Atelier Targets American Market
January 17, 2003
Mexico City - Atelier, a decorative fabric and upholstery mill owned by the Galante family here, said it will target the American market. The company has appointed the U.S.-based Softex sales agency to lead the expansion.
Atelier was previously selling to Central and South America. Joel Galante, who handles design and technology, expects to move to San Diego to work out of Softex's Anaheim, Calif., offices, according to John Sofka, principal of Softex. The other family members involved are Simon Galante, CEO, and his son Jonatan Galante (Joel's brother), who is responsible for administration and sales.
Atelier's two-year-old factory is located in a new industrial zone, just outside Mexico City. The company is using wide-width German and Italian looms and Swiss finishing equipment to produce its fabrics.
Sofka said Atelier weaves on 50 double-width looms and offers brushing, scouring and transfer-printing services as well as FR treatments.
''We found that America was short of basic products in the 500 to 1,000 yard minimum,'' Sofka said. ''Atelier has built 33 color lines in its 'Viva' collection in six different constructions in plains and piece-dyes.''
'Viva' is priced at $4.50 a yard for the jobber. The line consists of polyester warps and two-ply cotton filling yarns. A second line consists of stripe, dot and solid coordinates in 100 percent FR and either satin, crush, striped ottoman, jacquard or file variations.
'Elegante' is a better, washable polyester satin in 18 colors, available in crush and embossed. The plain color is $3.50 and $4.50 in embossed varieties.
'Ole,' a third program is geared to jacquards with five patterns, 16 colors in cotton/polyester, 60/40 blends. ''The new collections are heavier than the Chinese goods, better-dyed and delivery is faster and more consistent,'' Sofka said. ''Delivery by truck is at a discounted rate, less than 50 percent of the American rate. By air, you can have two-day delivery.'' F&FI
Atelier was previously selling to Central and South America. Joel Galante, who handles design and technology, expects to move to San Diego to work out of Softex's Anaheim, Calif., offices, according to John Sofka, principal of Softex. The other family members involved are Simon Galante, CEO, and his son Jonatan Galante (Joel's brother), who is responsible for administration and sales.
Atelier's two-year-old factory is located in a new industrial zone, just outside Mexico City. The company is using wide-width German and Italian looms and Swiss finishing equipment to produce its fabrics.
Sofka said Atelier weaves on 50 double-width looms and offers brushing, scouring and transfer-printing services as well as FR treatments.
''We found that America was short of basic products in the 500 to 1,000 yard minimum,'' Sofka said. ''Atelier has built 33 color lines in its 'Viva' collection in six different constructions in plains and piece-dyes.''
'Viva' is priced at $4.50 a yard for the jobber. The line consists of polyester warps and two-ply cotton filling yarns. A second line consists of stripe, dot and solid coordinates in 100 percent FR and either satin, crush, striped ottoman, jacquard or file variations.
'Elegante' is a better, washable polyester satin in 18 colors, available in crush and embossed. The plain color is $3.50 and $4.50 in embossed varieties.
'Ole,' a third program is geared to jacquards with five patterns, 16 colors in cotton/polyester, 60/40 blends. ''The new collections are heavier than the Chinese goods, better-dyed and delivery is faster and more consistent,'' Sofka said. ''Delivery by truck is at a discounted rate, less than 50 percent of the American rate. By air, you can have two-day delivery.'' F&FI
