Laura licenses dec and throw lines

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/31/2003 12:00:00 AM

AT THE NEW YORK MARKET —

Designer Laura Ashley is bringing her home textiles offerings into other areas of the home with the addition of new licensee Town & Country Living for decorative pillows and throws.

The new collection launched during this week's spring market, said Judy Neu, design director, Town & Country Living.

The line, initially designed for upstairs retailers, including catalogs and specialty and department stores, is divided into two collections: Country Manor, which depicts casual elegance reminiscent of styles used in bedroom and private rooms of a traditional English country home; and Empire, a more formal collection of looks used typically in the common areas of an English manor.

"There is a terrific sense of craft and quality," Neu said. "We've tried to imbue a sense of history in these pieces so that they look and feel like family heirlooms."

Both collections include pillows in a variety of shapes, new fabric constructions and embellishments, "for added perceived value," Neu said.

Country Manor includes plaid matelassé and chenille jacquard floral decorative pillows and throws as well as crocheted throws, all in a soft palette.

Empire includes engineered paisleys, silk embroideries, silk and rayon damasks and jacquard chenilles, all in a rich color palette that includes loden green, empire gold, paprika and nutmeg.

Each collection offers standalone and coordinated products. But Neu explained that, within each collection, all the products match.

"All the merchandise is made to live together on a shelf," she explained. "For example, a knit throw can go with a chenille pillow."

Price points for the line were still being developed at press time.

Ashley's other licensees in home textiles include longtime bedding licensee Revman Industries and Kravet Fabrics for fabrics.

Town & Country is also a licensee for decorative pillows and throws for the cable television program "Trading Spaces" on Discovery's TLC channel; mother and daughter folk artists Wilson & Wilson; and several independent artists.