Pem pegs Porter's poetry

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/11/2012 12:19:42 PM

At the New York Market - Tracy Porter's recently introduced Poetic Wanderlust designs have been translated into a new bedding collection at Pem America.
"She's an artist at heart, and it's reflected in what she's doing," said Dewey Cabe, Pem's vp of design.

In addition to duvet covers and comforters, Poetic Wanderlust includes voile patchwork quilts - either hand-made or machine-made. The bedding is all cotton, with accessories pieces rendered in satin, linen and silk dupioni.

Targeting department and specialty stores, the retail on queen quilts will be around $149.99, with the retail on a queen duvet cover approximately $129.99.

"I really think she has her finger on the pulse," Cabe said. "The hotel look has been around for so long everything has gone minimalist. It's time for something with color and interest."

Pem extends that point of view to its house Style 212 line, traditionally a graphic print business. This market, Pem has created solid programs with a focus on texture: reverse appliqués, unfinished edges, differentiated pleats, soutache techniques, among them.

Color is also the centerpiece of a new collection of Indian quilts - "the brightest we could find," Cabe said. Other new quilts were inspired by vintage kimono designs.

Pem's enthusiasm for texture arises in the quilt area as well - in one example, Pem presents the back side of a pieced quilt as the face, celebrating the raw, hand-hewn texture as a design feature.

Overall, Pem's focus is on a younger, fresher sensibility, but one that still cherishes heirloom forms. This is especially evident in Pem's new upscale Carol Gardens brand, which might be something Vera Wang would create if she were a post-punk 25-year-old living in a San Antonio loft. The looks are rich and sumptuous - with a twist: using traditional fabrics in new ways. The showcase bed is wedding-registry-worthy white lace patchwork. There are plenty of ruffles in Carol Gardens, but their edges are unfinished.

"We're going to expand on this motif," said Cabe, adding that he has trapunto in his sights.