Article Number : 4913 |
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| Date | 10/1/2009 9:01:41 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=4913 |
| Abstract | By Louis Iannaco (Second of two parts) Carpet mills are ramping up their introductions for the fall selling season. No matter which mill you look at, in this economy a few common threads emerge: soft fiber, value and... |
| Article | By Louis Iannaco (Second of two parts) Carpet mills are ramping up their introductions for the fall selling season. No matter which mill you look at, in this economy a few common threads emerge: soft fiber, value and style. Then again, hasn’t that been the case in any economy? Dixie Group Soft, luxurious, durable carpet that is easy on maintenance and budget is more popular than ever in this economy, according to Dan Phelan, vice president of marketing. “New polyesters with expanded textures, patterns and colors are pleasing this market segment.” To meet the demand for soft, luxurious broadloom that’s durable, stain resistant and value driven, The Dixie Group utilized new technology to develop DuraSilk, a unique PET continuous filament fiber system that provides a silky-soft hand and is resistant to crushing, fuzzing, soil and stains. DuraSilk polyester broadloom is available in a variety of textures, patterns and color-lines. “A fabulous frieze, as soft as it is forgiving, Blueprint is earth friendly, created of 100% BCF DuraSilk PET polyester with a versatile 30-color pallet,” he explained. And Pegasus Bay features raised texture, sizeable diamond patterns in easy-care 100% BCF Stainmaster Tactesse nylon in 25 colors. Phelan added that wools are “exploding” in popularity, both in rugs and broadloom. In addition, patterns are prevalent, particularly products with bold, abstract, asymmetrical motifs. “Traditional motifs are being shown in non-traditional colors— more mottled and organic. Brown, orange and vivid yellow continue to be big, and we’re seeing an emergence of eggplant.” Fabrica Bon Ton is a new New Zealand wool broadloom that “captures the luxurious essence so noted in French interior design,” Phelan said. “Suitable for a grand room, master retreat or study, Bon Ton brings a soft hand, visual interest and lasting performance. A sophisticated basketweave pattern featuring large, felted loop yarn in varying heights, Bon Ton is a study in texture, he noted. “Up close, one becomes mesmerized by its stout, playful loops. Further away, Bon Ton’s basketweave pattern comes alive with light and shadow.” Bon Ton is available in 17 natural colorways with a beck dyed palette that includes an ivory, beiges, taupe, gray and a chocolate brown. “As Fabrica continues its reputation for unmatched quality and service, Bon Ton is also offered in custom colors.” Gulistan Consumers are still attracted to beauty and durability, but in today’s economic environment they are also looking to make their dollars go farther. They have become more conservative and are gravitating back to basic textures and friezes. They are seeking the best value they can find. With this in mind, Gulistan is replacing three of its most successful Stainmaster textures with Stainmaster filament introductions. “We have upgraded the aesthetics and enhanced the performance of the styles,” said Tony Prestipino, executive vice president of sales and marketing, “all at a lower price.” The first two styles are Jubilee, “a casual, easy-to-live-with texture, and Sumptuous Splendor, a dense, rich-luster ‘sink your toes into’ texture,” he explained. “Sumptuous Splendor has 36 colors, and Jubilee has an astounding 60-color palette infused with earth tones and ‘haute-couture’ hues.” Leveraging the success of its Living Easy II, Gulistan is offering (as a third new texture) a fresh version of Living Easy II called Living Easy Ultra. It is made of Stainmaster ExtraBody II in a heavyweight construction. Masland Masland Carpets & Rugs is unveiling an impressive array of signature products produced by new proprietary technology, noted Kennedy Frierson, COO of the Dixie Group. “Our new technology can produce much more pattern and detail in a tufted carpet. It adds so many more possibilities for the designers.” The Masland Avenue line features 16 cut-pile styles constructed of Stainmaster Luxerell —“a sought-after fiber with a silky-soft hand and Stainmaster premium performance,” he added. Ranging from animal skin and geometric contemporary patterns to traditional styles with the long-revered Eastern influence, Masland’s new carpets are “ingenuity in engineering and design.” Kenya, a bold zebra pattern, brings contemporary spark to a room. But for those seeking a more subtle look, Kenya is featured in neutral combinations as well. Another out-of-Africa option, Safari features a Moorish trellis design atop a cheetah-skin patterned background. For those who embrace the look and feel of a crisp, orderly interior, geometric patterns are abundant in Masland Avenue offerings, Frierson noted. Olympia, a Greek key design, maze-like pattern; Cordova, a classic Chippendale-period look with layered octagons; Raleigh, inspired by stained glass, and Loxley, a soft, organic tweed pattern, are among the innovative new designs. Also, Mauvilla features a shaded Moorish trellis pattern and Amberly is a small geometric floral/diamond motif. “Five classic Persian designs range from ornate complexity to simple sophistication, traditional colors to modern, trendy hues,” he commented. “Arlington, a modern damask; Terresa, a tonal Persian look; Kabir, overlapping medallions in a kaleidoscope effect; Cadiz, featuring the popular Persian flowers that form a trellis, and Claridge, an ornate medallion pattern, are among the more elaborate traditional patterns. Oakleigh, a delicate vine/medallion pattern, joinsPalisades, a willowy leaf design in a sophisticated form of simplicity,” Frierson concluded. |