Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. (USA) - It's apparent in the textiles industry that the residential and contract sectors are moving closer to one another in terms of design: Textiles companies are focusing increasingly on bolstering sales of contract fabrics, launching contract lines and even beginning contract divisions in some cases. With this in mind, Textirama, organizers of the annual Decosit exhibition in Brussels, has allotted 2,000 square meters for its most recent brainchild: the Decosit Contract Village. At the next and 22nd edition of Decosit (10-13 September), 30 exhibitors will circle their wagons in Hall 9 to show their contract wares. The 'Village' is at the heart of Textirama's efforts to lend more contract flavor to the exhibition.

Textirama director Patrick Geysels and his colleagues for years have been kicking around concepts by which the exhibition could give more attention to contract. According to Geysels, in the future, Textirama may devote an entire hall to contract or hold a separate, concurrent contract show in one of the neighboring halls on the Heysel grounds.

Elsewhere at Decosit, The copyright office will again be present for advise and if necessary action in collaboration with Stop Copy Designs (Belgium), Acid (U.K.), and TPSA(U.S.A). Running concurrently with Decosit, the designer trade fair Indigo takes place in hall 12.