Springs readies a thematic approach for market

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/13/2003 3:25:00 PM

Fort Mill, SC — Springs Industries will shift from a brand-oriented presentation at the upcoming New York Home Textiles Market to a lifestyle treatment, with designs for product in all categories adhering to one of six themes.

The lifestyle directions — cosmopolitan, exotic, heirloom, urban, elements and vintage — will encompass window, rugs, bath, bed-in-a-bag, solid-color sheets and towels, comforter sets, quilts and Artistique, the company's line of embroidered bed-in-a-bag, according to Nancy Webster, senior vp, creative development.

Within the mill's six directions for market, exotic will present the largest collection of product.

"So many retailers are asking for this type of look, all the way from the high end to the mass market merchants," Webster said.

Exotic melds a variety of global influences — Russian, South American, Mongolian, Nepalese and Native American among them.

"The only global influence we didn't work into exotic is Asian," said Gary Filippone, vp of design. "Because so much Asian design is inspired by nature, we felt Asian was a better fit with the 'elements' lifestyle."

Elements is influenced by organic materials and textures such as bark cloth and slub linen, with colors that lean toward neutral.

Other design directions include:

— Cosmopolitan: Constructed in a couture style, this direction riffs on apparel trends, with colors that are clean and vibrant.

— Urban: Sleek, graphic and clean, this is a downtown lifestyle, with dark, saturated colors.

— Heirloom: Handsome, warm and subtly masculine, this fashion group is inspired by old homes and classic design elements.

— Vintage: The feminine counterpoint to Heirloom, the design collection nods in the direction of worn antiques, eclectic living and charming decors.

"We've kept the lifestyles separate, but you'll notice that the lifestyles are compatible with one another, and some of the individual designs bridge lifestyles," Filippone said.