New York – A group of home textiles manufacturers has opened registration for a July market preview ahead of the New York Home Fashions Market.
The event will take place by appointment July 9-10 at the Turkish Trade Center, 10 E. 34th St., between Fifth and Madison Avenues. The preview is timed so that importers and home textiles professionals can work with Turkish manufacturers to develop samples ahead of September market week.
“This is a good opportunity to diversify supply chains in light of the China tariffs,” said Fergul “Fergie” Kuzucuoglu, president of AFK Strategies Inc., a consultancy helping Turkish companies and organizations expand business in the US.
The permanent showrooms at 10 E. 34th St. were established two years ago by the Bursa Chamber of Commerce & Industry. One floor houses home textiles manufacturers, the other hosts companies servicing the contract industry.
“There are seven home textiles manufacturers in the building. They all hold sustainability certifications, including BSCI, BCI and GOTS organic cotton,” noted Kuzucuoglu.
She added that company owners will be available for open house appointments. Participating companies include:
• Apolena: Decorative pillows, rugs, infant home textiles and decorative accessories, decorative and tapestry fabrics
• Ilay: digital printing, rotary printing
• JADO Tekstil: Top of bed, table linens and pillow cases
• Kaynak: Towels, bath robes, bath mats, kitchen towels, beach towels
• MS: Towels, bath robes, peshtemals, kitchen towels, bedding and bath mats
• Sökücüler: Towels and bath robes
• Sönmez: bath robes, shower curtains, peshtemal baby sets.
Kuzucuoglu, whose company is a member of the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA), is helping the Turkish Trade Center raise awareness of these home textiles companies and displays adjacent to the 5th Avenue home textiles corridor. She was previously e-commerce category director at VCNY. Prior to that, she worked in China on behalf of European retail chains including Next UK and JYSK in Denmark, part of JYSK Group.
If there is a positive response to next month’s open house market preview, the trade center will host more activities and repeat an open showroom twice a year – roughly eight weeks ahead of New York market week, she said.
To register for the open house, contact Kuzucuoglu at fergul@afkstrategies.com.