With Rosenfeld's retirement, Lee takes reins

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 1/12/2004 12:00:00 AM

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. —

Shannon Lee, one of the two founders-principals of Claridge Textiles International, has bought out Joe Rosenfeld, the other founder-principal.

"Joe is retiring, and I bought out his shares," said Lee, "and we are expanding our facilities, staff and product mix."

Rosenfeld, a longtime textile industry executive, formed Claridge with Lee in late 2002. Both had previously been with American Decorative Fabrics (ADF), Rosenfeld as president until October 2002. Earlier, he was with Lanscot-Arlen, and prior to that was president of the Ametex division of The Robert Allen Group which he left in February 1996.

Lee formerly was director of design at ADF and is a 10-year veteran of the Chinese textile industry.

Looking ahead, Lee said, "We have added 16 silk looms and have a high end collection of yarn-dyed silks with 200 ends and 217 picks at $6.95."

The company's product is skewed toward the upper end and includes wide width fabrics for top of the bed, luxurious chenilles and tapestries. "We want to be the Craftex of China," Lee said.

In addition, the company is expanding its U.S. staff and has installed a new computer system. "But we are still China-based, and I own the mill," she said. The company is located in Jin Jiang.

Claridge has a warehouse for its fabrics and trimmings in High Point, N.C.