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Category: Wesco Fabrics

A TREASURE TROVE OF MEMORIES FROM THE CHANCE OPENING OF BOXES IN OUR WESCO FABRICS’ STORAGE LOCKER

I pulled out a medley of old photos, marketing materials, fabric work sheets, and much more from the saved boxes when we cleaned out our storage locker. I must say it was really fun to revisit these transformative times. This is a photo of me in my office next to…

THE END OF AN ERA AT WESCO FABRICS…A PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL CLEANOUT WITH SOME SURPRISING…SERENDIPITY

Marla looks quite happy now that our Wesco fabrics’ storage locker is finally empty! The story of our company began in 1946 with Marla’s parents’ venetian blind business at 30th and Larimer Street in Denver with $4000 of capital & lots of hope. We eventually grew…

MODEST SIZE MERCHANTS OF MARVELOUS OBJECTS AND ESSENTIALS

A year out of college, some friends were into digging for antique bottles in California’s Mother Lode region. I always enjoyed exploring and historical sleuthing, so I plunged in as well. My little world of esoteric collecting and fascination with glassware began robustly. The photo above shows Marla…

FASHION AND FABRICS…Reminiscing on how the fashion world influenced our search for exciting fabrics.

The death of iconic journalist, Andre Talley, has put the fashion world on the brain, igniting memories on how this world shaped the development of our own decorative fabrics at Wesco Fabrics. Although we sold the company in 2017 there are times when the old memory bank kicks into overdrive…

A LOCKDOWN DECLUTTERING AND AN EMOTIONAL CLEANOUT

The COVID lockdown has given many of us an opportunity to declutter, edit our personal belongings, and revisit accumulated detritus of our lives. I began by “watching” Marla go through household items, deciding what to keep or donate. I thought “two can play this game” and…

REMEMBRANCES OF A TEXTILE JOURNEY…Part 2

Our textile and home furnishing journey continues with this 2013 image of Marla in our Denver Design District showroom. We were somewhat unique from the other showrooms in the center as it was possible for interior designers to buy furniture and accessories off the floor rather than waiting for a…

SALES INCENTIVE ADVENTURES…A LOOKBACK AT CONNECTIONS WITH OUR CLIENTS AND NEW CULTURES

Our very first sales incentive trip in 1986 was a cruise from Miami to the Mexican Riviera. I worked on the program along with Marla’s mom and dad at Wesco Fabrics. Marla and I had decided we did not want to go as we really don’t…

MORE ADVENTURES BUYING BEAUTIFUL SHOWROOM PRODUCTS from 2007 to our very last trip in 2016.

If there is one thing I have enjoyed during this pandemic lockdown it is reflecting on past shopping adventures for Wesco Fabrics. This post will cover assorted trips from 2007 to our last furniture and accessory sourcing excursion in 2016. I previously shared our very early trips to Japan and…

EARLY BUYING ADVENTURES AROUND THE WORLD FOR OUR SHOWROOM

In 1995, after over a year of multiple surgeries, 12 weeks of chemo, radiation, an experimental stem-cell transfer during which 10% of patients died during the high-dose chemo, Marla was finally given a green light by her doctors for international travel. She said she wanted to go to…

REMINISCING ON OUR LIFE IN THE DECORATIVE FABRIC BUSINESS…THE EARLY YEARS PART 1

One of the benefits of this quite unusual year of lockdowns and safety has been how close Marla and I have become. We often reminisce about our life at Wesco Fabrics, talking about the great elements along with the less happy ones. When Marla and I were first engaged her…