SATURDAY, MAY 26,2012 • SECTION [

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FLAT ROCK FURNITUR

Flat Rock Futniture's top ridge plank dining table will be introduced in JUly. The Indiana-based company said its collection fuses historic American hickory style with contemporary flare. The table base has a natural bark finish; the top is burntwood on pine.

Furniture makers discover renewed interest in pieces made in America

Memorial Day weekend is a time to wave the flag and re­member heroes, decorate grave sites, picnic in the park, sing "Back Home Again in Indiana" to start the Indianapolis 500 and revel in all things American.

Sally Falk Nancrede This is a year when Made in America furnishings continue to set the pace.

It started out as a patriotic. sentiment with stars and stripes and Americana motifs. But Made in America furniture turns out to be more than red-white-and-blue and flag­waving. Made in America is about prestige, not just among Americans, but internationally.

Karen Olson, vice president of marketing for Interna­tional Market Centers at High Point, N.C., explained it this way:

"Not only are we seeing domestic buyers, but a lot of international buyers are coming in. They want the pres­tige and the quality of American goods right now. It's a huge trend for our industry."

A new Made in America furniture pavilion was launched at High Point last fall during the twice-a-year High Point Market. In April, the space more than doubled in size.

The pavilion featured more than four dozen furniture manufacturers; even more North American furniture

II See AMERICAN, Page OS

A tufted slipper chair from CR Laine was made in Hick­ory, N.C. The cotton fabric is called Williamsburg coral; it's based on a historic document print from the archives of colonial Williamsburg. Suggested retail is,$1,750.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CR LAIN

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FLAT ROCK FURNITURE

The cherry low-boy chest from Flat Rock Furniture, hand-painted with prairie grass, was shown at the spring High Point Market in the Made in the USA Pavilion.

American FROM PAGE D1 makers showed in the general exhibit areas. Styles ranged from heavily oak Amish and rustic bent-hickory Flat Rock Furniture to hand-painte·Ci ·· Habersham and fine Leathercraft upholstery.

U.S. furniture manufacturing is enjoying a resurgence after years of production being moved offshore, especially to China and other Asian countries.

In April, for instance, Ashley F(lr­niture announced plans for a large st-ate-of-the-art manufacturing facil- , ity in North Carolina. The No. I-sell- I

ing furniture brand in North Ameri­ca, Ashley is headquartered in Arcadia, Wis., and once had a branch in Goshen, Ind. But today much of the furniture is made offshore.

Ron Wanek, chairman of Ashley Furniture, called the new American plant "a huge investment" and "a huge risk."

The manufacturing and distribu­tion center is being built in a former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. plant.

It's part of a return of furniture manufacturing to this country and a reinvestment in American workers.

Other companies have repatriated production to North America, includ-

ing Stanley Furniture and Foliot, a Canadian furniture giant that opened a large plant in Las Vegas.

Upholstered furniture in the new Martha Stewart Fine Furniture col­lection introduced in April is made in America by Miles Talbott furniture. And wood furniture in the new col­lection is from Lefa, a Pennsylvania company, and made in Colombia.

Made in America is evolving and inclusive from North to South Ameri­ca. * Sally Falk Nancrede is an Indianapolis­based home-decor writer. Email her at hoosierhabitat@yahoo.com.