April 13 , 2005
For Immediate Release

Newton , NC – When the weather warms outside, and the energy of spring shakes off the doldrums of winter, we are inspired to get outside and get moving. Whether embarking on a new fitness regime, redoing the landscaping around our homes, or spring cleaning and redecorating the interior, we are focusing on a core aspect of our health and well being, and it is essential for our overall fitness in body and spirit.

LEE Industries has remained a strong company during turbulent times in the furniture industry by maintaining its overall health and fitness. After several markets of reaching out with innovative and award-winning designs, expanded color palettes and collaborative designer collections, LEE Industries moves more toward center and focuses on its core business. While still offering stylish colors and fresh designs, special attention has been made in developing frames and offering a selection of fabrics that augment LEE's most popular products.

LEE Industries has a long-standing reputation of having some of the most sumptuous fabrics available in the market. Rich classic colors, velvety textures and natural fibers have been the hallmark for LEE for many years. At the past several markets, LEE Industries showed a broader selection in its color palette carefully chosen to complement the core basics. This market, while still introducing fashionable colors such as blush and lilac, classic muted shades of gold, red and brown dominate the showroom floor.

LEE introduces a cotton toile, Cherie , in a classic English floral theme. "The tri-color design has a Jacobean feeling to it," states Robin Bartles, LEE's Merchandising Coordinator. "The soft washed cotton is so free-flowing and is just very pleasant." The pale blue florals and soft mocha brown of Cherie, Latte can be appreciated on #1180 Chair, and the soft charcoal and crisp spring green of Cherie, Citrus is featured on the new #3825-03 Sexy Leg Sofa and #1237 Chair. Made from 100% cotton fiber, this machine washable fabric is suitable for the Coveralls line of products.

Ashford , in 100% linen paisley, is available in three colors: Antique, Glacier and Maize . The muted tones of Antique and Maize coordinate well with the classic neutral shades in LEE's offering while the pink and aqua of Glacier coordinates well with the more recent colorful introductions from LEE. Ashford, Maize, with its soft yellow, sage green and cranberry and gold accents, can be appreciated on the #2009 Settee, and the cocoa brown and cranberry of Ashford, Antique shows well on LEE's #1477 Chair.

Also in paisley is a printed suede microfiber, Pedora, Harvest, in tones of brown, khaki and aqua. This unique blend of colors follows the trends on the fashion runways and can be appreciated on LEE's #3017 Sofa. Coordinating with Pedora is a rayon weave, Penelope, available in Citrus, Herb, Khaki and Slate, shown on several LEE frames ­– the #3180 Sofa in Penelope, Citrus; the #3076-03 Sofa in Penelope, Khaki; and the #3076-01 Chair in Penelope, Slate.

The newest addition in the basic blended weave is Carver , available in Golden, Mist, Natural, Sage and Toast . This rayon blend is featured on many frames, most notable the #20-Series Sectional in Carver, Mist and both the ­­­#3237 Sofa and the #3188-75 Apartment Sofa in Carver, Natural.

From a European weaver, LEE introduces Revelino , a “shabby chic” floral print in Honey and Pink . This rayon/linen weave is suitable for standard upholstery as well as for washable slipcovers in Coveralls. The warm gold of Revelino, Honey is highlighted on the #3135 Sofa and #7017 Sofa, while the soft blush of Revelino, Pink is charming on the Coveralls #179-03 Slipcovered Sofa.

Also from Europe is Maggie , a floral print in Cream, Gold, Linen and Raspberry . The muted tones emit a feel of antique estate upholstery and can be appreciated on LEE's #3912 Sofa and #1877 Chair, both in Maggie, Gold. Richer than Revelino , the deeper colors of Maggie coordinate well with many of the fabrics selected for LEE's Pine Cone Hill Collection.

In keeping with its reputation of having at least one “wow” fabric at Market, LEE introduces Orleans , a lush velvet and satin stripe in tones of cocoa, purple, bronze, gold and spice. Orleans will be easy to spot on the showroom floor as it envelops LEE's #3013-75 in Orleans , Cocoa and the #1144 chair in Orleans , Spice. Its coordinating companion is Ollie , a solid crushed velvet also available in Cocoa and Spice , shown on LEE's #1307 Chair in Ollie, Cocoa and on LEE's #7228-95 Sofa in Ollie, Spice. Whether a piece of furniture is upholstered in Orleans or Ollie, the fabric is an invitation to come and sit for a spell.

Family-Friendly Fabrics

LEE Industries has always had a focus on the family when developing products and choosing fabrics to offer the consumer. LEE is particularly excited this market about the addition of Sunbrella®, the popular outdoor upholstery fabric highly reputed for its easy cleaning and fade resistant qualities. With the development of new colors and patterns, Sunbrella® is now a family-friendly option for interior upholstery and is ideally suited for Coveralls, LEE's line of machine washable slipcovered furniture.

