LAS VEGAS – Edgar Fabrics Corp., a 55-year-old, second generation converter has established a contract fabrics division, called Edgar Contract. The new division showed its first line at Hospitality Design here in May.

''We waited 55 years to establish a contract division,'' said Brett Rubin, vice president and principal of the family-owned firm. :It's time for Edgar to move into new markets, building on our strengths in the residential market."

Alice Doherty, a seasoned print designer in the home furnishings industry, with an 18-year background in contract and residential design, was hired to develop the collection. She was on hand at the Hospitality Design exhibition in the Edgar stand.

Edgar Contract's offering includes transfer-printed fabric designs and about 20 transitional and traditional patterns colored for the hospitality trade. The basecloth for the new collection is an unbranded, hybrid polyester. However, Edgar Contract is considering a branded program in the future.

Rubin said prices for the line are ''competitive compared to other print converters.''

''We are bringing the Edgar novelty look into the hospitality business to a group of customers we have never sold to before.

''We are dedicating separate resources to the hospitality effort including Louis [Ramirez, who has been with Edgar for seven years] in sales and Alice in design. We expect it to be a huge success,'' said Rubin who runs Edgar with his older brother, Jeff and their father, Al. Rubin said the company timed the formation of the new division to coincide with the third generation ownership, meaning the two brothers' children.

Edgar is currently looking for hospitality sales agents in the U.S.A. to handle the new lines.

The fabric inventory will be warehoused in the company-owned Hauppauge, N.Y., warehouse, he said.