Goliath starts off big at Revere Mills

By Brent Felgner -- Home Textiles Today, 4/21/2003 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

In the same vein that those wretched dolls at one time were so ugly they were cute, the hulking figure in the showroom window at 295 was so ugly even a mother would have to admit it. But the point was made. Sometimes it's good to be a Goliath, particularly if one's speaking of a towel.

That was the story being told, among others, at Revere Mills during spring market where heavier, thicker, softer and plusher towels — sometimes with bold color stories themselves — were grabbing the spotlight. Goliath got the star treatment, but a micro modal called Cashmere also won favored attention.

At 6 pounds/dozen in a hand towel and 24 pounds in bath, Goliath was a puffy giant of combed cotton. Shown in a dozen bold colorways that included some primary colors, the oversized, strong and soft bath towels are expected to retail at about $8.99, said Dan Harris, vp, marketing and product development for the Niles, IL-based company.

For its part, Cashmere's name told part of its story. A Lenzing-made micromodal, known for its particular ability to take color well, Cashmere presented a soft and very absorbent hand — without the oft-used chemical softeners that Harris pointed out are employed in many showroom offerings.

From a business standpoint, Cashmere's point was clearly to add value back into the constantly eroding price point and margins business. It will retail at about $14.99, bath.

Initially offered in 16 colorways, he noted that since the item is primed for private labeling those colors will easily change, translating well into a broad variety of environments.