Anna Claire enters juvenile market

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 11/7/2001 12:00:00 AM

Hutchinson, MI — After six years in dinnerware, fabrics and kitchen linens, the design firm Anna Claire has branched into juveniles, debuting a new baby layette quilted line and a greatly expanded tweener quilt line this fall market.

Titled Transitions, the tweener line is aimed at a wide range group, from 3 to 17 years of age, with some crossover into adult patterns. According to Claire Lenz, president, the company unveiled 15 to 18 patterns, all of which are manufactured, showcased and sold by manufacturing licensee Zheng Zhang USA, of Edison, NJ, in its 295 5th Ave. showroom.

Primarily available in twin and full sizes, but with queen offered for those retailers interested, Lenz said the quilt ensembles had a "contemporary, updated look" and featured appliqués and mixed fabrics in their construction as well as a color palette with plenty of denim/chambray influence as well as strong pastels and brights — "the colors kids are asking for," she added.

Sold as a set, the ensembles include the quilt and bedskirt as well as a mixture of standard and shaped decorative pillows. There is also a coordinating sham option that may be sold separately. In addition to being 100 percent cotton, the quilts are all hand-stitched, pieced, offered with either cotton or cotton/polyester fill and are machine washable and dryable.

The company also previewed four baby layettes to "give everybody a taste of what's coming," Lenz said.

Little Lambs, Ladybug Picnic, Baja and Sweet Pea range in design from whimsical lambs, ladybugs and fish to a traditional pieced quilt, all in baby-friendly colors.

Included with the 36" x 45" quilt are bumpers, bumper pads, headboard pads, dust ruffles and bedskirts.