InTents IDEA Book 2023 - 28

tents | linens
Jacob Visoky, vice president of sales at
Liba Fabrics Corp., a textile manufacturer
and custom fabricator in New York, agrees
that linens are one of the easiest ways to
make an event stand out.
" Consumers have the opportunity to
customize the ambience by choosing a
unique color and texture. They don't need
to spend a lot of money to make the event
stand out with a unique linen, " Visoky says.
Visoky is seeing a lot of customers ask
ABOVE: This Lucern lace in gold over
red satin exemplifi es today's trends of
linens that truly " wow. " Photo courtesy
of Choice Party Linens.
BELOW: Linens such as this
champagne-colored gem are a favorite
among consumers, adding a simple,
yet distinctively elegant feel to the
tablescape. Photo courtesy of Jomar
Table Linens.
for more natural colors and textures. In
particular, the classic cotton look is very
popular. Liba Fabrics offers a fabric called
MJS Spun, which is made to look and feel
like cotton. " It has been very popular this
year because you get that natural feel
without breaking your budget, " he says.
Velvet also is trending for table lines. As
Harris explains, there are many different
tones of velvet so this trend will be seen
throughout all seasons.
" Faux silk dupioni is also very popular
and is being chosen over satin. Dupioni
is a reversible fabric which is available in
tons of colors, " Harris says. " Our marble
table linens have also been very popular.
These add instant style to any event. And
lace is still on trend, and we don't think
it will be going anywhere anytime soon. "
Indeed, lace really never went away; it
simply evolved into more contemporary
looks and embroideries.
Bluethman says that loor-length linens
are still predominantly used, and, for his
clients, color over material and pattern
seems to matter most, with ivory and
champagne tones, along with white, being
as big as ever.
" We are doing more and more 'cut/sew'
[labor only] for clients as they go out and
buy special fabrics and we create the linens
for them, " Bluethman says. " This is time
consuming but helpful for many clients. "
And while bare tables or tables with
a simple runner were all the rage a few
years ago, Visoky says the bare table
use really depends on what kind of
event a person or organization wants.
28 intents IDEA book 2023
For example, a client planning a rustic
wedding may opt out of tablecloths, only
using linens for napkins or table runners.
" However, most corporate and other
upscale events are moving away from the
bare table look, " Visoky says.
Harris agrees that bare farm tables
have been a trend for the last few years,
but this year the team at Choice Party Linens
is inding a lot more couples are opting
for luxe linens instead.
" Couples in 2022 and 2023 are making
very bold color choices. We are seeing a
lot of bright linen choices and also darker
color selections over the plain neutral
table, " Harris says.
Durability is key
Product durability is essential in the
rental industry, and linens are no exception.
The goal is to reuse your linens over
and over, maximizing proits before replacement.
As Bluethman explains, buying
" cheap " linens costs you in proitability
in the long run (not to mention image
and reputation). In fact, this year, Jomar
Table Linens added thread count to the
company's already heavy Vantage material
in order to add more opaqueness
and durability.
" The longer your linens last and look
good, the more money you make, " Bluethman
says.
Oftentimes Visoky inds that people are
drawn to the lowest priced fabric when it
comes to linens, but that's not always the
right answer.
" If you're looking for a fabric that is
easy to clean and will last many years,
you should consider the upgrade to a basic
poly, as it's thicker and more durable, "
Visoky says. Products like MJS Spun are
made with a soil-release inish to help
during the washing process. Another durable
fabric that Liba Fabrics carries is its
Mystique Satin. This is a medium-shine
satin made with a very high-quality polyester
yarn specially designed to make
tablecloths easy to clean.
InTents IDEA Book 2023

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