Faribault Reintroduces Itself at Market

New Showroom, Cannon License Among Highlights

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 4/25/2005 12:00:00 AM

New York —

Faribault Mills, a revitalized 140-year-old blanket producer, jumped back into the national spotlight during market with a new showroom, a new Cannon license for blankets, and a high-tech new blanket featuring Outlast's Smart Fabric technology.

Putting its best foot forward, Faribault showed off a broad range of new product in a new showroom on Mezzanine 10 at 230 Fifth Ave.

In more news, Faribault has the license for the venerable Cannon brand for blankets, and launched both a Cannon and Cannon Royal Family line of blankets. In a notable link with the long Cannon history and tradition, Faribault will produce the new Cannon blanket lines in the same Westminster Beacon Blanket facilities, acquired earlier by Faribault, that produced Cannon blankets for several years.

Cannon and Cannon Royal Family blankets will be available in a variety of distinctive weaves and a broad palette of upbeat colors.

Faribault launched another new license in the form of a high-tech blanket using Outlast Smart Fabric technology.

“Smart Fabric technology adds an entirely new dimension to our business enabling us to propel the performance of wool and cashmere-based products into the four-season comfort arena, providing greater comfort and value to the consumer,” said Dennis Melchert, director of design for Faribault Mills. “With the growing awareness of Smart Fabric technology use in basic bedding products, our new collection will dovetail nicely with those offerings, allowing retailers to complement their basic bedding collection with a variety of weaves, colors and textures.”

Outlast not only supplies the fiber technology for the new Faribault blankets, it's also launching a new customer-focused marketing initiative.

Guy Eckert, vice president of business development for Outlast, commented, “We didn't feel that we were getting the proper mileage out of our marketing programs. This new approach is more targeted.”