Drinagh, Wexford, Ireland — Wexford Weaving of Ireland Ltd., is the new name for Schoepp Velours of Ireland, the fabric manufacturer acquired by DNL Holdings of the U.S.A. last year.

Wexford Weaving chairman Jim Nehlson said that the name Schoepp, with its German connotations, did not quite fit it with the aspirations and direction of the present company, which made its first public showing under the new Celtic corporate identity at Decosit.

"Business is going well — in fact, better than we expected," said Nehlson at the Brussels show. "We exceeded our targets for the first six months since the acquisition and have already got a lot of placement in the U.S. interiors market."

Wexford Weaving of Ireland aims to maintain production volumes while increasing capacity at its mill. In the longer term, the management plans a 50/50 production split for the company's European and U.S. business.

Nehlson added that the company had introduced some printed velvets alongside its traditional woven and dyed lines. "People just love these new qualities. Velvets are a good story for furnishings right now, and chenilles also continue to be strong."

H e said Wexford Weaving would also be looking at a range of product options. This could mean different textures and even other products allied to velours and velvets. "We need a different style for each individual market. But we have to have the right products," said Nehlson, whose designer wife, Karen, has joined the company, setting up a new design studio at the Wexford mill. F&FI