Commonwealth Adds to Thermalogic, Outdoor Lines

-- Home Textiles Today, 9/15/2009 12:00:00 AM

At the New York Market —

Commonwealth Home Fashions is expanding its Thermalogic energy-efficient insulated curtains and its Outdoor Décor curtains during this week’s New York Home Fashions Market.

Among other Thermalogic line extensions, the brand is adding designs for kids, featuring bold colors and coordinating stripes, according to Barry Goodman, vp national accounts. The curtains impede the entry of cold air into the room and feature a variety of grommet styles.

“A lot of retailers, even in ready-to-wear, are targeting the kids market, the tween market,” Goodman noted. “It’s up and coming. We just think it’s a natural addition.” The Thermalogic line offers five new colors with antique brass grommets and will be ready to ship in spring 2010. It will be priced at the same retail carried by the original line: $59.99 for a pair of panels. The Thermalogic line — the original energy-saving, sunlight-blocking brand introduced two years ago by Commonwealth — has now been expanded to 18 fashion looks overall.

In the Outdoor Décor curtain collection, new designs include a printed sheer in a sponge print motif, a banana leaf print on yarn-dye, and an awning stripe printed sheer. These motifs join the very successful, romantic Voile design from the previous market.

A new feature — Velcro tabs — makes installation and takedown for cleaning easier, said Goodman.

The panels are packaged in a cylindrical vinyl bag with a hang cord to make them more retail friendly, he pointed out. In addition, the curtains are fade- and mildew-resistant, constructed of 100% spun polyester with stainless steel-plated grommets.

“Outdoor is huge. It’s been a growing part of our business,” he said. This trend has also extended Commonwealth’s reach into alternative retail channels, including garden centers, hardware stores, outdoor catalogs and outdoor furniture retailers.