According to "The Secret Source is Out" by Kimberly Stevens of the New York Times, the interior design market is shifting to a more open society. (I've known this was coming for years, that's why I started my first magazine about sourcing back in 1999!). Though perhaps not totally new news to people in the industry, it's still good news. It means that products are more available, and you don't necessarily need a resale number to buy fantastic product. Though it's moving in the right direction, the market is not quite transparent yet; you can get into the PDC and the D&D (two of the most famous design centers in the country), but it's still a bit tricky to buy. That's where the Internet comes in handy. There are various sources that allow you to gain access to "trade only" merchandise. For example, the fabric above is a Tree of Life print from Lee Jofa. Lee Jofa makes its home in design centers around the country, but this particular print and others from the same manufacturer are available at www.decoratorsbest.com.
Started in 2004 by interior designer Barbara Karpf, Decorators Best sells (mostly traditional) fabrics and wallpapers from trade manufacturers such as Robert Allen, Ralph Lauren, Waverly, Kravet, and of course Lee Jofa. Like regular trade showrooms, Decorators Best will allow you to reserve fabric, see cuttings for approval and ship your order directly to the workroom of your choice. Decorators Best can also order additional fabrics than what is on the website (you just need to send them a style number -- I'm not sure if this works with all manufacturers).
Though I'm trained as an interior designer and still do some interior design work, I do not actually have a resale license -- I can get one quite easily, but it means you have to collect sales tax from your clients, and that is just a major pain! So I am terribly thrilled about the latest developments in the market, and cannot wait until we are like London and Paris -- civilized cities where anyone can buy anything!
