DEERLIJK, Belgium — Bekaert-Depla will introduce its first linen ranges at MoOD according to Jo Demunster, owner of the brand and the parent company Muvantex.

The collection in linen and polyester blends will feature 10-15 designs in ten color ways and like all of the Bekaert ranges, it is woven to order in one piece minimums per color.

Bekaert-Depla by Muvantex represents an acquisition of the upholstery division of Bekaert in 2008 by  Demunster who views Bekaert as his main brand. Muvantex is today a very competitive importer of primarily Chinese fabrics which will be warehoused by the last quarter of 2011 in a brand new 4,000 square meter office and warehouse in Deerlijk with nine meter ceilings to accommodate robotized order picking It will be twice the size of the previous facility as Muvantex bulks up to meet the needs of his customers. Muvantex caters to the UK furniture manufacturers and wholesalers, Demunster explained. The Muvantex line is priced from 8-20 Euros in anything from chenille to a cut velvet.

All of the Muvantex line can be back coated for contract application, Demunster said and features 300 meter minimums in Trevira(CS)® if the customer specifies it.

“We bought the whole range of fabrics at Bekaert-Depla which was owned by Christian and Harry Bekaert based in Waregem. “ They were concerned for their long standing customers and wanted to make sure we would continue to serve them well,” he said. Bekaert continues to be in the mattress ticking business but it did not want to go forward in upholstery, Demunster explained.

“Muvantex wanted a mill like Bekaert that produced tapestry and chenilles which we definitely got with the purchase. We also were able to take over the leases on the 12 recent model wire jacquard looms used to produce the collections, including moquettes in the $9-$14 range FOB USA.” The States represents a big growth area for Demunster. He recently retained the services of Joe Romano to represent the line there.

It also put Muvantex at Proposte since Bekaert-Depla was already an exhibitor there. The purchase allowed Demunster to expand into chenilles and velvets at a time when the market wanted more velvets. “We can deliver one piece minimums of all the collections of Bekaert. We’ve been in business since the 1970’s and we now have 4,000 designs on offer in yarn dyed acrylic and polyester.”     F&FI

Jo De Munster, managing director of BekaertDepla fabrics by Muvantex NV, Deerlijk