Rachael Ray Debuts at WestPoint

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/14/2007 12:00:00 AM

At the New York Market — WestPoint Home this week unveiled its new bed and bath collection designed by Rachael Ray, the star of Food Network's "30 Minute Meals" and author of 12 cookbooks.

The line is divided into two sorts of design stories: one reflecting her life in New York, the other her retreat in the upstate community of Lake George. Designs are simple, with quilted coverlets and quilted comforters for the top of bed. The core of the bedding program is a 300-count cotton jacquard sheet in nine colors.

The line aims at mid-tier pricing, with comforter sets expected to retail at $179.99 and sheet sets at $79.99.

Ray got her start at the candy counter at Macy's Marketplace in New York, eventually becoming manager of the fresh foods department. After Macy's, she helped open Agata & Valentina, the upscale New York gourmet market, where she was the store manager and buyer.

Later, while working at a food equipment store in upstate Albany, N.Y., Ray launched a series of "30 Minutes" cooking classes to boost sales during the holidays. After local media ran a report on the classes, an Albany TV station asked Ray to host a weekly "30 Minute Meals" segment on the evening news.She was recruited to national cable television after a Food Network executive heard her on an upstate public radio show. She made her debut appearance on Food Network in November 2001.

Four years later, Ray launched a food and lifestyle magazine, "Every Day With Rachael Ray."

Now WestPoint has identified her as ready to make the lifestyle leap from cooking and entertaining into home furnishings. Certainly this is one designer who will not ignore the small details that can make a difference to discerning consumers. Nor is she lacking in enthusiasm — at the official launch festivities Monday evening, Ray enthused, "We sewed the sheets ourselves!"