its original look), and stain resistance. Household
textiles should last for about 10 years.
Many household items are expensive, and
their sales are dependent on the health of the
economy. In bad economic times, consumers buy
fewer household textile products. In an economic
recovery, as employment rates and consumer
confi dence increase, the pent-up demand
creates strong purchasing patterns. Banking
interest rates also affect these purchases. With
low interest rates, more new houses are built
and credit cards or loans are used for “big-ticket”
items, such as carpeting and couches.
Designer names have become quite
important in all categories of household textiles.
Designer ensembles and retail displays have
emphasized the abundant use of fabrics
through coordinated sheets, comforters, pillow
shams, dust ruffl es, throw pillows, and window
treatments. An example of this concept is shown
in 4-18.
Domestics are sold mainly in department
stores and specialty “bed and bath” shops. Most
large furniture items are sold through free-
standing furniture retailers. The traditional sales
method is through gallery programs that display
actual pieces of a particular furniture company’s
line. Furniture is not mass-produced the way
garments are because fewer of each style is sold
and many are custom-covered in fabrics selected
by the end-use customer.
An in-store computer design system is a
new sales tool to help consumers see different,
selected fabrics on various furniture frames.
Such on-fl oor, interactive video catalogs allow
shoppers to visualize different coverings for
custom-covered furniture and then have photo-
like mock-ups of their selections printed in
color. Some of the systems are electronically
linked to the factory and also serve to place the
order. Retailers must allow a month or more
for production and delivery of custom-ordered
furniture to their customers.
Industrial Textile Products
Industrial textiles are technical rather
than fashionable. They are sold to commercial
business customers according to industrial
specifi cations (“specs”) and performance
quality, rather than a fashion look. Industrial
textile marketing is done at a higher level of
management because decisions often involve
new equipment or different manufacturing
methods that affect the entire company.
The specialized uses of industrial textiles
require a great deal of continuous research
and development to create the most optimum
strength or other characteristics needed. Some
Revman Industries/AEON Group
4-18 This fun image for a child’s room is
created with lots of bright colors, patterns,
and matching textile home decorating
accessories.
Household Textile Categories
Floor
coverings
Carpeting, area rugs, Oriental rugs,
throw rugs, plus non-fabric fl oor tiles
and materials
Home
furnishings
Window treatments – curtains,
draperies, valences, pull-down shades,
vertical blinds, etc.
Furniture – slipcovers and upholstery
Miscellaneous items – throw pillows,
lamp shades, artifi cial fl owers, wall
hangings, etc.
Domestics Bed linens – sheets, pillowcases,
bedspreads, decorative pillow covers,
blankets, etc.
Bathroom items – towels, shower
curtains, seat covers, etc.
Table and kitchen linens – tablecloths,
napkins, kitchen towels, etc.
4-17 Household textiles are divided
into logical categories for marketing,
manufacturing, and retailing purposes.
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