Fashion refreshes United's utility

DES PLAINES, IL — United Feather & Down freshened up its Joseph Abboud utility collection and looked to the future based on interest generated this past market as a result of Divatex's efforts on the fashion bedding side in the last 18 months.

"Now that the fashion bedding side of Joseph Abboud has really taken off under Divatex, we expect to be generating a lot more interest in utility," explained Bob Hickman, vp, sales and marketing at United Feather & Down.

The company has introduced 285-count diamond jacquard pillows, comforters, blankets and mattress pads with the artistic signature Joseph Abboud logo known as the Signature Logo Diamond pattern.

United Feather & Down's entire Joseph Abboud utility program is being sold at Bloomingdale's, specialty stores and Shop NBC.

The Signature Diamond Logo was launched in gold, ivory and white but is now available in six new Abboud fashion colors: midnight, mist, aubergine, olive, coconut and stone. Blankets also feature a 2-inch satin binding.

Also new are microsuede throws, comforters and full-length bedspreads backed with microfiber in midnight, olive and wheat, followed by aubergine this spring.

The company also introduced machine washable silk and cotton blend (60/40) throws, comforters, bedspreads and pillows in taupe, sage and light blue, originally only seen in champagne.

Apart from Abboud, United Feather & Down's European

Elegance line also offers fashion elements such as two-ply 432-count and 60/40 silk/cotton blend constructions.

The company has also added three colors (khaki, brick and spruce) to its Silkallure throws that are 85 percent cotton, 15 percent polyester.

Three colors (plum, dark gray and bright blue) have also been added to the 20-color palette of the bedding sets program as well as clear-front packaging to show off all the components: two feather down pillows, two shams, a down comforter and a bed skirt for $149.99 to $179.99.

In addition, United is making reversible colored shams in six to eight color combinations and novelty Flip & Sip microsuede dec pillows in dark green, navy and brick colorways.

Also new are the new Lyocell Down pillows, comforters, mattress pads and featherbeds, which feature 70/30 down/Lyocell, making them more durable than cotton with medium support. Products feature a 280-count Lyocell sateen cover. Marketing manager Becky Heimerman said the company has been experiencing demand for Lyocell from customers that traditionally like 100 percent cotton products.

"Retailers have been responding to the feel and durability of the Lyocell products," she explained.

The company has also upgraded to an exclusive 400-count fabrication on its Primaloft comforters, pillows, blankets, mattress pads and fiberbeds for better customers. It has added ecru to its 400-count Insuloft Down 650 fillpower hypoallergenic white goose down products. Additionally, its 400-count printed brocade offering with European down and 550 fillpower now comes in white and ecru.