Mancini to Guide Home Fabrics at Valdese

Valdese, N.C. — Home Fabrics, the division of Joan Fabrics that was part of Valdese's acquisition of Circa 1801/Doblin earlier this year, will be merged with the Wesley Mancini by Valdese Weavers unit that was launched last year.

Joan Fabrics had packaged the Home Fabrics business with its Circa 1801/Doblin division prior to its bankruptcy filing. The new Home Fabrics entity will be known as Home Fabrics by Wesley Mancini.

Mancini was the designer for the historic Home Fabrics for about a quarter century and left to join Valdese in Home Fabrics by Wesley Mancini. "We are thrilled to be able to help Home Fabrics come back as a factor in the industry," said Mike Shelton, president and ceo of Valdese.

"Home Fabrics will again represent the best of Wesley Mancini's talent, both old and new. The new Home Fabrics will represent the rich and colorful history of its many years as a leader in our industry. Our goal is to restore the position in the industry that Home Fabrics once had under the leadership of Don Eng, who remains one of the industry icons I most respect and admire."

The original Home Fabrics designs created by Mancini were noted for their dramatic designs and scale. The new Home Fabrics by Wesley Mancini collections will be created, styled and colored under Mancini's direction and through his studio in Charlotte, N.C.

Currently all existing Home Fabrics orders and any service needs will remain within the Circa 1801/Doblin customer service department. All current Wesley Mancini by Wesley Mancini fabrics will still be ordered through the Valdese customer service department. The exact date of the consolidation of the customer service aspects of the two entities will be announced at a later date.

The current Wesley Mancini by Valdese Weavers sales associates will represent the new brand, effective at the December Showtime.

"While our systems will not recognize the merging of the two brands until later in the year, we thought it was important to let our customers know what is in the works for an exciting new brand," said Zack Taylor, Valdese vp, sales and marketing. "The new Home Fabrics will blend the best of Wesley's new collection with the heritage of his Home Fabrics history, coupled with Valdese's reputation for service and quality."