Park B. Smith creates new pleat system without hooks
By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 10/28/2002
NEW YORK — Park B. Smith Ltd. has developed "Magic Pleats," a system designed to eliminate the need for pin hooks and other hardware for pinch pleated draperies.
Magic Pleats, according to Park B. Smith Sr. company chairman, has the pleats on the face of the fabric and a rod pocket back that allows any window rod to be slipped through. For heavyweight fabrics, like the strie satin damask, the back will be tabs to slip the rod through.
"It's always been a challenge for consumers, including myself, to hang pinch pleats — to line up the hooks evenly, and to fit them on the rods. Magic Pleats will solve that," Smith explained.
Magic Pleats, which has a patent pending, is being offered in 63-, 84- and 95-inch lengths. Each panel is 24 inches wide, with three pinch pleats to a panel.
Taking into account textures and sheers and a strie satin damask, there are 14 fabrics, each in a number of colors. About 90 percent of the fabric mix is from the Eco-Ordinates natural cotton fibers used throughout the company's bed, rug and table linens collections. Eco-Thai, for example, is coordinated to its sheer; Eco Chambray and Eco Twill are coordinated to an opaque sheer.
As accessories for the Magic Pleats program, the company is offering a 6-foot scarf valance and a filler valance.
Retails will range from $14.99 to $29.99 per panel, tiebacks included. Deliveries begin in January.
New to the Eco-Ordinates bedding program is a 240-count, solid-color cotton sheet program, with natural dyes in three colors that will work with all the bed ensembles in Eco-Ordinates.
Packaging for the sheets will include the program's new logo and a tag that holds a swatch so consumers can touch the fabric without opening the package. Retail for the twin fitted and flat sheet is $59.99
Also new in bedding is Eco-Parquet, the program's first branded blanket with a 68" x 86" twin retailing for $39.99.
New beds follow the Eco-Ordinate color palette — cinnamon, mesquite, sage and white.
The company has expanded its rug collection with major offerings under the Eco-Ordinate and Royal Chenille banners.
Six Eco-Ordinate styles, all with a thick, soft hand, carry tags saying "Touch Me, Feel Me."
In Royal Chenille, there are 24 new solid/textured styles and five patterns that coordinate with them in color and construction. Retails range from $9.99 to $19.99. Plush Chenille takes the hand and density a step up with price points from $14.99 to $24.99.
The Eco-Ordinates umbrella also has expanded in table linens with three solids introduced under the brand in double-fused, reversible mats at $199 retail. Eco-Bahama, a plain; Eco-Monterey, a small waffleweave; and Eco-Sacramento, a large waffleweave, are offered in six colors each.
