ITM Manufacturing Breaks into Licensing with Croscill, Organically Grown

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/24/2010 11:34:20 PM

CUMBERLAND, R.I. - Entering into its third year of business, braided area and accent rug manufacturer International Textile Manufacturers (ITM) is taking its business into untapped territory - licensing - with two new branded collections launching at the New York Home Fashions market.
     This new effort is being spearheaded by Jeffrey Cohen, who joined ITM in August as the company's national sales manager, a newly created post. ITM was founded in October 2007.
     ITM has partnered with Croscill/Excell/Glenoit to create a collection of coordinating bedside rugs and fabric storage baskets made to match with the Royalton and Serafina top-ofbed programs by Croscill. The rugs and baskets are both made using the same fabric used to make the bedding components. The fabric is braided in an oval-shaped 27-by-45 rug or into a floor basket that can neatly store magazines, books or other bedroom- related items.
     "Braided rugs are a great option for our collections, as they can be a complement rather than a direct match, which can be too overwhelming when decorating a room," explained Debbie Powell, vp of merchandising, rugs and table, Croscill/Excell/Glenoit. "ITM has a wide range of constructions and fabrications that will allow us extend winning styles into more coordinate products. They are also set up to drop ship to consumer which is a great opportunity in larger room size rugs. We are excited for the fall launch."
     Organically Grown is ITM's other new licensing alliance, which calls for a new collection of juvenile accent and area rugs in braided constructions.
     The rugs come in two constructions: 100% certified organic cotton (GOTS certified); and eco-friendly yarns produced from recycled plastic beverage bottles - each 5-by-8 using 50 two-liter bottles. Tufted and formed into animal shapes that work in nurseries and children's rooms, these rugs are designed to coordinate with Organically Grown-branded licensed bedding programs by Crown Crafts.