Kassatex mines the upper end

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/20/2013 12:47:52 PM

At the New York Market - Kassatex is underscoring its luxury positioning with the introduction of European bed linens and Portuguese bath rugs along with expanded bath accessories and a more sophisticated take on baby products.
"In the past couple of years we've seen an explosion in our brand," said Ernesto Khoudari, president and ceo. "We're offering a lot of fashion."

The company debuted three Italian bedding ensembles in thread counts ranging from 210 to 600, and six top-of-bed matelasses from Portugal.

Kassatex is also introducing high-end bath rugs from Portugal. Constructions include silk/Modal/Egyptian cotton, linen/Egyptian cotton, shaggy bamboo and 100% Egyptian cotton. All will be marketing under the Kassatex brand.

"Our customers are telling us Kassatex is being recognized [by consumers]," said Cathy Cloutier, vp of sales and marketing.
In addition to its range of solid-color towel constructions, Kassatex is showing 12 new fashion towels. Among them: zero-twist from Turkey, chenille borders, linen dobbies, lace effects and high-low constructions.

"They're all machine-washable," Cloutier said. "Our fashion is usable fashion. It's not just hanging there to be pretty."
Bath accessories have become "a very strong category for us," Khoudari said. While much of the collection is porcelain, introductions also include mercury glass, acacia wood and high-end resin with mother-of-pearl.

In Bambini, the kids collection of bath towels and accessories launched six years ago, Kassatex is moving into a more sophisticated look, dialing down the brights into more cosmetic hues.