Duck River Brings Kensie into Home

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/4/2012 2:00:00 AM

CARTERET, N.J. - Kensie, the hip clothing brand for young women, is making its first foray into home through a licensing arrangement with Duck River Textile, which will preview the design concepts during New York Home Fashions Market in its showroom at 295 Fifth Ave.
     "Their whole thing is color and being different," said Joel Bren, who heads marketing.
     The collection will encompass bedding, decorative pillows, bath accessories, bath rugs and shower curtains. It is expected to launch at retail this fall.
     "This is going to be a step up in quality - in the materials," Bren added. "We will also have special packaging."
     Packaging is an area the company has been emphasizing. Its open packaging of window panels attached to hangers is helping to propel its curtain business, Bren said. Duck River's comforter set business is booming as well.
     The company recently expanded into the decorative pillow category with a focus on surface interest and merchandising in sets.
     To accommodate its broadening business, Duck River will soon relocate to a larger headquarters space in Edison, N.J. Last August, it opened a warehouse in China, and it recently expanded its quality control department there. In addition, it has entered several joint venture partnerships with offshore factories, Bren said.