Newmark snuggles up to new Madden home license
By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 10/22/2001
NEW YORK — Mohawk Industries' upstairs Newmark division was in good company at the New York Home Textiles market.
Its latest licensing partner, home design guru Chris Casson Madden, who hosts the weekly TV program "Interiors By Design" on cable's HGTV network and is the author of 15 cooking, home design and lifestyle books, was on site at the showroom last week to help Newmark launch her new signature luxury line of home textile goods.
The initial introduction includes a series of collections in various designs and assorted constructions, including chenille, faux silk and 100 percent wool throws, tapestry wall hangings and decorative pillows in varied constructions.
Sanctuary is a chenille throw and coordinating decorative pillow with a cotton velvet border in nine colors. The throw is set to retail at $59.99 and the decorative pillow at $24.99. Interlude is a 100 percent faux silk quilted throw in four colorways set to retail at $79.99.
Reflections is made of 100 percent rayon chenille and features a double-knotted fringe. Available in seven colors, it is set to retail at $39.99.
The Hunt Plaid collection of throws, which is part of Madden's Equestrian lifestyle series, is made of 100 percent rayon chenille with a tangle-free fringe and is set to retail at $49.99.
Under the Marrakesh collection is a 100 percent jacquard wool collection of throws that feature Indian sari-like designs and a fringe of metal beads that wear a $49.99 price tag and coordinates with a $25.99 decorative pillow. The first wall hanging, titled Hunt Scene and also part of the Equestrian lifestyle program, is a tapestry priced at $149.99.
Finally, for the Safari collection, safari cloth and mud cloth decorative pillows in several different sizes are set to retail from $14.99 to $19.99.
New bedding collections in matelasse, toile and jacquard woven chenilles as well as products for other categories will be introduced in February at the mini-market here.
"The reception from retailers has been enthusiastic," Madden told HTT. "I realize that the business climate out there has been slow in restaurants and hotels. But as far as we're seeing for the home industry, there definitely seems to be a need for more comfortable products that make you feel good at home. And this market has been a perfect one to make our product really stand out. The home is people's haven these days, and our products help pull it all together."
