Kingsley Bate’s Sierra dining table is constructed of eco-teak, a natural-looking synthetic that offers an alternative to natural teak.

HIGH POINT — At the recent High Point Market, the outdoor category debuted a range of new pieces for the first “normal” market since early 2020. Many companies also are preparing for the Casual Living shows in Chicago this July and then on to Atlanta in January 2023.

For Lloyd Flanders, a new metallic finish in gold and silver was the main event, with the new finish presented on the Solstice collection in the company’s showroom. Solstice features clean lines, a high back and a sleek frame that speaks to a European design. The new finish was inspired by the way a car’s paint will glimmer in the sunlight, which Lloyd Flanders created by incorporating flakes into the metallic finish.

Also on display was Southport, a collection featuring a sleek frame design and accented with a beveled extrusion that captures the classic loom panels. The U.S.-produced collection uses coil springs in its cushions and is customizable with the choice of color on both the frame and wicker insert.

“Overall, the market went very well as it has the feel of being much closer to what we would view as normal,” said Bryan Echols, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Our traffic was back to what we expected for High Point with attendees looking to fill current needs but with realistic expectations of supply challenges. We were especially pleased with the focus on domestically manufactured goods, which we highlighted significantly in our showroom.”

Lloyd Flanders is anticipating the fresh start the Atlanta show presents. “The past two years have been a strain on every aspect of our industry, and many of those will continue to be a challenge this year,” Echols told Furniture Today. “With the move to Atlanta happening in 2023, I believe there will be a fresh start feel in so many ways. For Lloyd Flanders in particular, we are excited about our brand-new showroom that will offer us even more space than we have in Chicago.”

Another company looking forward to the January Atlanta Casual Market is Bellini Modern Living. Having only entered the outdoor category last fall, Bellini has been focused on offering additions for its collections and adding features such as anti-mold and -bacteria cushions and fabrics and a five-year warranty on all products.

New this spring was Bellini’s Quatris table, a square dining table that self-adjusts to avoid wobbling on uneven ground surfaces.

In its Interhall showroom, Kingsley Bate was presenting a brand-new dining collection: Charlotte. In classic rattan, Charlotte features aluminum hand-painted frames that are woven with all-weather wicker in an open-grid pattern. The company also showcased Sierra, a new eco-teak table line. Eco-teak is made from solid, high-density polystyrene, a natural-looking synthetic wood that offers an alternative to natural teak.

The April “market felt like a traditional market,” said Brian Blakeney, vice president of sales and marketing for Kingsley Bate. “And we are hopeful that in October that trend will continue.”

Danish company Cane-line Outdoor, which has a warehouse in upstate New York, introduced its new Vibe highback chair at market. The Vibe chair is characterized by its light and transparent design made in Cane-line Weave. This chair also comes with a matching cushion, available in light gray, taupe, black, dark bordeaux, dark gray and light brown.

Cane-line also offered the Diamond collection, which includes a two-seater sofa made of Cane-line Soft Rope that does not fade in color. It features Cane-line’s QuickDryFoam, which allows the cushions to dry within 45 minutes to an hour after a downpour.

Jesper Stockler, Cane-line sales director, USA, said the company is eager for the upcoming Atlanta show, as it will have a larger showroom space with more opportunities for growth.

Sunset West, recently acquired by Hooker Furnishings, was please with the turnout it saw this market.

“We were overwhelmed with the incredibly positive feedback and interest we received at the show, with plenty of new eyes and customers either discovering Sunset or seeing the line in person for the first time,” said Aliena Klaus, director, brand and e-commerce. “Now included as part of the Hooker Furnishings family, we are excited to expand both our customer base and distribution throughout the country.

“We are immediately expanding our footprint with a new production and warehouse facility in Southern California this summer, as well as warehousing in Savannah in the coming year,” she added. “We are hard at work developing new product inspired by Hooker’s indoor lines to serve as a true extension of the home, with new product and materials slated to be introduced next season.”

Sunset West featured the Pietra collection this spring, which has the same silhouette as the company’s new Sabbia collection, but in a darker finish combination than the lighter natural stone look of Sabbia.

The company also showcased its Dana collection with its weaving techniques reminiscent of macrame, and its day beds, on display at the center of the showroom.

“We have had tremendous traffic,” founder Wes Stewart told Furniture Today. “We have not been to High Point for 10 years, so it has really been exciting. We are taking styling cues from Hooker for a seamless look, and 2023 will have a larger introduction inspired by the fact that outdoor can replicate indoor in flavor, feeling and comfort.”

Erica Crawford, associate editor for Furniture Today, is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa, with a degree in English and a writing certificate in publishing. In addition to bringing her writing talent to the editorial team, Erica will add her late-Millennial perspective.

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