Mumm's the new (quilt) word at PHI

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/7/2003 12:00:00 AM

SPOKANE, WA —

Artist Debbie Mumm has expanded her partnership with existing licensee PHI, formerly Peking Handicraft Inc., to include several new product categories, with quilts being the emphasis.

"PHI is one of the top quilt manufacturers, and its customer base is department and specialty stores — more the types of retailers we want to pursue with these quilts," said Jeanne Chouteau-Adams, director of marketing, Debbie Mumm Inc.

Other licensees for Debbie Mumm include Franco Manufacturing for kitchen textiles and Saturday Knight Ltd. for bath coordinates.

Mumm started her career with quilt designing in 1986. "It's her signature," Chouteau-Adams said. "It's what got her into books, then fabrics, then artwork and finally into licensing her designs."

Mumm will launch her revamped quilt line in September when she hosts a special two-hour segment on QVC shopping network television channel.

During the New York Home Textiles Market in September, Mumm and PHI will also introduce additions to the quilt designs, including many with holiday themes, and quilt sets with shams as well as more coordinating products like throws, bed skirts, decorative pillows and rugs.

Mumm's Signature Series quilt collection includes six handcrafted quilts with matching shams and three quilted throws. Each quilt and sham will have a fabric tag sewn on the back that has the artist's signature printed on it.

Each quilt has been based on an original Debbie Mumm quilt or sampler pattern. Besides the quilt patterns, the fabrics in the quilts, made of 100 percent cotton, were also designed by Mumm. The quilts have 100 percent cotton fill (200 grams). The backs of the quilts, shams and throws have coordinated prints. The packaging features natural cotton twill handles and cotton fabric panels.

Suggested retail price points have not been set.