Intohome 2000 Organizers Hope For Greater Overseas Presence
April 17, 2000
Birmingham, England – The organizers of the Intohome, the home furnishings show being held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, U.K., from 7-10 May, are banking on increased international participation at this year's event. Organized by Trade Promotion Services, Intohome 2000 anticipates more than 12,000 trade visitors, with around 10 percent coming from outside the U.K.
Now in its tenth year, Intohome has become a leading British exhibition for home textiles, soft furnishing and accessories. There are already 60 new exhibitors, and exhibition director Kevin Burnal expects a total of 450-500 companies on show in Birmingham, of which around 100 could come from overseas.
A major marketing strategy has been to develop the show's potential for the overseas market. Intohome's presence at January's Heimtextil was the first of many initiatives to give the U.K. show a major international push.
Intohome 2000 will see an International Buyers Lounge, a dedicated press office, the hosting of key international trade press representatives, the ''dx Village'' (a designers' collection area), the Intohome Awards 2000, an Italian section in Hall 4 and a large Portuguese presence. In addition there will be a daily symposium, on-line registration and the ''Ministry of Makeover'' featuring exhibitors' products in four different room sets.
Intohome's opening times are Sunday-Tuesday 9.30 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday 9.30 a.m.-4 p.m. Further information can be found at the Intohome Website: www.intohome.co.uk.
The following companies provided exhibitor information at the time of going to press.
Beldorm Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand S21)
Beldorm will show its range of plain-dyed bedlinen, offered in a variety of sizes and colors, in 150 thread count or 180 thread count (percale). The company also supplies coordinating duvet sets, both reversible and embellished.
Chortex (Hall 4, Stand D4/E3)
Towel manufacturer Chortex, the trading name of Coats Viyella subsidiary Stott & Smith, will have a number of product launches, including a new range made from 100 percent cotton and carrying the logo of prestigious race meetings, and an innovative range of hand and bath towels.
Claremont Fabrics (Hall 5, Stand Q54)
Claremont Fabrics returns to Intohome as it re-launches its U.K. retail sales activities. The stand will feature three new coordinated weave and print stories with influences taken from around the world. These include a collection of printed textured cottons and voiles, a varied selection of printed and woven fabrics, and a collection in eight new designs including embroidered sheers. Claremont's latest upholstery designs cover a wide range of textures, yarns and colors, including designs and semi-plains on yarn-dyed woven cotton, super-soft washable chenille velvets and pocket-woven chenilles.
Coloroll (Hall 4, Stand D28/E49)
Coloroll will present seven new designs of bedlinen. Trading as a newly merged company (Englewood Ltd.), Coloroll will preview three stylish, fully accessorized ranges and four new full set designs exclusively for the independent bedlinen retail market. The latter have been created with a simpler range of accessories, but are supported with a full plain-dyed offer to help consumers create their own individual look, says Coloroll.
Dealers (Hall 4, Stand E54/E53)
Dealers carries more than 7,000 unusual decorative, reproduction items, including a range of throws in various fabrics, colors and sizes, and cushion covers.
Delbanco Meyer & Co. Ltd. (Hall 4, Stand B14/C13)
New introductions to the Nimbus collection of bedlinen include a range, featuring simple drawn-thread details on 100 percent cotton easy-care fabric, a contemporary design with delicately hand-embroidered dots, and a heavily embroidered design in subtle colorations. Additions to the ''Night Owl'' range of bedlinen and accessories will also be featured.
Eversure Textiles (Hall 5, Stand P50)
Following the huge market demand for bedding, Eversure Textiles, a long established manufacturer of ready-made curtains, will launch an intricate woven jacquard complete with coordinating curtains. Also on show will be the latest geometrics and jacquards, and an embroidered tab top from the Far East.
Fibre Naturelle Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand Q12)
Fibre Naturelle will launch eight new fabric ranges, including two silk collections and two refined sheer collections, and several new ranges of throws.
Francis Price (Hall 5, Stand Q24)
Francis Price will show several additions to its slub Panama and satin ranges. The company will also unveil new polyester/cotton jacquard coordinates and display a recently developed range of burn-out fabrics. Also presented will be many additions to the company's flame retardant collections and a new book of inherently flame-retardant polyester prints. The range of ready-made curtains sees the introduction of two new jacquard designs.
