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Welcome - Grace note
With the 2018 Design & Workroom award winners at the end of an exciting evening! Thanks to Bill Whyte and his team at Kirsch for sponsoring the awards ceremony. See full coverage of the ceremony starting on page 48, and additional coverage of this year’s IWCE starts on page 24.
Below: I was thrilled to welcome my good friend Monica Greenwood (right) from Chicago, IL, to the Expo with her designer, Angela Steger (left).
The International Window Coverings Expo (IWCE) in Tampa this March had the excitement and energy of shows prerecession. The waterfront Welcome kickoff party, complete with a steel-drum band, tropical food and drinks set the tone for a productive, upbeat show and conference. The lively show floor highlighted the latest shading products with a big focus on motorization and child safety. Decorative hardware and trims abounded with Kirsch’s sleek new booth showcasing the brand’s newest products. The International Textile Association (ITA) delivered new fabric suppliers that realized what a great market IWCE is for their creations. Over 20 specifically focused seminars taught attendees the specifics needed for designing, fabricating, and selling custom window coverings. My favorite part of the event is always the Window Fashion Vision Design and Workroom Awards gala when surprised winners are honored for their hard work and beautiful creations.
I hope you enjoy some of the show coverage we bring you in this issue including the winners of the Design Competition (Workroom winners will be featured in the July/August issue). And definitely mark your calendars for Nashville, March 9–10, 2019!
Grace McNamara
Publisher + CEO
