Parà Group (Sovico, Italy) has hired Jeff Jimison as national sales manager for Tempotest USA to lead sales for the company’s line of performance fabrics for awning, casual- furniture, and marine applications. Jimison has an extensive background in outdoor performance fabric, having been involved in these markets for 15 years.

His previous position was as vice president of business development for Sattler Corp., and he was instrumental in the development and growth of the Outdura brand—from the brand’s inception, in 1999 (under the ownership of Shuford Mills), to its position as a market leader in outdoor performance fabric. Jimison says, “I am excited and honored to be chosen to lead Parà’s sales team in North America and to be associated with such a well-respected, technically advanced textile company as Parà. Its commitment and investment in its company and products—from design, marketing, quality, and manufacturing perspectives—are world class.”

Marco Parravicini, CEO of Parà, says, “Jeff ’s knowledge of solution-dyed acrylic fabrics (from both technical and industry-knowledge standpoints) is exactly what we need as we make this push to establish Parà’s brand,” making it both as strong and as well respected in North America as it has been for generations in Europe.

Tempotest USA is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, where it stocks the entire line of Tempotest marine and awning fabrics, as well as the Tempotest Home collection, which represents the highest expression of Italian design—combined with the outdoor-fabric and finishing technology that Parà has obtained over many years in the industry. Parà is a vertically integrated weaver of solution-dyed acrylic fabrics, as well as a leading producer of residential interior fabrics (with inhouse dyeing and printing capabilities). Parà has been involved in the textile business for more than 90 years and is owned and operated by the Parravicini family.