New York – Thomas Hilb has joined Heritage House Fabrics Inc. as an equal partner to Jeffrey Erdheim and Jeffrey Goldman. Heritage House is two years old and is still in the entrepreneurial stage, the partners said. Erdheim and Goldman are also the owners of Jeffrey Fabrics Inc., a 13-year-old converter which caters to the American readymade home furnishings market.

''The readymade business is going more and more offshore to Pakistan, India, Middle East and China. More printing and sourcing is done overseas at the popular priced end of the market,'' Goldman said. ''Even some of the vertical U.S. mills are bringing in products from overseas. This represents a new challenge to Jeffrey.

''The industry has upgraded decorative goods with new basecloths. We were unable to devote the time required to become a successful converter of wovens and printed fabrics,'' said Jeffrey Goldman. ''That's why we're delighted that Tom has joined with us to run Heritage House.''

''We don't have delusions of grandeur. We want to be a niche player,'' said Goldman. ''There are still voids in the marketplace which Heritage House can fill.'' Goldman hopes that Heritage House under Hilb can be a $5-$10 million business.

''We will serve the jobber, retailers, chain, furniture, export and contract markets,'' said Hilb, a 29-year industry veteran who also worked at Western and Richloom. ''We will also serve the readymade market through Jeffrey and will sell some imported product which Jeffrey brings in.''

''The U.S. market is still booming. The wholesalers want coordinated prints and woven collections. We will introduce new lines to fill this demand,'' said Hilb.

Hilb was previously Vice President of contract sales for Fabricut Inc., based in Tulsa, Okla. He is moving to the New York area to head the Heritage House business.