North Miami, Florida —Arabel Fabrics is enjoying a Renaissance under the management of Andy Rothman, third generation family member and his wife Marie Rodriguez Rothmans. Andy Rothman took charge of Arabel Fabrics Inc. with the passing of his father Steve Rothman, February 28, 2013. Steve’s brother Larry died May 15, 2015 and his widow, Shannon continues to run Rothman Fabrics, a Miami based jobber. Andy’s partner is Marie Rodriguez Rothman whom he married in 2009. They have worked together in the business since 2004 when his dad Steve recruited Marie. Marie is a hands-on customer service rep that is more like a personal shopper in this relatively small family enterprise which caters to some of the world’s top designers. “We really care about what we do for the customer,” Marie says. She was close to her ‘popi’ Steve, who taught her the business. She was previously involved with a family restaurant in downtown Miami and originally comes from Valencia, Venezuela. While Arabel was founded based on raw silk, called ‘mataka’ in a bleached oyster color and natural shades it has been expanded to include linen, velvet and outdoor fabrics by Andy, a former tennis professional who joined the company in 2004.  “Silk styles never really changed. We still buy the product in India in 30 yard lengths wrapped in burlap bales. While silk still sells and is coming back, he says, linen was something he fell in love right from the start. His favorite linen supplier is Libeco-Lagae of Meulebeke Belgium. About 60 percent of the business for Arabel Fabrics is now linen with the balance in silk, Sunbrella® and polyester for contract jobs. “We’ve expanded silk because it’s coming back again,” he says. He is speaking about raw silk which can be paperbacked for wall coverings and knit cotton backed for upholstery. Arabel Fabrics operates out of a 15,000 square foot warehouse across the street from its only showroom in a storefront in Miami. Arabel Fabrics Inc. was started in the mid 1980’s by Andy’s dad Steven and Andy’s brother Howard. Howard went on to establish Arabel Inc., a window blind components distributor which is still operating. Steve’s brother Larry started Rothman Textiles, a local jobber in Miami. Andy’s cousin Marcie (Larry’s daughter) started Encore Fabrics for the hospitality and cruise ship trade.