New chairpads at market

By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 3/30/2001 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK -New constructions in chairpads will debut at April market at the showrooms of two competitors.

Klear-Vu Corp., based in Fall River, MA, will introduce its new "Premier Cushion" chairpad that is "extra-richly filled" with a polyester fiber that "doesn't flatten out and is softer," the company said. And as a bonus, it includes the company's trademark "Gripper" latex slip-resistant bottom.

"That's why we say our chairpads come with no strings attached," joked Mark Mintz, president.

Since Klear-Vu invented the "Gripper" latex backing for its chairpad lines two years ago, "our sales have jumped 30 percent," Mintz said.

The "premier cushion" is available in three styles: Marley, a chenille in eight colors; Pleather, a faux leather look in dark saddle; and Gardanica, a new densely woven tapestry in European tradition. Price points start at $3.99.

Louisville Bedding Co., based in Louisville, KY, also has a new chairpad construction: 18-inch square blown, piped and tufted.

"It has a more tailored look and the tufting does bring out the loft in the product," said Stacy Toner, director of product development.

Toner said the inspiration for the new chairpad construction came from trends in tufting emerging in the furniture category, "where we are seeing a lot more tufting being done with sofas and chairs and decorative pillows. We also saw trends of it throughout Europe with tufting and large piping."