HFPA to honor veteran Tomchin

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/27/2001 2:10:00 PM

New York — Julian Tomchin, the textile design veteran whose creative touch has been seen at Bloomingdale's, Fieldcrest Cannon, Macy's West and other companies, will be honored with the Home Fashion Products Association's Paradigm Award this fall.

Cited for his outstanding contributions to design, marketing and promotion of home textiles, Tomchin, senior vp for special merchandising projects, will be presented with the award during the HFPA's HomeTex Design Awards, Oct. 14 at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

"Julian's dedication to our industry is commendable," said Bob Dale, HomeTex committee chairman and senior vp, WestPoint Stevens. "He is a true leader in the business and a terrific role model for those who have worked beside him."

Tomchin himself said, "I'm very honored, especially following in the footsteps of someone as talented and influential as Joel Kaplan." Kaplan received the award last year.

In 1993, the then-ceo of Macy's West, Michael Steinberg, called Tomchin to join the retailer, which allowed Tomchin to combine his skills as a designer, administrator and teacher. Tomchin is also a member of Macy's West administrative board.

Previously, he joined Fieldcrest Cannon as vp, all creative services in 1989.

HFPA honored him the following year with its HomeTex Design Award for personal achievement and distinguished contributions to design in home textiles.

In 1981 he was appointed to a position on Bloomingdale's administrative board and finally to senior vp in 1985.

At the request of Bloomingdale's in 1979, he opened a home furnishings design office and was named vp and fashion director of home furnishings and cosmetics in 1980.

In 1976, he was design director for the Wamsutta and Pacific Brands, creating the classic Tomorrow's Rainbow and Beacon Hill.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Tomchin majored in textile design at Syracuse University, and, after serving in the Army Corps of Engineers, he designed textiles in the apparel fabric field, culminating in his own Julian Tomchin Designer brand at American Silk Mills. It was during this time that he received the Vogue award, as well as the Coty award, one of only two textiles designers to do so.