Ellison First Asia Marks Year

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/12/2007 12:00:00 AM

New York —

Ellison First Asia celebrates its first anniversary next month, marking the merger of U.S.-based Ellison and China-based First Asia.

First Asia since 1999 has been sourcing product through a number of joint ventures with factories in China, and by early 2006 had become Ellison's largest trading partner, according to president Kevin Finlay.

"Today, Ellison has become a completely different company," he said. "The company truly is Chinese. We've modeled ourselves after what we think are the leading companies in the business."

Ellison First Asia last month opened a new, 9,100-square-foot New York showroom at 230 Fifth Avenue. In recent months, the company has expanded its design staff and added sheet programs and storage ottomans to its product mix.

In terms of top-of-bed, Finlay said, "The print business for us is good, the embroidered business is exploding, and the jacquard business looks promising."