

-- Home Textiles Today, 11/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

High Point, N.C. —

Atretis, a Casablanca-based upholstery fabrics mill, has entered the U.S. market and joined the International Textile Market Association, with plans to introduce a new collection of fabrics at Showtime being held here Dec. 6-9.

Atretis is a vertical weaver of jacquard woven qualities and jacquard velvets. Fabric compositions include cotton, cotton blends, linen, linen blends, viscose, and polyester. Constructions address residential and decorative accent applications. Price points vary from premium to sharply priced goods, according to the company.

The 18-year-old mill began planning expansion into the United States following the 2006 signing of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement and has been working with the American Chamber of Commerce in Casablanca,. It employed American expertise in creating fabric for the U.S. market.

Atretis’ U.S. operations are based in Miami through Globaxion Inc., an American company which represents Moroccan manufacturers in the U.S. The Miami office handles U.S. sales, logistics, customer service and fulfillment. Atretis has also lined up a sales force to cover the country.

“We’ve decided to enter this market under no illusions, fully aware of the challenges the economic downturn has created. Our strategy is that of long term. As the economic engines start to recover, it is our vision that we would have been established and have become an integral part of the fiber of this market,” said Sami Samir, Atretis’ head of U.S. operations.