Richard Fischer accessories unveiled

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 1/21/2002 12:00:00 AM

PARIS —

Harrods in London and Printemps in Paris will launch the textiles accessories program for Court of Versailles from Richard Fischer, the licensee for throws, pillows and bed throws.

The collection, shown at Maison et Objet here earlier this month, includes many luxury elements, from semi-precious stones to gold and silver plate threads as embellishments, Fischer explained. A specially woven "long-haired velvet" is one of the important fabrics ,and specially designed tassels and trims are used throughout. Silk velvet and silk shantung are important fabrics in the collection.

Four color families are used throughout the collection: gold, green, red and blue.

The two prestigious retailers will kick off the collection in July and August, to be followed by American retailers later in the year. High-end bed throws will be introduced in the fall, Fischer said.

For Versailles, the launch by European retailers is logical: "They are very interested in classical luxury products as they always have been," said Hermine Mariaux, president of Hermine Mariaux Associates, head of licensing for Versailles. "The Europeans are responding to the prestige of the name. And as a resource, Richard is unique and an over-the-top merchant. He has a knack for exploding an idea. And the color range is so very beautiful — deeper, richer and more saturated colors."

The new collection, Mariaux said, "will ignite interest in the licensee as a whole." Pillowtex is the bedding licensee for Versailles.