Market Report:
Roller Shades

The great response to this product category tells us one thing—roller shades are here to stay. We asked industry experts what new trends they’re seeing in roller shades, and the overwhelming response was growth and increased popularity. So what makes roller shades so attractive? The answers range from style to function to versatility. And as the desire for more eco-friendly choices and motorization options grows, manufacturers have responded and given designers and their clients even more reason to consider roller shades in their window fashion designs. 

Shown here: Lafayette Interior Fashions offers a variety of shaped decorative hem styles for a completely custom look. Choose one of several cut- out hem styles, which includes your choice of pole color and finial style.

The following companies offer a variety of roller shades. For more roller shade products, see Cool Stuff in the July/August issue of Vision.

Company; contact info; collection(s)	Materials; specialty shapes/trims; motorization; eco-friendly materials; contract/residential; warranty; M=Manufacturer, F=Fabricator, D=Distributor, C=Converter
Almedahl-Kinna AB 480/694-4460 (Tom Morrissey—representative North America) www.almedahls.se UNI, TEXTURE, PRINT, SERVICE From Almedahl-Kinna AB, a magnetic/blackboard fabric that you can actually use to create your own roller blind design. Put little notes, flower creations or photos on this memo board-type fabric, or use a chalk to draw on it. Easily washes off with a wet sponge, and then you are free to create again.	100 percent cotton, 100 percent polyester, linen and cotton blends. Special trims and accessories available through partner New House Textiles, UK (www.newhousetextiles.co.uk). Certain motorization of systems available. All fabrics are produced in Sweden while caring for the environment. No hazardous components in fabrics. See environmental declaration for details. Contract and residential. M.
B&W Window Fashions 800/858-2352 www.horizonshades.com Horizons Shades of Elegance A natural-looking weave roller shade from B&W Window Fashions.	Cotton, wood fiber, jute, linen, mylar, polyester, viscose, fiberglass, polypropylene. Scallops, decorative trimmings, decorative pulls. Motorization available, both battery and plug-in (A/C). GreenGuard Certified and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified materials in the line. Contract and residential. Limited lifetime warranty. M, F, D.
Comfortex Window Fashions 800/843-4151 www.comfortex.com Envision Roller Shades	Over 190 fabrics including a full range of light and privacy options, including translucent, light filtering, room darkening, blackout and sunscreens. Polyester and polyester blends feature a variety of textures, densities and weaves. Standard sunscreens, as well as the eco-friendly EcoGreen screens, are available. Contract line features Verosol SilverScreen, Mermet and Phifer Screens in a variety of opacities and openness factors. Fabrics are available as cut yardage for accent pieces. Motorization available—Somfy motors. EcoGreen collection of fabrics features 27 skus in four patterns that are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and GreenGuard certified. SilverScreen has a fine layer of aluminum on a screen fabric, dramatically improving the solar energy performance, while reducing glare and heat gain. Contract roller shade program features 20 collections with fabrics that are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 or GreenGuard certified. Contract and residential. Limited lifetime warranty for residential. 3-year warranty for contract. F.
Draper Inc. 765/987-7999 www.draperinc.com FlexShades	Polyester, fiberglass, linen, cotton, acrylic. Custom graphic shades. Motorization available—110V AC, 220V AC, 24V DC, 12V DC, battery powered. Recyclable, PVC-free, GreenGuard for Children and Schools fabrics available on all shades. Contract and residential. Warranty up to 25 years. M.
Fashion Tech 800/444-8822 www.fashiontech.com Solartek: Roller Shades, Panel Track and Roman Shade Collection	Over 220 skus. Featuring Mermet and Phifer Sunscreen; 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 25 percent openness factors; GreenGuard certified materials; PVC-free materials, mylar, prints, textures, laminate fabrics, COM laminated fabrics and exterior roller shades. Large selection of styles and colors of fringe, gimp and tassels. COM trim and decorative pulls available. Motorization available in hard wire, low voltage and battery lift systems. Clutch lift, semi automatic clutch and spring systems and spring rollers. Curved and flat fascia, cassette system, five bottom hem options. GreenGuard certified and PVC-free materials available. Contract and residential. Fashion Tech “No Worry” limited lifetime warrantee. M.
Frenk USA 800/234-7574 Faber Benthin	Clutches/spring hardware. PVC-free blackout and light filtering fabrics. Contract and residential. D.