Gooden Textiles (Hall 4, Stand K1)
New exhibitor Gooden Textiles will offer an extensive range of textiles including jacquard lace, embroidered voiles, Austrian blinds and macramé lace. The company also provides a tailor-made service that includes the production of full voile cross-over sets.
Goldsmith Crewe & Co (Mfg.) Ltd. (Hico) (Hall 4, Stand E4/F3)
For Intohome, Hico will make major additions to its collections of bedding, ready-made curtains and filled products, using modern colors and textures to produce a coordinated range of contemporary classics in top quality 100 percent cotton.
Hannah & Co. (Hall 4, Stand G2)
First time exhibitors Hannah & Co. will feature collections of kitchen textiles and furnishing fabrics. These include both woven and printed designs in a variety of textured fabrics such as cotton/viscose and chenille, with new introductions featuring silk, linen and suede. The family firm reports that their two daughters, Sally and Jayne, have recently joined Nick and Sue Hannah.
Harlequin Fabrics and Wallcoverings (Hall 4, Stand D12/E13)
Harlequin will launch four new collections. These include a range of versatile fabrics and wallcoverings, a collection of coordinating fabrics and wallcoverings inspired by delicate flowers in summer meadows and English gardens, a range featuring five illuminating fabric designs combining oriental influences, and a collection of textured wallcoverings.
Lister Fabrics Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand P60)
Lister will introduce chenilles, woven jacquards and textured plains in new colorways. The contract division has a new line of fabrics with a Crib 5 flame retardancy specification. The retail division has developed stocks of lined ready-made curtains, and will present a new embossed design for the first time.
Olivier Desforges (Hall 4, Stand D8)
A new collection of bedlinen, toweling and accessories features blues and natural colors, stripes, paisley patterns, shells and geometrics. Designs include: a stylized Greek motif running across the pillowcase and the duvet cover; fine stripes in beige and gray; fabrics the color of raw silk enhanced with a gray border and decorated with a stylized paisley pattern; and a woven-dyed product finished with a thin blue line.
Prestigious Textiles Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand P40)
Included on the Prestigious Textiles' stand will be diaphanous printed voiles and burn-outs, in line with the continuing demand for sophisticated window treatments. These will be joined by lustrous cotton satins for the lounge and living areas, a series of fairy-tale children's designs, and practical prints for kitchen textiles. An exclusive new collection of textured knitted fabrics is expected to generate particular interest.
Style Furnishings (Hall 5, Stand R30)
Style will launch around 20 new designs in both prints and weaves. These include a natural weave featuring crewel-work and a poly-cotton weave in an unusual and eye-catching animal design. The prints range from a traditional stripe with a hint of heraldry to a leaf design in bold Japanese style. Pearl treatments are likely to be big news for this season's prints, predicts Style. ''Texture is also a major story, not only in weaves but also in prints,'' the company comments.
Texcraft Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand Q15)
Texcraft has added several new lines to its collections and will launch a range of contemporary, modern voiles. In addition, there will be a new range of Roman blinds, puff prints, foil prints and jacquards in softer tones.
William O'Hanlon & Co. (Hall 5, Stand P8)
Intohome will see a new designer collection of roller blinds and curtains. Additionally, 18 new designs have been introduced to the established range. New curtain fabrics will also be unveiled to complement the company's range of blinds.
Wilman Interiors (Hall 4 Stand D30/E31)
Presenting its new collections for autumn 2000 and now trading as a newly merged company (Englewood Ltd.), Wilman Interiors will preview five new ranges, including two print and two weave collections. These include updated versions of classic designs on pure cotton satin with coordinated surface-printed wallcoverings, and a combination of contemporary transitional prints and metallic effect surface-printed wallcoverings.
Brodin To Shave Head
Darren Brodin, director of Marcus Maurice Textiles, part of the Ashley Wilde Group, will be shaving his head at the Gala Awards Dinner on Monday, 8 May. He said that he hopes to raise a great deal of money for The Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and The International Spinal Research Trust, each of whom hope to fund new and on-going research. Anyone wishing to donate may send checks payable to either charity to: Mr. D. Brodin, Marcus Maurice Textiles, Emmanuel House, Travellers Close, Welham Green, Herts, AL9 7LD, or please visit us at Intohome 2000 - Hall 5 Stand P4.
