Ask anybody in the decorative pillow industry how business is these days, and they will say it's been good, very good, with no end in sight.
Said Belinda Balash, Newport's vice president of design, "Accessories are hot. We're in a great position in the industry, and we're not cannabilizing each other."
The key to the upswing in the decorative pillow market is diversification--whether in fabrics, embellishments, styles or coordination of themes.
Said Helaine Suval, senior vice president of merchandising for Ex-Cell Home Fashions, "We have a very diversified assortment. We're appealing to a number of different niches."
The opulent category: continues to be strong, with chenille continuing to hold the lead position. Proving itself to be somewhat of a chameleon, chenille yarns are making appearances in jacquards, tapestries and other constructions.
"We're going after chenille," said Suval. "People are responding to texture and luxuriousness." She said ExCell was working with a number of new constructions such as jacquard and patchwork chenilles. The company also has an extensive collection of tapestry pillows in a variety of sizes and price points.
Marsha Caparelli, senior vice president in charge of product development for the ArleeGroup, said the company's new Sutton Place label, geared strictly for upscale specialty stores, would use better cloths like chenilles and matelasses, "embellished in a number of ways" with gimp, tassels and bullion fringe for a distinctly opulent look.
Fashion Pillows will feature chenilles, but "in lighter tones to mix and match in the opulent category," said Evalina Hill, fashion director for the company.
Balash said, "Opulent is an important category for us--a lot of customers want it. But it's not as glitzy as it used to he, and there's a vintage feeling to it." Velvets and tapestries are an important part of this category for Newport, including chenille, which has a definite place in the market because of its inviting and luxurious texture, she noted.
Color is important as always, with some companies playing tones down, while others turn the volume up.
Suval said Ex-Cell has a new solid program in wovens for chair pads and pillows. "We updated the basic colors for a broader appeal--they're not out there," she said.
Fruity colors will be introduced by Fashion Pillows in a collection that has "one stripe as the basis of it all--a beautiful doblin fabric with blues, yellow and reds," Hill noted. A plum and olive combination is working well for the company, she added, calling it "a new, fresh look as far as jewel colors are concerned."
Newport will have a collection of "real linen in screaming colors," said Balash, "with buttons, ball fringes and other embellishments." She said the collection was fun and allowed customers "to get as creative as they went to."
The company's biggest spring look color story, said Balash, is a Venetian palette in "soft aqua, clay, cream, dusty yellow and pale blue."
Quackers, an extensive collection of 100 percent cotton duck in bright solids, will be featured by Arlee on a variety of pillow styles.
Casual is bigger than ever, with companies creating their own version of the denim story.
"We've expanded on our offerings," said Suval. Combining denim with eyelet and gingham, and introducing an embroidered denim, are all part of the company's new denim program. "We've taken it beyond basic," she commented.
The Baseball collection, by Fashion Pillows, reflects a "new twist on denim with a nice masculine feel in Fourth of July colors," said Hill.
Newport's Picnic collection will mix denim with "fresh, upbeat red/white, blue/white, and green/white combinations," Balash reported.
Apparel-inspired decorative pillows that look like blue jeans will head Arlee's denim collection. Looks will include "overall" pillows complete with pockets and clips.
Said Belinda Balash, Newport's vice president of design, "Accessories are hot. We're in a great position in the industry, and we're not cannabilizing each other."
The key to the upswing in the decorative pillow market is diversification--whether in fabrics, embellishments, styles or coordination of themes.
Said Helaine Suval, senior vice president of merchandising for Ex-Cell Home Fashions, "We have a very diversified assortment. We're appealing to a number of different niches."
The opulent category: continues to be strong, with chenille continuing to hold the lead position. Proving itself to be somewhat of a chameleon, chenille yarns are making appearances in jacquards, tapestries and other constructions.
"We're going after chenille," said Suval. "People are responding to texture and luxuriousness." She said ExCell was working with a number of new constructions such as jacquard and patchwork chenilles. The company also has an extensive collection of tapestry pillows in a variety of sizes and price points.
Marsha Caparelli, senior vice president in charge of product development for the ArleeGroup, said the company's new Sutton Place label, geared strictly for upscale specialty stores, would use better cloths like chenilles and matelasses, "embellished in a number of ways" with gimp, tassels and bullion fringe for a distinctly opulent look.
Fashion Pillows will feature chenilles, but "in lighter tones to mix and match in the opulent category," said Evalina Hill, fashion director for the company.
Balash said, "Opulent is an important category for us--a lot of customers want it. But it's not as glitzy as it used to he, and there's a vintage feeling to it." Velvets and tapestries are an important part of this category for Newport, including chenille, which has a definite place in the market because of its inviting and luxurious texture, she noted.
Color is important as always, with some companies playing tones down, while others turn the volume up.
Suval said Ex-Cell has a new solid program in wovens for chair pads and pillows. "We updated the basic colors for a broader appeal--they're not out there," she said.
Fruity colors will be introduced by Fashion Pillows in a collection that has "one stripe as the basis of it all--a beautiful doblin fabric with blues, yellow and reds," Hill noted. A plum and olive combination is working well for the company, she added, calling it "a new, fresh look as far as jewel colors are concerned."
Newport will have a collection of "real linen in screaming colors," said Balash, "with buttons, ball fringes and other embellishments." She said the collection was fun and allowed customers "to get as creative as they went to."
The company's biggest spring look color story, said Balash, is a Venetian palette in "soft aqua, clay, cream, dusty yellow and pale blue."
Quackers, an extensive collection of 100 percent cotton duck in bright solids, will be featured by Arlee on a variety of pillow styles.
Casual is bigger than ever, with companies creating their own version of the denim story.
"We've expanded on our offerings," said Suval. Combining denim with eyelet and gingham, and introducing an embroidered denim, are all part of the company's new denim program. "We've taken it beyond basic," she commented.
The Baseball collection, by Fashion Pillows, reflects a "new twist on denim with a nice masculine feel in Fourth of July colors," said Hill.
Newport's Picnic collection will mix denim with "fresh, upbeat red/white, blue/white, and green/white combinations," Balash reported.
Apparel-inspired decorative pillows that look like blue jeans will head Arlee's denim collection. Looks will include "overall" pillows complete with pockets and clips.