James Wong, Who Built Acacia Fabrics into Asian “Powerhouse,” Coronavirus Victim at 52
James Wong, one of the founders of Acacia Fabrics, a leading European fabric distributor in Southeast Asia, has died from the coronavirus, or COVID-19. He was 52. “It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Group Managing Director of… Read more.April 6, 2020
Cancer Takes Industry Great Tom Byrnes, 61
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tom Byrnes, vice president of marketing at Springs Creative in Rock Hill, died on March 21 from cancer. Services will be held for only family due to the coronavirus pandemic. He was born Feb. 2, 1959. He raised two children… Read more.March 25, 2020
Prestigious Names Rob Surtees U.K. Sales Director
BRADFORD, U.K.-- Rob Surtees has been named U.K. sales director for both Prestigious Textiles and Styleline Blinds (SLX). Surtees replaces Graham Bateman, who held this position since 2003. Bateman died in an accident last August. Surtees… Read more.March 23, 2020
Textile Veteran Leon A. Marsha Dies, 90
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Leon Anthony Marsha Jr. died on March 13 after a brief illness. In 1953, after returning from Korea, he joined the family textile business, L. A. Marsha Co. Inc. founded in 1929. The company was located in West Columbia and… Read more.March 18, 2020
Gerald Puschel, 79, Former Chairman, F. Schumacher & Co., Dies
GREENWICH, Conn. --Gerald W. Puschel, former chairman of F. Schumacher & Co., a major fabric, wallcovering, and rug wholesaler, died at his home here on February 28 from complications of Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare brain disorder. A… Read more.March 5, 2020
Artist Lynn E. Haude, 76, Noted Orinoka Mills’ Designer, Dies
NEW YORK—Lynn E. Haude, a well-known decorative and upholstery fabrics designer whose work was recently on display at the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum here, died Dec. 19, 2019. She was 76. Lynn Haude was known for her creativity… Read more.February 27, 2020
Beech Heads U.S. Zimmer + Rohde Contract Sales, a New Market for Z+R
NEW YORK—Leslie Beech has been named vice president of contract sales for Zimmer + Rohde (Z+R) in the U.S., in the Stamford, Connecticut office, as of Jan. 1, 2020. This is a new position and a new market for Z+R, which has been a residential… Read more.February 24, 2020
Textile Veteran Rayess Joins Morgan Fabrics
FRANKFURT—Sam Rayess has joined Morgan Fabrics Corp., the Los Angeles-based converter, as an international sales director. For the past two years, Rayess held a similar post at Z-Wovens, the U.S. branch of the Chinese mill Zhongwang, which… Read more.February 10, 2020
