Mohawk shows Raymond Waites in style

By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 4/5/2004 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

After two soft launches that concentrated on area and accent rugs, Mohawk Home has officially debuted its collection with designer Raymond Waites.

At last week's New York Home Textiles Market, Mohawk Home set up a large vignette to showcase the collection, including coordinate bath pieces by other licensees.

"This is our first opportunity to display the strength of the Raymond Waites color palette in one location," said Merle Johnson, vice president of marketing, Mohawk Home.

"He's taken his 17-color palette and spread it throughout the entire home, and it is important for us to show the retailers to understand how it can be merchandised, displayed and sold."

New to last week's market for Mohawk Home's Raymond Waites Collection were bath rugs and solid-colored matelasse bedspreads.

The new bath rugs are available in four styles: two double cut-and-loop designs; one textured cut pile; and one cabana stripe design made from two nylon systems. The bath rugs are available in 17 colorways, while the matelasse bedspreads come in four solid colorways.

At previous markets, the company showed its Raymond Waites area and accent rug offerings, which include 29 styles of olefin wovens with fringe, 40 printed rugs and 10 scatter sizes.

For the rugs, the company created a separate creel to best translate Waites' signature looks, including deep colorways, large florals, animal prints and opulent accents.