Swavelle Creative Director Michael Day Joins Topteks and Penelope

July 30, 2024

Erin Tsucalas, Michael Day, Christy Almond
Erin Tsucalas, Michael Day, Christy Almond

JERSEY CITY, NJ—Effective July 1. Michael Day, 30-year Swavelle veteran has joined Topteks, an Istanbul, Turkiye based converter and Penelope, the Turkish Mill in Bursa, Turkiye as Creative Director.

He will be based in the design studio for both companies in Jersey City. Swavelle has not named a replacement for Day as of August 1. However, Swavelle previously hired Christy Almond as Vice President, design this past May and also Erin Tsucalas, design director of Swavelle Upholstery since January to fill the design department.

Day now reports to Baris Ertin, MD of Topteks and to Ebru Ertin, Penelope MD and Baris’s wife.

“We have known Michael Day for a long time,” says Baris. For 20 years, Baris was export manager for Kets, a Turkish mill in Istanbul which he left four years ago. Baris now lives in the USA.

Topteks has an 8th floor showroom in Market Square Tower in High Point, NC. Topteks sells for $6.95 to $49.95 per yard. The Topteks line includes textures and multicolored jacquard velvets.

Says Day: “I’m proud of the work I’ve done during my 30 years with TFA (Textile Fabric Associates) and the Swavelle Group. “Over the past 20 years as Creative Director of the Swavelle Group, I have delivered many successful collections. I have truly enjoyed and admired all the talented designers, salespeople, and mentors I have worked with over the years,” Day adds. The Swavelle Group is a major U.S. converter which sources product from major mills worldwide. Day is well known to his sources and is well regarded.


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