Lee, Rosenfeld Create Claridge Textiles
November 30, -0001
New York– Shannon Lee and Joe Rosenfeld have launched Claridge Textiles International, to market silks, trims and luxury fabrics from China's Jin Jiang province.
The company is situated on a 60-acre site. The factory is equipped with high speed wide-width looms and production capabilities in the millions of yards, said Rosenfeld. The mill is vertical except for dyeing.
Lee formed the new company in June and Rosenfeld joined in October.
Claridge expects to establish warehouses in America and Canada. These facilities will have in-stock position on the full product line of fabrics and trims, according to Rosenfeld.
Corporate offices for Claridge are in San Diego, Calif., the home of Shannon Lee and satellite offices will be located somewhere in North Carolina. Rosenfeld will initially work out of Manhasset, N.Y., a New York City suburb, but he and his wife plan to move to San Diego in 2003.
Shannon Lee was the designer director of American Decorative Fabrics in New York. She will provide the same service at Claridge while sharing corporate responsibilities with Rosenfeld. Rosenfeld, formerly president of American Decorative Fabrics, expects to focus on customer relationships and marketing.
"I always wanted to have my own business and early this summer my brother, David [owner of American Decorative Fabrics], and I agreed that I would start my own company," Lee said. "Joe discussed the idea of joining me as my partner and left with David's blessing.''
Rosenfeld and Li have worked together for at least 15 years first at Ametex then American Decorative Fabrics. That firm, started in 1995, markets Chinese textiles in the U.S., South and Central America and Europe. Prior to joining Ametex, Rosenfeld was furniture buyer for Macy's New York. He has 35 years of experience in the home furnishings industry. Rosenfeld said Claridge plans to produce ''a very large line including trims and a full line of fabrics from chenille tapestries, silks and body cloths as well as a cut-and-sew operation.''
Claridge plans to exhibit at Showtime in the Market Square Suites in stand 936. The Claridge line starts at $4 a yard for wovens and ranges up to $10 for silk products. The company will offer readymade products and a trim line that has been designed to coordinate with the Claridge fabric collections. The trim line has in excess of 1,000 SKUs all made in China while the fabric and finished product collection will feature approximately 10 collections, including chenilles and stripes, in eight to 12 colors.
Lee said she will continue to work with American Decorative Fabrics. "I will still actively design some of ADF's most successful product lines including the stripes, and transfer prints but the Claridge line will be totally different in design and construction.
''Family members working together and supporting each other is central to the Chinese culture. We will continue to help family members in business. David will help me as well in my new business,'' she said.F&FI
The company is situated on a 60-acre site. The factory is equipped with high speed wide-width looms and production capabilities in the millions of yards, said Rosenfeld. The mill is vertical except for dyeing.
Lee formed the new company in June and Rosenfeld joined in October.
Claridge expects to establish warehouses in America and Canada. These facilities will have in-stock position on the full product line of fabrics and trims, according to Rosenfeld.
Corporate offices for Claridge are in San Diego, Calif., the home of Shannon Lee and satellite offices will be located somewhere in North Carolina. Rosenfeld will initially work out of Manhasset, N.Y., a New York City suburb, but he and his wife plan to move to San Diego in 2003.
Shannon Lee was the designer director of American Decorative Fabrics in New York. She will provide the same service at Claridge while sharing corporate responsibilities with Rosenfeld. Rosenfeld, formerly president of American Decorative Fabrics, expects to focus on customer relationships and marketing.
"I always wanted to have my own business and early this summer my brother, David [owner of American Decorative Fabrics], and I agreed that I would start my own company," Lee said. "Joe discussed the idea of joining me as my partner and left with David's blessing.''
Rosenfeld and Li have worked together for at least 15 years first at Ametex then American Decorative Fabrics. That firm, started in 1995, markets Chinese textiles in the U.S., South and Central America and Europe. Prior to joining Ametex, Rosenfeld was furniture buyer for Macy's New York. He has 35 years of experience in the home furnishings industry. Rosenfeld said Claridge plans to produce ''a very large line including trims and a full line of fabrics from chenille tapestries, silks and body cloths as well as a cut-and-sew operation.''
Claridge plans to exhibit at Showtime in the Market Square Suites in stand 936. The Claridge line starts at $4 a yard for wovens and ranges up to $10 for silk products. The company will offer readymade products and a trim line that has been designed to coordinate with the Claridge fabric collections. The trim line has in excess of 1,000 SKUs all made in China while the fabric and finished product collection will feature approximately 10 collections, including chenilles and stripes, in eight to 12 colors.
Lee said she will continue to work with American Decorative Fabrics. "I will still actively design some of ADF's most successful product lines including the stripes, and transfer prints but the Claridge line will be totally different in design and construction.
''Family members working together and supporting each other is central to the Chinese culture. We will continue to help family members in business. David will help me as well in my new business,'' she said.F&FI
