1996 Boston Curtain & Drapery Show Recap

The 1996 Boston Curtain & Drapery Show draws busy crowds at this 49th annual event.

A longstanding New England tradition, the Boston Curtain & Drapery Show, once again proved a popular meeting place for window coverings and interior fashions professionals. Held February 3 to 5, 1996, at the Royal Plaza Trade Center, Marlborough, MA, the show was well attended as nearly 2,000 professionals visited with 75 suppliers of window coverings, fabrics, wall coverings, accessories, as well as related tools and equipment. "Those who dared the unfavorable weather reports were rewarded with sunny days and an excellent fair," said Roland Bleinroth, president of Messe Frankfurt Inc., producer of the show. "The buyer turn-out by far exceeded the expectations. By the end of the show, almost all exhibitors were very satisfied with the attention their exhibits had attracted." Fashion presentations for '96 varied, but special emphasis was placed on nature-inspired designs and colorways including faux looks, floral and leaf patterns and wood treatments. Accessories also took top billing as drapery hardware, window jewelry, top treatments, pillows, table cloths and bed coverings took center stage at many booths. This year's show marks the first event coordinated between Clark Publishing and Messe Frankfurt, which purchased the show from Clark Publishing last fall. "We have joined our forces working together to make the event even more attractivce and successful in the future. Both sides will contribute their experience and know-how into this cooperation." Bleinroth said. Plans now are underway for next year's event, which will mark the show's 50th anniversary. Said David Webb, general manager of Messe Frankfurt, "We look forward to working with the existing exhibitors and buyers to expand the product base of the show for 1997 and expect to have the best event ever on its 50th anniversary." Show Snapshots : Featured at the Wade Pierce Co. booth were a wide array of upholstered products including cornices, lambrequins, headboards, bed benches and screens. Brewster Wallcoverings debuted new collections in eye-catching vignettes, including kitchen and bath offerings and accessories. Members of the Kwik-affix Products team demonstrated the workroom benefits of Kwikbond and Filabond iron-on tapes and Polyanna commercial steam irons. Attendees visiting the Delaware D.G. Co. booth were treated to a wide array of trimmings, workroom supplies, drapery hardware and other decorative embellishments. Enwrapture® patented no-sew drapery rods, cornices, mirrors and pedestals were among the items featured at the DAB Design booth. Frederick Nolting demonstrated the quilting capabilities of the computerized quilting machines available from Nolting Mfg. Inc. Continuous demonstrations of products for making and installing window treatments captured the attention of many attendees at the R.H. Rowley Co. booth. A representative from Tentina Window Fashions demonstrated the light-stopping advantages of new Hunter Douglas Lightlines[TM] mini-blinds. Will Knieper of the Forest Group USA, Inc. presented the K.S. curtain track system from Europe, as well as bending and cutting tools. Steven Fabrics displayed its full line of brand name window coverings in addition to its own fabric line, bedspreads and draperies, plus trimmings, linings and accessories. Rick Ackerman Associates, a manufacturers' representative, presented decorative fabrics, hardware, accessories and hard window coverings plus workroom services. Pillow inserts, bed pillows and feather beds sold through mass merchants, catalogs and specialty shops were on display at the Soft-Tex Mfg. Co. booth. Les Finkelstein of Sunshine Drapery Co. shared his secrets for "doing wonderful things with windows" at the WCAA open house, presented by the association's Northeast chapter and sponsored by Comfortex Corp. The Hunter Douglas Fabrication group exhibited all the Hunter Douglas brand products, including Duette®, Silhouette®, vertical blinds, Applause[TM] and Lightline[TM] mini-blinds. Custom fabrication of C.O.M. bed treatments plus Roman and balloon shades, cornices and draperies were presented by Herring's Custom Workshop, Inc. Drapery and upholstery fabrics, plus linings, leathers, trimings and coordinated wall coverings and fabric collections were presented by Stout Brothers Co. All Cedar displayed its variety of window and floor coverings products, which it has been offering to the trade for more than 70 years. Attendees gathered at the Kirsch booth to learn more about the company's new drapery hardware items, including selections from the C.W. Kirsch Signature Collection. Decorative tiebacks and swag holders in metal, glass, pottery and wood, plus jewelry pushpins in many designs and finishes were highlighted by Decorative Window Accessories. Seamless fabrics including sheers, embroideries and finely textured laces drew interested attendees to the ADO booth. A wide assortment of ready-made treatments were on display at Richmark International, including toppers, tab tops, cord tops, jabots and cascades and swags. Comfortex Window Fashions drew interested attendees to its booth interested in learning more about Symphony® shades, Perfect Pitch® shades and Softline mini-blinds. The Angie's Workroom booth, elegantly dressed in black and white, showcased the company's workroom services for draperies, top treatments, bedspreads and pillows. MoonRise Galleries Inc. showcased custom framed art and mirrors for both residential and commercial applications. Metro Mills unveiled custom bedspreads, comforters and window treatments made from its new jacquard collection. Mill Supply featured a full line of window treatments including Hunter Douglas products, Nanik wood blinds and shutters, stock and custom shades, hardware and Conso trimmings. MASTERVISIONS FOR WINDOWS[TM] by Visionary Concepts presented its overlay system for illustrating hundreds of design ideas. Everything was coming up lace at the Heritage Lace booth, where a plethora of lace curtains, table lace, curtain hardware and lace window accents were featured. Seabrook Wallcoverings debuted its new Spring collections of wall coverings, many which featured matching fabrics for complete room coordination. An in-stock, quick-ship program for ready-made window treatments and coordinating bed ensembles was showcased by the A.L. Ellis company. Arnold Nadler of Rose Line Fabrics showcased a varied line of decorative fabrics for all residential and commercial end uses, including sheers, prints, laces and jacquards. Regional fabricator Landmark Window Fashions showcased the complete line of LouverDrape products including vertical blinds and Carousel[TM] cellular shades. At the P.J. Hamilton booth, attendees examined a wide array of wood, glass and wrought iron hardware items including brackets, finials, holdbacks and rings. The S & S Fabrics exhibit showcased the company's newest styles in both drapery and upholstery fabrics, as well as its custom and contract bedspread program. Wesco Fabrics presented its line of decorative fabrics, as well as showcasing the Paris Texas line of trend-setting drapery hardware. Representatives of Döfix No*Sew were kept busy during the show demonstrating the workroom advantages to its line of iron-on products for window treatment fabrication.