Now in its tenth year, Intohome has become a leading British exhibition for home textiles, soft furnishing and accessories. There are already 60 new exhibitors, and exhibition director Kevin Burnal expects a total of 450-500 companies on show in Birmingham, of which around 100 could come from overseas.
A major marketing strategy has been to develop the show's potential for the overseas market. Intohome's presence at January's Heimtextil was the first of many initiatives to give the U.K. show a major international push.
Intohome 2000 will see an International Buyers Lounge, a dedicated press office, the hosting of key international trade press representatives, the ''dx Village'' (a designers' collection area), the Intohome Awards 2000, an Italian section in Hall 4 and a large Portuguese presence. In addition there will be a daily symposium, on-line registration and the ''Ministry of Makeover'' featuring exhibitors' products in four different room sets.
Intohome's opening times are Sunday-Tuesday 9.30 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday 9.30 a.m.-4 p.m. Further information can be found at the Intohome Website: www.intohome.co.uk.
The following companies provided exhibitor information at the time of going to press.
Beldorm Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand S21)
Beldorm will show its range of plain-dyed bedlinen, offered in a variety of sizes and colors, in 150 thread count or 180 thread count (percale). The company also supplies coordinating duvet sets, both reversible and embellished.
Chortex (Hall 4, Stand D4/E3)
Towel manufacturer Chortex, the trading name of Coats Viyella subsidiary Stott & Smith, will have a number of product launches, including a new range made from 100 percent cotton and carrying the logo of prestigious race meetings, and an innovative range of hand and bath towels.
Claremont Fabrics (Hall 5, Stand Q54)
Claremont Fabrics returns to Intohome as it re-launches its U.K. retail sales activities. The stand will feature three new coordinated weave and print stories with influences taken from around the world. These include a collection of printed textured cottons and voiles, a varied selection of printed and woven fabrics, and a collection in eight new designs including embroidered sheers. Claremont's latest upholstery designs cover a wide range of textures, yarns and colors, including designs and semi-plains on yarn-dyed woven cotton, super-soft washable chenille velvets and pocket-woven chenilles.
Coloroll (Hall 4, Stand D28/E49)
Coloroll will present seven new designs of bedlinen. Trading as a newly merged company (Englewood Ltd.), Coloroll will preview three stylish, fully accessorized ranges and four new full set designs exclusively for the independent bedlinen retail market. The latter have been created with a simpler range of accessories, but are supported with a full plain-dyed offer to help consumers create their own individual look, says Coloroll.
Dealers (Hall 4, Stand E54/E53)
Dealers carries more than 7,000 unusual decorative, reproduction items, including a range of throws in various fabrics, colors and sizes, and cushion covers.
Delbanco Meyer & Co. Ltd. (Hall 4, Stand B14/C13)
New introductions to the Nimbus collection of bedlinen include a range, featuring simple drawn-thread details on 100 percent cotton easy-care fabric, a contemporary design with delicately hand-embroidered dots, and a heavily embroidered design in subtle colorations. Additions to the ''Night Owl'' range of bedlinen and accessories will also be featured.
Eversure Textiles (Hall 5, Stand P50)
Following the huge market demand for bedding, Eversure Textiles, a long established manufacturer of ready-made curtains, will launch an intricate woven jacquard complete with coordinating curtains. Also on show will be the latest geometrics and jacquards, and an embroidered tab top from the Far East.
Fibre Naturelle Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand Q12)
Fibre Naturelle will launch eight new fabric ranges, including two silk collections and two refined sheer collections, and several new ranges of throws.
Francis Price (Hall 5, Stand Q24)
Francis Price will show several additions to its slub Panama and satin ranges. The company will also unveil new polyester/cotton jacquard coordinates and display a recently developed range of burn-out fabrics. Also presented will be many additions to the company's flame retardant collections and a new book of inherently flame-retardant polyester prints. The range of ready-made curtains sees the introduction of two new jacquard designs.
