Solid Color, Restrained Trims Drive Arlee Lines

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/26/2007 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

Arlee Home Fashions has fine-tuned its core decorative pillow line — and rippled that effect to its throw, soft window, and table linen divisions — to "what we do best and what we're known for," said Robert Panko, vp, product development. That being solid-colored programs, enriched by textured and tonal looks.

"We're driven by solid colors, but we're trying to also offer some fashion alternatives within that realm," he explained. "We're not focusing on cutting edge looks, because that is not what drives the decorative pillow business. We're developing more solid colored looks and layering them with textures." Add to that some beading and trims, in limited amounts, "nothing over the top or rococo," he said.

Some examples of such new programs include: faux silk solids; damasks with slubs; the new Hollywood glam collection that takes a faux raw silk solid and couples it with a tonal satin sewn-on sash for a sexy style; new tweed looks in geometric, chevron, derby and fringed styles; faux leather and faux suede groups; waffle weaves; micro-fiber plush; and corduroy fabrications. Most of these looks, headlined by the Hollywood collection, coordinate with soft window treatments, and others with placemats and throws.

The Hollywood panel is fully reversible in six deep, solid colorways — plum, burgundy, sand, bronze, umber, and olive. Panels, retailing at $12.99, can be matched to valances, regular and tied.

Arlee's leading model in window remains the lightly formal Presentation, a sheer poly waffle weave in natural, retailing at $9.99. Strongest in urban/casual tab tops is the Metro style in seven faux suede colors and five faux leather colors, priced $14.99 to $16.99.

Arlee also brought back the Hug Sack this market. Packaged in a clear plastic zipper bag, these blankets are outfitted with a long zipper and snap buttons to transform into roomy robes. They come in a $19.99 fleece and a $14.99 micro-fiber plush.