Frette Broadens Product Range
By Jennifer Marks -- Home Textiles Today, 11/12/2007
New York —Italian luxury linens producer Frette is expanding its collection of lounge accessories for spring/summer 2008 with decorative pillows and throws for the living room.
“Frette is already a staple in our customer's bedrooms and bathrooms,” said ceo Paul Raffin, “but now we're … decorating throughout the home.”
The new range of dec pillows includes constructions in watersnake, 100% linen, python and silk as well as bronze and gold metallic lambskin that complement existing throws in cashmere, wool and silk. Also new is a richly hued pony hair dec pillow collection backed in linen, which complements a new, similarly constructed pony hair throw in moss, butter or sandstone.
New introductions also include an expanded collection of loungewear for men and women (called Frette to Wear) as well as glass vases hand-made in Murano, Italy, by Serguso Viro, in business since 1397.
Frette's inaugural line of gift items just landed in stores in late October. The collection includes linen guest towels, table linens, throws, slippers, sleepwear and Italian vases. The marquee item in the gift collection is an $85,000 sable throw.
To support the gift launch, Frette has just mailed out its debut gift catalog featuring many of the items. In addition, the brand is preparing to launch its first gift card ahead of the holidays.
Frette also recently previewed its bedding for spring/summer 2008, with a thematic focus on Swedish glam inspired by Hollywood legends Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman.
The Greta Couture collection features swirling brush-stroke designs on yarn- and piece-dyed jacquard Egyptian cotton sheets, cases and bedspread. The pattern repeats on the yarn-dye silk jacquard duvet cover in soft talc blue. A cotton sateen duvet cover is also available.
The complementary Garbo quilt, in silk and linen yarn-dye, is dyed a richer shade of blue with a painterly design, and is also available in a hibiscus pink to layer in with Frette's Bicolore Essentials bedding line.
Ingrid features daffodil leaves on a yarn-dyed jacquard duvet cover, which also layers with Essentials linens.
In terms of store expansion, Frette is taking its time. The new Manhasset, N.Y., store will open just after Thanksgiving. Frette will open in Boston next year, and plans to revamp and expand its in-store area at ABC Carpet and Home in Manhattan.