Gooden Textiles (Hall 4, Stand K1)
New exhibitor Gooden Textiles will offer an extensive range of textiles including jacquard lace, embroidered voiles, Austrian blinds and macramé lace. The company also provides a tailor-made service that includes the production of full voile cross-over sets.
Goldsmith Crewe & Co (Mfg.) Ltd. (Hico) (Hall 4, Stand E4/F3)
For Intohome, Hico will make major additions to its collections of bedding, ready-made curtains and filled products, using modern colors and textures to produce a coordinated range of contemporary classics in top quality 100 percent cotton.
Hannah & Co. (Hall 4, Stand G2)
First time exhibitors Hannah & Co. will feature collections of kitchen textiles and furnishing fabrics. These include both woven and printed designs in a variety of textured fabrics such as cotton/viscose and chenille, with new introductions featuring silk, linen and suede. The family firm reports that their two daughters, Sally and Jayne, have recently joined Nick and Sue Hannah.
Harlequin Fabrics and Wallcoverings (Hall 4, Stand D12/E13)
Harlequin will launch four new collections. These include a range of versatile fabrics and wallcoverings, a collection of coordinating fabrics and wallcoverings inspired by delicate flowers in summer meadows and English gardens, a range featuring five illuminating fabric designs combining oriental influences, and a collection of textured wallcoverings.
Lister Fabrics Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand P60)
Lister will introduce chenilles, woven jacquards and textured plains in new colorways. The contract division has a new line of fabrics with a Crib 5 flame retardancy specification. The retail division has developed stocks of lined ready-made curtains, and will present a new embossed design for the first time.
Olivier Desforges (Hall 4, Stand D8)
A new collection of bedlinen, toweling and accessories features blues and natural colors, stripes, paisley patterns, shells and geometrics. Designs include: a stylized Greek motif running across the pillowcase and the duvet cover; fine stripes in beige and gray; fabrics the color of raw silk enhanced with a gray border and decorated with a stylized paisley pattern; and a woven-dyed product finished with a thin blue line.
Prestigious Textiles Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand P40)
Included on the Prestigious Textiles' stand will be diaphanous printed voiles and burn-outs, in line with the continuing demand for sophisticated window treatments. These will be joined by lustrous cotton satins for the lounge and living areas, a series of fairy-tale children's designs, and practical prints for kitchen textiles. An exclusive new collection of textured knitted fabrics is expected to generate particular interest.
Style Furnishings (Hall 5, Stand R30)
Style will launch around 20 new designs in both prints and weaves. These include a natural weave featuring crewel-work and a poly-cotton weave in an unusual and eye-catching animal design. The prints range from a traditional stripe with a hint of heraldry to a leaf design in bold Japanese style. Pearl treatments are likely to be big news for this season's prints, predicts Style. ''Texture is also a major story, not only in weaves but also in prints,'' the company comments.
Texcraft Ltd. (Hall 5, Stand Q15)
Texcraft has added several new lines to its collections and will launch a range of contemporary, modern voiles. In addition, there will be a new range of Roman blinds, puff prints, foil prints and jacquards in softer tones.
William O'Hanlon & Co. (Hall 5, Stand P8)
Intohome will see a new designer collection of roller blinds and curtains. Additionally, 18 new designs have been introduced to the established range. New curtain fabrics will also be unveiled to complement the company's range of blinds.
Wilman Interiors (Hall 4 Stand D30/E31)
Presenting its new collections for autumn 2000 and now trading as a newly merged company (Englewood Ltd.), Wilman Interiors will preview five new ranges, including two print and two weave collections. These include updated versions of classic designs on pure cotton satin with coordinated surface-printed wallcoverings, and a combination of contemporary transitional prints and metallic effect surface-printed wallcoverings.
Brodin To Shave Head
Darren Brodin, director of Marcus Maurice Textiles, part of the Ashley Wilde Group, will be shaving his head at the Gala Awards Dinner on Monday, 8 May. He said that he hopes to raise a great deal of money for The Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and The International Spinal Research Trust, each of whom hope to fund new and on-going research. Anyone wishing to donate may send checks payable to either charity to: Mr. D. Brodin, Marcus Maurice Textiles, Emmanuel House, Travellers Close, Welham Green, Herts, AL9 7LD, or please visit us at Intohome 2000 - Hall 5 Stand P4.