Hunter Douglas 888/501-8364, 800/438-3883 www.hunterdouglas.com Designer Roller Shades & Designer Screen Shades, The Alustra Collection Alustra Woven Textures from Hunter Douglas, in the Origins fabric in color Henna.	Designer Roller: Polyester, cellulose, cotton/polyester blend. Designer Screen: Vinyl coated fiberglass, PVC and polyester. Alustra: Polyester, viscose, paper, cellulose, acrylic (material dependent on fabric selected). Designer Roller: Gimp trim, 2" decorative tape trim. Motorization available for all brands. Designer Roller all are GreenGuard certified. Designer Screen Shades have two PVC fabrics (Greenscape & Lumen) and 11 fabrics that are GreenGuard certified. The entire Alustra Collection is GreenGuard certified. Contract and residential (Designer Roller Shades & Designer Screen Shades). Residential (Alustra). Limited lifetime warranty. M, F, D.
Johnson Bros Metal Forming Co. 708/449-7050 www.JohnsonRollForming.com	Each tube is structural steel tempered with wall thickness of .017 or stronger at .024. Pre-painted white steel roller tube, painted inside and out or with other pre-finishes. Custom size cuts. Products available per quote. Minimum order of one full pallet. M.
Lafayette Interior Fashions 800/342-5523 www.lafvb.com Genesis Roller Shades, Hunter Douglas Designer Roller Shades Light-Vue custom roller shades from Lafayette Interior Fashions are styled to reflect the sun and filter the UV rays.	Screens, polyester, vinyl, acrylic. Specialty shapes/trims available. Motorization available. Eco-friendly materials available. Contract and residential. Limited lifetime warranty. M, F.
Recasens USA 888/866-6870 www.recasens.com RecScreen Shade Screen	Polyester/PVC textile. RecScreen 4000 Basket Weave, 1 percent openness, 9 colors. RecScreen 5000 Basket Weave, 5.5 percent openness, 15 colors. RecScreen 6000 Twill Weave, 3 percent openness, 15 colors. Antibacterial and lead-free. Supplier for shade manufacturers/fabricators and fabric distributors. Supplier.
Skyco Shading Systems Inc. 714/708-3038 www.skycoshade.com Techshade, EcoScreen	Phifer, Mermet, Alkenz, Vertilux, including EcoScreen environmentally-friendly fabric. Headbox and fascia options, side channels and accessories. Motorization available. Eco-friendly materials available. Contract and residential. 5-year standard warranty. M, F.
Sun Glow Window Covering Products of Canada Ltd.    800/668-1728 www.MySunGlow.com Artisan Collection	80 different fabrics in transparents, opaques, patterns and textures. Made from cotton and polyester. Braids and coordinating pulls are made from spun rayon, leather, suede, pure cotton, high quality wool and jute, molton glass, reclaimed wood. Motorization available. Oeko-Tex 100 Certified materials. Contract and residential. 5-year warranty. M, F, D.
Verosol Fabrics B.V. 0031 (0) 545 463 333 www.verosol.com Originals, SilverScreen, EnviroScreen   Verosol SilverScreen with QS8 system.	Originals: 100 percent intrinsic flame retardant polyester. SilverScreen: PVC coated flame retardant glass fiber. EnviroScreen: 100 percent intrinsic flame retardant polyester. Originals: Pleated blinds, roller blinds, panel tracks. SilverScreen: Roller blinds, panel tracks. EnviroScreen: Roller blinds, panel tracks. All products available as motorized. Oeko-Tex 100 certification on all products. Certification according to CETEC and approved for Ecospecifier (Australian). Implemented certified environmental management system for production process facility according to ISO 14001. Analyzed where products can benefit to LEED certification. Member of USGBC. Greenguard Indoor Air Quality and Greenguard Children and Schools certificates for all products. GECA certificate for Originals and EnviroScreen (as the only fabric manufacturer in Australia). Currently working on product life analysis for product range and recyclable possibilities for all products. Contract and residential. 3-year warranty. M, F, D.
ZMC Window Covering Supplies 905/856-3838, 800/541-2557 www.zmc.ca Luxz and Silkz sun protection fabric, Z-Screen sun control fabric, Z 2000 Screen Fabric, Hawai’i Collection, Roller Shade with Smooth Clutch, Duo Shade, Roller Shade with Intermediate Bracket, Roller Shade with Center Support Bracket, Roller Shade with Aluminum Head Rail, Motorized Roller Shade with Somfy Motor, Spring Assist Roller Shade, Roller Shade with Universal Joint Bracket and Retractable Motorized Roller Shade System	Z-Screen sun control fabric, Luxz and Silkz sun protection fabric, Hawai’i Jute Fabric. Fashionable and popular colors; many hem styles and basswood trims available. Motorization available—Motorized Roller Shade with Somfy Motor, Retractable Motorized Roller Shade. Eco-friendly materials available. Contract and residential. Limited lifetime warranty for some items. Clutch has 10-year warranty. M, D.