Kassatex extends lines, festoons new showroom

-- Home Textiles Today, 3/7/2010 5:48:00 PM

At the New York Market – Kassatex’s sleek new showroom at 295 Fifth Avenue showcases not only the breadth of the company’s bath and bedding lines, but also reflects some of the investments made during the economic downturn. These include signing up for the prime, street-level showroom space long occupied by Creative Bath; boosting the size of its distribution center in Miami; entering the luxury bedding business, and launching a kids line in bath.

“We were always very careful with our growth, but when everything went down, we said now is the time to capitalize,” said Miro Khoudari, cfo.

New this market in the core bath towel segment is Sublime, a top-of-the-line garment-dyed towel with piped edge. Made in Portugal, Sublime is available in eight colors and will wholesale for $22.

Also new is Contemp, made in Turkey of long-staple Mesopotamian cotton grown by the mill itself.

“Instead of the fabric being dyed, each piece is dyed individually,” said Khoudari. “When you dye one piece at a time, you get a vintage look and a softer hand. The loops pop open.”

Also new in bath: a reversing waffle/terry construction, coordinating rugs for kids bath, new kids towel constructions, and new fashion accessories that include pieces made of bamboo and rubber wood.

The showroom is also making a big statement in fashion towels, with a variety of designs.

In bedding, the take is subdued luxury in the four beds shown on the floor.

“We do mostly solid color, but with very good fibers,” said Khoudari. Among the new offerings is Sienna, constructed of rayon from bamboo and organic cotton, and Letto, 100% rayon from bamboo with three embroidery options.