NEW YORK—Richloom Fabrics Group has established a third division in India to serve the burgeoning hospitality business there according to John Ringer, vice president, sales and marketing.

“The Indian hotel business is a brand new business for Richloom and is giving us an increase in overall sales this year even though the USA is flat,” he said. Glenda Spangler, who spearheaded the development of Richloom Shanghai Trading Ltd. several years ago, is heading up the Indian operation as vice president of global sourcing. Spangler has logged six years in Shanghai and is now commuting to India four times a year. She is working with an India based staff of five people.

Richloom Fabrics India was officially formed in May, 2012. It has an office and showroom in Gurgaon, India, a new tech development area in the suburbs of south Delhi. Kamal Bhardwaj, with 15 years experience in the hospitality and fabric industries is heading up the new Richloom operation.  Special development and project management is headed up by Megan Morgan, who has worked with Richloom Shanghai for the past two years. Glenda Spangler

“Fairfield is opening a ton of new hotels for the Indian market just to meet the needs of the business traveler—not tourists. Other chains involved in India include Hilton, Marriott, IHG and Starwood.  others. “In order to keep with the growth in the Indian market and for all of Richloom Contract, we have just launched Richloomcontract.com which contains our full fabric library to be used by the designer,” Ringer said. “The designer doesn’t have to sign in to use the site,” he added.

“Richloom is supplying the Indian hotel projects market with products mostly made in China especially the furniture,” Ringer explained. Products supplied include R-Bed, Richloom bedding program for hotels. “Our focus in India is 100 percent hospitality. The fabric specified by many of the European and American based hotel chains opening in India require 30,000-50,000 double rubs and seam slippage requirements comparable to American standards. Normally, the Indian made fabrics do not meet the FR standards required and when you do find Indian product which meets the FR standard, they are more expensive than what we can source in China. Delivery is 10-12 weeks from China, same as it is from Indian locals,” he said.

Ringer said Richloom does buy from Indian mills for the residential side of its business. About 90 percent of what Richloom sells in the USA is made outside of the USA today, he said. “We’re doing more business than ever in China.”