Mohawk wins Waites license

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/2/2003 12:00:00 AM

Sugar Valley, GA — The newest licensee for designer Raymond Waites' growing collection of decorative home textiles is Mohawk Home, which will produce accent and area rugs, bath rugs, throws, decorative pillows, wall hangings and matelassé top-of-bed products.

"We have a lot of demand from our customers for full bathroom ensembles and more coordinated products," said Michael Vidra, executive vp, Raymond Waites. "Mohawk Home will help us achieve that."

Dalton, GA-based Oriental Weavers was Waites' first licensee for accent and area rugs. But the designer transferred the license last month to Mohawk Home to better coordinate the new product lines, Vidra said. The Mohawk programs will serve mid-level to department store customers and will employ Waites' varying house brands — Raymond Waites for the high-end goods, along with Chelsea Creations and others for more affordable products. Also, some private label offerings will be included.

A soft launch is expected to be ready in September in time for the New York Home Textiles Market. The official introduction of the complete line is slated for April 2004, Merle Johnson, vp of marketing, Mohawk Home, said.