The core of the Sunbrella® offering is Rascal, which is available in 15 colors: Aqua, Beige, Blue, Cocoa , Coral, Fern, Heather, Parrot, Red, Sage, Spa, Teak, Wheat, White and Yellow . Most notable about Sunbrella® are the options this fabric choice will create for Coveralls slipcovers. Sunbrella® colors will not bleed so the consumer will have the option of a bold contrasting welt as shown on the LEE for Kids #003 Chair in Rascal, Red with a contrasting welt of Rascal, White.

The array of colors in Rascal will coordinate with any of the five stripes in the Sunbrella® collection. The traditional awning stripe Raft is available in Cocoa , Herb and Spa and can be seen on the #5867 Chair in Raft, Herb. Rainbow is available in two colors: Beach and Sherbet, with Rainbow, Beach showcased on Coveralls #69-01 Chair. Completing the collection of Sunbrella® stripes are: Rally, Parrot, a wide awning stripe in lime and sky blue with pin stripes of yellow, orange and green, showcased on Coveralls #193-01 Chair; Ranger, Earth; and Rambler, Blush. The 15 solids and five coordinating stripes will enable the consumer to customize a look for any room in their home. A great way to bring the outdoors inside.

Refreshing Pine Cone Hill

Pine Cone Hill, introduced in October 2004, proved to be a great success, and LEE Industries is augmenting the fabric selection for this popular collection. The wool crewel floral showcased last fall is now available as Edelweiss, Cocoa , a warm brown with fuchsia, lime and aqua embroidery, shown on the new #3915-02 Settee. Continuing the trend of pink, blue and green, the hit Dobbins is now available as Dobbins, Bright , a bold stripe in fuchsia, lime and aqua that can be seen on the #3915-02 Settee. Daisy Mae, introduced as a white eyelet slipcover, has been very popular in the press as well as on the retail floor. The addition of four colors – Celery Green, Cocoa , Peony and Sky – will make for color combinations destined to brighten any room. The freshness of Daisy Mae will be easy to appreciate on the #3915-01/S Chair in Daisy Mae, Cocoa .

New to Pine Cone Hill are several selections featuring soft washed colors of blush, lilac and aqua. Dash is a hand-woven cotton with a one-inch stripe in cocoa brown and one of six color options: Bamboo, Blush, Khaki, Lilac, Red and Slate . Dash, Bamboo is featured on LEE's #1057 Chair and Dash, Lilac can be appreciated on LEE's #1877 Chair.

Enhancing the feel of casual elegance for Pine Cone Hill are two new cotton/linen blends: Carrie, Blush, a delicate soft pink floral print, and Blythe, Aqua, a classic floral in pink and green with a pale aqua background. LEE's new #1089-01 Lady's Fanback Chair is upholstered in Carrie, Blush, while the Coveralls #106-02 Settee is showcased in Blythe, Aqua.

In 100% cotton duck, LEE Introduces Corey, Mist, a “shabby chic” floral print in muted tones of pink, sage and aqua with accents of brown and ivory, and Annie, Natural, a muted floral stripe in cranberry, maize and slate. Highly appreciated for durability, these prints can be seen on the showroom floor on the Coveralls #145-01 Chair in Corey, Mist and on the #805 Bench in Annie, Natural.

Casual Contemporary

Casual comfort seems to be the buzz words when people redefine their living spaces, and LEE is offering several new frames that can take on that description. The graceful lines and turned legs of LEE's new #1453-01R Recliner are appealing enough without the added attraction of a hidden recliner mechanism. The petite form of the #3725-01 Chair has universal appeal in both its size and its flexibility in mixing with a variety of styles. The #3915-02 Settee is an expanded version of the hit #1905 Neo-Wing Chair introduced in October 2004. And LEE's new #3825-03 "Sexy Leg" Sofa, with its slender cabriole forelegs, beckons from across the room. Dressed up or dressed down, LEE has something to fit any design.

Casual contemporary is defined by more than a frame; it can also describe the fabric. What better way to describe LEE's new leather, Zoe , a wax pull-up available in three shades: Dark Honey, Roasted Maize and Romeo . The velvety hand and depth of color are best appreciated when applied to the frame, as seen on the new Leather by LEE #L-1249 Chair in Zoe, Romeo.

Growth and expansion are indicators of a healthy company. While the focus in the showroom may be on the basics, the focus outside the showroom is on LEE's growth. Rising on the corner of Lindsay and High Streets in High Point is LEE's new three-story showroom. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2005, it will most definitely be the focus of the October market.

Whether describing the product, the showroom, the factory, or the staff, the key word is “focus.” LEE Industries will continue to be a strong player in upholstery manufacturing by maintaining its focus on quality products, innovative design and talented and dedicated staff in creating products to fit modern lifestyles.