Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Drapery invention enables effortless home makeovers

Entrepreneur invents way to stay in valley


By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer

Monica Macha invented a reversible silk drapery to transform home interiors. Photo by David N. Seelig

Faced with losing her Wood River Valley home, Monica Macha invented a reversible drapery that makes seasonal décor changes possible. Inspired while sitting on a log in Board Ranch, northwest of Ketchum on Warm Springs Creek, Macha sketched the design for luxurious window treatments. She translated her sketches into a line of reversible home products she calls Drape Couture.

"I was willing to do anything to keep being a part of the valley," said Macha, a part-time Ketchum resident.

Macha invented and received a patent for her product, a drapery panel that reverses through an opening in the lining. The heading of the reverse fabric is hidden in the hem of the showing drape.

Two layers of Southeast Asian silk fabrics comprise the lined window treatment. The silk fabric construction creates an elegant but functional compliment to an interior.

"Translating the idea from my head to commerce was a walk of faith," Macha said.

She began with a design sketch, taught herself to sew and sold personal possessions for capital. With a few prototypes, she started selling door to door, by word of mouth and then on the Internet.

"What has landed me here today is my Internet sales," she said.

The Internet attracts demand across the states, which enables the mother of three to support her family and maintain her Ketchum residence. She sells through her Web site, www.drapecouture.com, and e-Bay.

"People are on the Internet and know what they are looking for," Macha said.

Consumers turn to the Internet to find a host of silk drapery suppliers, but the Drape Couture line offers the lined and reversible silk product option.

"More and more people want to have organic materials in their space," she said.

The natural silk materials offer luxury and practicality. The lightweight material allows for the product's reversible construction. She expanded her reversible silk product line to include duvet covers, bed skirts and nursery products.

A change to computerized technology in the looming industry made silk available for home decorating. Innovation makes the material more affordable and enabled the creation of larger panels, allowing for the use of silks beyond the fashion industry.

Macha looks to the fashion world for home décor direction.

"Fashion trickles into interiors, they are the ones that determine our color palette," she said.

Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent inspired her original design concepts. She said the fashion industry keeps her ahead. The awareness also led her to incorporate details such as ribbons, jewels and feathers.

"I think of a drape like a dress," she said.

This season she sees a demand for vibrant, rich colors like paprika, umber, gold, chocolate, aqua and plum.

"They have strength," she said.

Macha possesses the similar strength in entrepreneurial spirit, a strength that empowered her to invent and successfully market her line of home products.




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