MARQUESA SUEDE FEATURED BY JOAN FABRICS AT THE OCTOBER FURNITURE MARKET

Chapel Hill, NC (October 11, 2004) – Marquesa® Suede, a new line of velvet patterns, will be featured by Joan Fabrics’ customers at the October Furniture Market in High Point. An exclusive offering by American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y), Marquesa technology combines the aesthetics of premium priced yarns with a moderate price and easy-care properties including durability, stain resistance and cleanability.

“Marquesa Suede is an attractive alternative to the many imported microfiber products because of the resilient hand that will not mat down over time,” said Robb Tomlin, vice president of sales and merchandising for Joan Velvets and Home Fabrics. “In Marquesa technology, all of the positive properties are inherent in the yarn, therefore Marquesa Suede offers a soft, luxurious hand with exceptional durability, stain resistance that never wear off and solution-dyed colors that are always on shade.”

The Marquesa Suede fabrics being introduced by Joan are Marquesa® Certified, a designation awarded by AF&Y for fabrics that pass stringent tests, including the ability to be cleaned with bleach. Joan Fabrics has developed a complete line of Marquesa Suede in a rainbow of colors to match any home décor. Colors include Gold Dust, Artic, Bisque, Khaki, Sea Fern, Silvercharm, Slate Blue, Fern, Moss, Laurel, Blue Opal, Aztec, Navajo Red, Earth, Charcoal and many others.

Marquesa Suede fabrics will be shown by a number of leading furniture manufacturers including motion furniture maker Berkline.

About American Fibers and Yarns Company
American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y) is the world's leading supplier of solution dyed filament yarns. With thousands of yarns in its product portfolio and the ability to engineer yarns to customer specifications, AF&Y is a dominant supplier to the residential and contract furnishings marketplace, and has a growing presence in the hospitality, apparel, automotive and industrial markets. Headquartered in Chapel Hill, NC, AF&Y maintains a Technology Center that specializes in engineering filament yarn with innovative combinations not available from other suppliers. The company also operates three U.S. production facilities totaling a million square feet of manufacturing space. For more information on AF&Y and its products, please visit www.afyarns.com or call 800-925-0668.