TRENDSETTERS OF HOME FASHION
Portuguese brands Home Concept, Innovar, 1986, Lordelo and Têxteis Íris announce the latest trends in bed, bath and table linens at Maison & Objet, in Paris. Luxury is the watchword for home textiles “made in Portugal” whose quality known and renown worldwide is appanage of the sector.
“A fairytale…” is the name of the autumn/winter 2012-2013 collection for bed and bath of Home Concept. «It’s a unique collection, with a strong imagery load, where poetry and emotion mingle in to the past and the future», unveils Odília Costa, brand manager of Home Concept, which belongs to the company António Almeida e Filhos. Inspired in the imagination – with a balance between sensuality and luxury – Home Concept’s new collection bets on warm colours and simple graphics «but very expressive and full of character». Design is «bold and with irreverent manufactures» and, among novelties, the spotlight is on «a bed clothes line 100% flannel».
Jotabe developed «a bed linen collection that keeps the bet on timeless, working a palette of classic colours. With strong influences of American lifestyle, it recreates both a romantic and sophisticated mood as well as a younger and more informal one. The coordination of floral, stripes and plain gives to the collection more possibilities of coordination», explains administrator Pedro Lobato. The brand Innovar presents the usual yarn dyed, but also proposes sophisticated prints in percal, and brand 1986 has in its prints over satin its main novelty for the season. «The bet in noble fabrics that give a smooth touch and durability is maintained and it has been an add-value to the products», adds Pedro Lobato.
On its side, blankets and quilts brand Lordelo, created in 1842 and property of Têxteis Evaristo Sampaio, continues to privilege «wool, lambswool and organic cotton» in its collections, indicates administrator João Paulo Sampaio, that also announces the launch of a new line at Maison & Objet, baptized as “Cashmere Soft Design”.
«No doubt that our jacquards make the difference», states Sérgio Mendes, Têxteis Íris sales manager. «When we are asked about what differentiate us, there are several responses: maybe the attention to only select the best raw materials and just after begin the process of weaving with a rigorous quality control; who knows if the desire to respond to the most demanding refinement and sophistication patterns», points out the sales manager of Têxteis Íris, whose name shines high above in the international table clothes market, including in France.
The French market is, moreover, the second most important for Portuguese home textiles, following Spain, with the shipments overcoming 94 million Euros in 2011. Portugal exports to France mainly bed, bath and table linen – a category where the country is the main client of Portuguese companies, with exportations above 86 million Euros.
These four companies are at Maison & Objet with the support of Associação Selectiva Moda, under the project From Portugal with the support of EU funds (QREN). This trade fair is one of the 68 international actions in 25 different markets that the Portuguese association will hold in 2012, in a total investment of 8.85 million Euros.
