Frette eyes juveniles with high-end bedding, bath

By Andrea Lillo -- Home Textiles Today, 3/26/2001 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK -The bedding and bath products Frette offers its higher-end customers is not limited to adults anymore. The company has expanded into the juvenile arena with sheets, blankets and such from the cradle to the child's first bed.

"We were getting a lot of requests for children's bedding in Frette's quality," said Karen Katzman, national sales director, home division.

The collection encompasses sheets, baby buntings, bibs, bath towels and such, as well as some more untraditional baby items, like Moses baskets, cashmere robes and stuffed mink-like moon and star pillows.

Sheets are available in a moon or star jacquard pattern, as well as a three-stripe border solid, and, like the adult bedding, are 600 count. Linen sheets are also available. Produced in Italy, the collection is available in white and ivory. Pricing is still being developed, but the collection will be ready to ship in September.

Cristina Azario, the creative director and chief designer who joined the company 10 months ago from Donna Karan, developed the new children's collection, as well as the adult collection and apparel.

"She pulled it all together," said Katzman. "She addressed tabletop, baby, apparel and more. You can go from our basic line up to something with lace and embroidery."

"I tried to make the whole collection very broad," Azario said. From female and male looks, from simple to more elaborate, "I wanted everyone to find their different tastes."

Adult bedding offers such colors as peach, mink, terracotta and emerald, as well as white and ivory, Frette's best selling colors. Alpaca throws, cashmere duvets, mink pillows and silk shantung shams complement the bedding. Table linen patterns also continue to grow, mirroring sheeting patterns.

Frette also focused on bedroom apparel, some of which can be worn outside the house. Product included crushed velvet or cashmere robes to hand-beaded sweaters and mink lined slippers.

Frette also bowed its fragrance collection in three scents-wild blossoms, pure rose and zest-in candles and bath products.