Classic Mickey comes home

By Michele SanFilippo -- Home Textiles Today, 2/16/2004 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

In the wake of Mickey Mouse's 75th anniversary, Disney Consumer Products is working to boost the profile of its iconographic character — whose star has been long eclipsed by more contemporary animated stars such as the Princesses, Simba, Buzz Lightyear and Winnie the Pooh.

Tapping into the broader craze for all things vintage, Disney Consumer Products is now dipping into Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse poster art — originated decades ago — to create a new look in home furnishing designs.

The playful designs have inspired a new home line that features Mickey and gal pal Minnie on decorative pillows, throws and bedding.

Patterns to debut this spring will make fresh use of classic artwork and lively colors such as muted reds, yellows, greens and more.

WestPoint Stevens, which holds the Disney license for soft home, will be featuring one to two new classic Mickey bedding patterns in its showroom during the upcoming New York Home Textiles Market.

WestPoint also will introduce a vintage line of print decorative pillows with about 25 different designs, three or four of which will feature Mickey. The pillows will be embellished with sequins, velvet and beads.

Disney's Mickey revival has already scored with some celebrities. Actresses Sarah Jessica Parker, Debra Messing and Mandy Moore have recently been snapped by the paparazzi in classic Mickey apparel.

"There's definitely a hot trend going on with classic Mickey, but it is yet to be proven for the home. We always tend to follow what's happening in apparel," said Steve Hoffman, vice president of marketing services/licenses at WestPoint.

He added that representatives from Disney Consumer Products have been meeting with retailers around the country to promote the new classic Mickey home furnishing products.