Brussels, Belgium – Across town from Decosit, the rival show, Textiles d’Interieur Premiere (TIP-7) trade show held at Parc Elisabeth, Brussels, demonstrated the extent to which some traditional U.K. converters are becoming more Continental.

Design simplicity was the theme for Q Designs, a new converting company established earlier this year by an Anglo-Dutch partnership. The firm, based in Appley Bridge, Lancashire, used TIP to launch its first collection of coordinated prints, weaves and voiles.

The new range featured a pan-European look with fresh color combinations in what Q Designs principal Jos Peters called "contemporary, warm and simple designs." He emphasized that products had been developed not only for the U.K. market but that Q Designs is also aiming for sales in other main European markets as well as worldwide.

Prestigious Textiles of Bradford, West Yorkshire, one of the largest converters in Europe, unveiled at TIP new diaphanous printed organzas, luxurious pure silks, softly colored burnouts and hand-woven cottons, together with a collection of children’s prints, a new range of cotton satins and three designs for the kitchen. Managing Director Trevor Helliwell said the company, one of the major exhibitors at the trade fair, had a good show. "We were quite satisfied and confirmed a major new order from the Middle East," he said.

Prestigious Textiles distributes directly to retailers and also operates a wholesale business. About 45 percent of turnover is in exports, and the company has several European subsidiaries, including France, Belgium, Germany and Ireland.

"Despite the downturn in our Far East and Southeast Asian sales, overall business is quite good," Helliwell said. "Our American and Canadian business has grown, as has our business in Australia and New Zealand. For the year to date, we are ahead by about 6 percent compared with 1998. Our next aim is to develop the domestic cut length and piece market, as well as the American and Southeast Asian markets." F&FI