Pierre Deux Expands Collection

New York —Pierre Deux has dramatically expanded its fabric collection with a new licensing arrangement with Kravet.

The 50-plus fabric program from Kravet also represents a departure for the French home furnishings company and its retail stores in this country with wovens included for the first time, according to Heather Ryan, vice president, sales and marketing. Kravet also will create a trimmings program — another first for the retailer — that will launch in September, Ryan said.

This year, Kravet will market fabrics and trimmings exclusively through its showroom network and sample books to the interior design trade; Pierre Deux will be the exclusive retailer. In 2006, Ryan noted, Kravet will be able to open the distribution further.

Overall, the French-designed and produced fabric represents two-thirds of the company's offerings. “The fabrics produced by Kravet are interpreted by them from designs, colors and styles of French country looks suggested by Mme. Hedwige Cointreau de Bouteville, president and creative director,” Ryan explained.

Pricing for the Kravet/Pierre Deux fabrics will be the same for the Kravet showroom price and the Pierre Deux trade price. The French-designed and imported fabrics are higher priced and represent different quality fabric constructions, Ryan said.

The company also introduced a collection of more than 100 skus of wall coverings through an exclusive licensing program with Motif Designs. The collection uses 80 skus of the actual fabric designs plus about 20 skus of coordinates like stripes and plaids.

The bath collection, produced in Asia, features Aumont, a toile, and Gittens, a floral, in a range of products from accessories to embellished towels.