Pillowtex has it in the bag

By Marvin Lazaro -- Home Textiles Today, 3/20/2001 9:50:00 AM

KANNAPOLIS, NC — The bagged bedding wars will almost certainly heat up after Pillowtex introduces its latest collections.

The Kannapolis, NC-based textiles manufacturer will unveil five new bagged ensembles under its Royal Velvet line during the spring market. The collection, called Décor, will contain 230-count, 100 percent cotton sheets with decorative edges and engineered borders. Also new will be the Empress line under the Versailles collection. The new line will supplant Palace as the top tier of Versailles.

Madeline, Nova, Straffield, Tibet and Zoey are all "good looking without being over-designed," said David Williams, director, department specialty store design, Pillowtex.

"Some products are over-coordinated, over accessorized and over patterned," he said. "Décor is all beautiful top-of-beds with supportive accessories and beautiful decorative elements when necessary."

Madeline, which has a silken shimmer, combines purples and greens on a warm platinum ground. Trailing branches on a soft green background adorn the comforter while tonal leaf motifs decorate the coordinating sheets.

Nova is a large-scale paisley on a neutral color scheme which carries through on all of the components. The sheets feature a repeated scroll motif as well as an ornate border design.

Contemporary spiral motifs blended with acanthus leaves are the main design element on Straffield. A striae texture in the background offsets a coordinate menswear check. A decorative border finishes the coordinate sheeting.

Tibet features a paisley inspired jacquard woven tile motif done with blue and gold tones. A small diamond woven coordinate fabric, as well as rope cording and tassels finish the ensemble.

A modern black on mink modern floral design on silk-like micro denier highlights Zoey. The shimmer on the top-of-bed contrasts with a boucle texture fabric and a geometric design for the accessories.

"The beds are more master bedroom but they're not that serious, either," said Williams about the introductions. "They're not so cemented into the ground that consumers will feel intimidated by the bed.

"They're very friendly but very refined and approachable," he continued.

The new Empress collection will offer a 300-count sheet and use lighter jacquards for the construction. Two beds, Marie Antoinette and Dauphine, will make up the initial introduction for market.