Booth Heading to Natori Home

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 10/17/2005 12:00:00 AM

New York — —

New York — James Booth has joined Natori Co. as senior vice president, Natori Home, a newly created position.

Natori Home is a new business being developed by the lingerie designer Josie Natori, president and CEO of Natori Home. Booth reports to Natori.

The complete home furnishings business will launch with the home textiles segment to be introduced in February 2006 under licensing agreement with JLA Home. This collection will be distributed to better department stores, luxury linen catalogs and designer home textiles specialty stores.

The company will follow with collections across all home segments: furniture, accessories, tabletop and rugs.

Booth has 27 years of experience in the home furnishings business in retail sales, product development, branding, sourcing and marketing. Most recently, he was senior vice president of home in the Trade Services Group, the segment providing private label programs, at Li & Fung. Earlier, he spent 13 years with Associated Merchandising Corp., including nearly nine years based in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Natori commented, “We are committed to building our home business through the expansion of our licensing program and James has the skills and experience to lead our efforts. We are thrilled to have a specialist in the home arena who fully understands how to execute the signature details and embellishments that are Natori's trademark.”

JLA Home, with offices in Atlanta and Greensboro, N.C., will open a major showroom/office here in time for the February home textiles market at 11 E. 26 St., where it will occupy the second floor for the Natori Home collection debut.

Scott Howard has joined JLA Home as vice president, sales, for the Natori home brand as well as for JLA Home's business activities with regional/national retailers based here.

Howard was previously with Tommy Hilfiger Home as vice president, sales, for three years and spent 13 years with WestPoint Stevens, the last few in its basic bedding division. He reports to JLA Home owner Edmund Jin.

Natori, founded in 1977, is noted for its vibrant colors, intricate embroideries and details, and exclusive prints. There are four distinctive lifestyle brands: Josie Natori, Natori, Josie and Cruz.