Fabric Designer Murray in New Venture

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

New York —

Veteran decorative fabrics designer Marion Murray has formed her own company, Marion Murray & Co., and will launch her own collection of decorative fabrics at Showtime in High Point, N.C. this December.

In addition to decorative fabrics that will be marketed by her licensee, Braemore Fabrics, a division of P/Kaufmann, Inc., she will offer finished products under the brand MMD by Marion Murray. The company will serve the wholesale, retail and licensing markets.

With more than 25 years of experience in the decorative fabrics design world, most recently on the Tommy Bahama Collection for Braemore, she has also designed for American Century Home, The Robert Allen Group, P/Kaufmann and Duralee.

The Marion Murray Home Collection of fabrics will feature 20 skus on a cotton/linen print cloth, 20 skus of coordinated wovens and embroideries — all in a five-color story.

In 2008, the P/Kaufmann Outdoor division will launch a collection of outdoor fabrics of eight prints in 20 skus.

The finished products, all produced in the United States, will debut at the Atlanta Gift and Accessory Show in January 2008. The product mix will include laminated boxes, bowls, trays, placemats and coasters. Fabric covered products will include handbags, tote bags, decorative pillows and cosmetic bags.

Working with Murray in her new venture is Nino DePasquale, director of sales and marketing. He formerly was business manager at Waverly Fabrics.

Said Ron Kaufmann, ceo of P/Kaufmann, "Marion has developed a very fresh, young look that will complement our line."

Murray commented, "As we watch our industry changing before our eyes, it has become apparent to me that the sale of individual items is passing us by. It is through the vision of lifestyle branded product collections that I see the industry evolving."