Home textiles invade furniture fair

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 5/24/2004 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

It may be called a furniture show, but certainly the exhibitors of rugs and home textiles products were major forces at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair here last week.

Rug suppliers, from small crafts design houses to major players, brought new looks to the show — well beyond what they typically introduce at mainstream home textiles and home furnishings events. One of the interesting elements in the rug offerings was the trend toward art form designs — many designs resembled paintings on fabric.

An important side light of the rug business, which is mostly imports at this show, is the emphasis placed on compliance with international regulations on employment practices.

Quilts were important, and the trend at this show was for contemporary interpretations of classic motifs. Machine quilts and kid's sizes are moving into the show for mainstream retailers and designers. Designs were not ordinary and were created to bring a smile to a viewer's face.

Decorative pillows were prolific and, unlike many home textiles shows, both materials colors and embellishments were unique.