Chinese pillow & décor studio opens shop in U.S.

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/18/2003 12:00:00 AM

New York — Working from their studios in a converted ancient Buddhist temple in Beijing, the designers of Mandarin Square LLC are coming up with a new line of luxury all-silk decorative pillows, floor cushions, table linens and upholstery fabrics to launch for the first time in the U.S. market in July.

The five-year-old company has been manufacturing these textiles products as well as other home decor items (including desk accessories and storage boxes) for the Asian and Australian markets. But in February it established its U.S. offices, based in New York, to help it break into the American market.

"We are treating this market differently than our others because the competition here is more severe," Diana Wu David, president of Mandarin Square's offices here, told HTT.

The launch of the new line is scheduled for the Atlanta International Gift Show in Atlanta in mid-July.

Mandarin Square has about 125 skus across 22 product categories, David said. All the products are made in China. The fabrics — all custom made &8212; are produced at a partner factory south of Beijing. Mandarin Square also makes its textiles at its own warehouse in Beijing. Suggested retail price points include $110 for runners, $40 for a set of four coasters, $130 for floor cushions, $70 for 20-inch decorative pillows and $50 for obi pillows.