Contract - May 2013 - (Page 30)

an array of maharam textiles is displayed. Herman Miller Acquires Textile Company Maharam A titan of the interior design industry has acquired a respected textile company. The furniture company Herman Miller, Inc. announced on April 24 that it is purchasing Maharam Fabric Corp., a New York-based company with 250 employees, for approximately $156 million in cash. Ben Watson, Herman Miller’s executive creative director, said in a statement, “The cultures of the combined organizations are highly compatible—we share an unwavering dedication to authored design, product innovation, and operational excellence.” Herman Miller will expand its specialty and consumer segment with the acquisition of Maharam, a designer and provider of interior textiles for commercial, healthcare, and residential interiors. Founded in 1902 by Russian immigrant Louis Maharam, the textile company is a fourth-generation family business. Brothers Michael and Stephen Maharam, CEO and COO respectively, will remain active in day-to-day management at Herman Miller for at least two years. In recent decades, Maharam has commissioned textiles by designers including Tord Boontje, Konstantin Grcic, Hella Jongerius, and Paul Smith, and photo courtesy maharam industry news released faithful reissues of designs by Anni Albers, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, Koloman Moser, Verner Panton, and Gio Ponti. According to Mark Schurman, director of corporate communications at Herman Miller, Maharam will retain its independence as a brand as well as its operational independence in design, marketing, sales, and distribution in all markets. In a statement, Brian Walker, Herman Miller’s CEO, said, “The combination of Herman Miller and Maharam is a natural and complementary union.” While Michael Maharam acknowledges that this was a difficult business decision for his family’s company, he echoes Walker’s sentiment: “Much as we’ve struggled with this decision, our philosophical kinship with Herman Miller helped make this difficult step a far easier one. We believe they have the complementary intellect and resources to ensure Maharam a bright future while valuing our spirit and ways, and permitting the continued evolution of our unique approach.” —John CzarneCki contractdesign.com may 2013 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - May 2013

Contract - May 2013
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: Attending NeoCon® to Enhance the Knowledge Base of You and Your Client
Exhibition: GlobalShop 2013
Exhibition: Coverings 2013
Exhibition: Salone Internazionale de Mobile
Product Focus: Midcentury Made Modern
Product Focus: Uninterrupted Workflow
NeoCon® preview
BBC North
Paul Hastings Atlanta
3M Headquarters
Federal Center South Building 1202
Adobe
Atlassian II
An interview with Vijay Kumar, author of 101 Design Methods: A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organization
Designers Select: Office
Sources
Ad Index
Commentary: On MoMA’s Plans for its Modern Neighbor

Contract - May 2013