Ralph Lauren Home to Assume Lauren Bed and Bath Ops in '11

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/25/2011 3:26:46 AM

NEW YORK - After 29 years of working with WestPoint Home for its bedding and bath programs, Ralph Lauren Home said that it is assuming operations for this business segment, effective May 1.
     WestPoint Home will remain the brand's exclusive licensee for the Lauren basic bedding program, which includes utility and blanket products.
     But Ralph Lauren Home will now handle the manufacturing, sourcing and development its Lauren-branded bed and bath categories, integrating them into the Polo Ralph Lauren overall supply chain and global manufacturing process.
     "This move allows us to leverage Polo Ralph Lauren's worldwide sourcing capabilities to offer the highest quality and value in a very large scale bedding program," said Frank Guzzetta, president of Ralph Lauren Home, which is a division of Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. "This shift will ignite growth and further our position as a leading designer brand in department stores."
     Added John Piazza, president and ceo of WestPoint Home, "We have enjoyed this record-setting 29-year association. We look forward to a prosperous future with Ralph Lauren as we continue to be their basic bedding licensee and, through our strategic vendor relationship, continue to produce product for Ralph Lauren out of our bedding and bath facilities in Bahrain, Lahore and Chipley, Fla."