Calvin Klein in Kravet License for Decorative Fabrics

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 5/7/2007 12:00:00 AM

New York —

Calvin Klein, Inc. has entered into a licensing program with Kravet, Inc. to manufacture and distribute a line of designer decorative fabrics including multi-purpose and upholstery wovens, window fabrics, and decorative trimmings under the Calvin Klein Home brand.

The collection, under development for the past 18 months, will launch in summer 2008 with up to 200 skus, keyed to distribution via Kravet's 31 corporate showrooms and 35 representative showrooms catering to the interior design community.

"The design level will be of the same caliber as our Joseph Abboud and Barbara Barry collections," said Scott Kravet, a principal of Kravet. "It will reflect the apparel influence of the Calvin Klein classic traditional with global influences." The designs and fabric looks will reflect modern, natural, textural, and multi-purpose constructions with influences of a Zen palette.

There will be four woven books, one window fabric book, and one trim book, Kravet said. Color families will be classic Calvin Klein – charcoal, aubergine, lots of neutrals, taupes – "all easy-to-live-with colors."

The fabric range will encompass solids, luxurious textures, silks, waxed linens, embroidered linens, velvets, silk/mohair, and luxurious cashmeres.

"We are pleased to add designer fabrics to our existing lifestyle home offering. By partnering with Kravet, one of the leaders in the fabrics and trim industry, we bring our innovative designs together with their expertise in executing upper tier fabric collections and reach a new customer base," said Tom Murry, president and coo, Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Phillips-Van Heusen Corp.

"We are eager to begin a relationship with such a highly esteemed brand name in the fashion industry," added Cary Kravet, president of Kravet. "Fashion design is such a perfect complement to home design, and Calvin Klein will be a great asset to the Kravet collection of brand licenses."