Seasoned fabric and textile entrepreneur David Raminfard has more than 35 years of experience in the industry. He leads three textile stores in California where he serves as president and CEO: KasLen Textiles LLC and New Point Fabrics Inc. in Vernon, and Luxury Fabrics in Los Angeles. David Raminfard imports drapery and upholstery fabrics from China, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Italy. His major customers include high-end users of interior fabrics such as furniture makers and bedding and pillow manufacturers.

Experts in interior fabrics say that consumers’ choices are still influenced mainly by comfort and utility. However, other factors sway their choices too, such as the origin of the textiles and the impact their creation has on the environment.

Consumers look for comfort in home furnishings, emphasizing coziness and a homey and warm feeling, even when in contact with the fabric for long periods. Next to comfort is the materials’ appeal to wellness. The COVID pandemic has taught consumers to prioritize healthy living. This has led to a shift to more natural and renewable fabrics, making processed textiles with questionable ingredients a thing of the past. To avoid fabrics with harmful materials, textile manufacturers have been using more regenerative, circular, and biodegradable materials.