Looking Lively
By Julie McGovern

The latest from Tommy Bahama is Portrait Floral, a 406-thread-count Egyptian cotton, woven herringbone with a sprawling floral-and-palm motif. Shown in the melon colorway, it is also available in a blue/green chambray from Sferra Bros. Ltd. (732-290-2230).

RESOURCES AT THE ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL GIFT & HOME FURNISHINGS MARKET PUT A SUNNY SPIN ON SPRING PRODUCT

Perhaps it was the cold weather making people pine for summer in January, or maybe it was forced optimism in the face of a stalled economy. Either way, the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, January 7-16, 2003, was bursting with bright color. Green was presented as a new color direction, and vintage/retro looks made a strong showing. These trends were most prominent in kitchen textiles, table linens, shower curtains, beach accessories, and home accessories. In bedding the great debate between traditional and contemporary continued, with many resources covering both.

At Mario & Marielena buyers were responding to traditional beds in rich colors. Sovereign is a new jacquard-woven chenille in a warm spice palette while Pavilion Ebony married the simple opulence of a solid 100% silk duvet with woven accent pillows featuring a dramatic-looking bird motif.

Jeffrey Fisher now has a permanent home in Atlanta in the Lieberman & Associates showroom. Atelier was highlighted in soft blue and cocoa brown, a color combo that's made a strong showing lately. Fashion details like grosgrain ribbons and equestrian-inspired buckles and saddle stitching completed the look. New faux-fur throws take their inspiration from retro Fendi fur coats. Milled in Italy, they come in butterscotch, chocolate, and raspberry.

Ann Gish looked to classic patterns in trend-right colors, featuring the new Taffeta Plaid along with Awning Stripe, which debuted last fall. Also new were five colors in the Ready to Bed washable silk line: periwinkle, ocean, menthe, shell, and au lait. N.C. Souther Fine Linens (Nelson Garfield Sales) felt strongly about green, presenting the Lido bed, a tailored wide-scale stripe, in the tonal verde colorway. At Legacy the attention-getter was Glasgow, a black-beige-red plaid in a cotton/wool blend, which could go contemporary or traditional.

Statement-making doormats from Homefront (919-732-1681) are painted with fade-resistant enamel paints to ensure a long life. At least two dozen styles for spring 2003 are available in 17" x 29", 1.5" thick coir.

Finding success in the animal kingdom was Michaelian Home. The Audubon Collection of handmade hooked wool pillows featuring water fowl and turkeys was well-received, as was the Retro Dogs collection of petit-point pillows, a program that has "been phenomenal, exceeding our expectations," according to Carol Lyne Livingston. Willows at Home offered animal themes with a French sensibility, including Le Coq and Trout, both printed on imported Scalamandré cotton and available in green, mustard, and salmon.

Freshness was found in the temporaries, defined by saturated color and statement patterns.

Edge, a four-year-old L.A.-based company, brought a retro feel to Atlanta with tablecloths, dish towels, aprons, cushion covers, and shower curtains featuring original prints from the '60s like Vintage Floral, Appliqué Posy, Flower Power, and Spyrogyro Embroidered. Mary Jane Bags evokes a vintage kitchen, using fruit- and floral-themed oilcloth as the basis for a collection that includes totes, aprons, placemats, tablecloths, bibs, shower curtains, and 14" square pillows. Plastic kitchen storage items are also available.

More than just bags, Mary Jane Bags (706-866-1741) carries placemats, tablecloths, bibs, aprons, shower curtains, pillows, and more in more than 150 fun patterns. In addition to durable, wipeable oilcloth textiles, the company offers storage items and woven laundry and astebaskets.

James Gunn is a young company that showed its concept-coordinated beach accessories. Reversible 36" x 60" towels feature a cotton print on one side, Turkish terry on the other, and Ultrasuede trim. Prints are bright and funky, while eight solids are available for the more conservative beach-goer. Coordinates include shoulder bags, sun hats, Ultrasuede sandals, and children's backpacks and Shimmy Chamois.
Sonoma Lavender filled the Handcrafted section of the temporaries with a soothing aroma from its pillows, sachets, and other home accents. Embroidered sheer organza window panels were shown for the first time. They featured removable lavender sachets sewn into the hem to lightly scent the room. The same concept is used for organza table toppers and silk charmeuse pillowcases. All of the lavender used in the products is grown on the company's Santa Rosa, CA, farm.

Kashwere is the name of a super-soft polyester yarn, as well as the Taiwan-based company that makes it. Available in robes, throws, and nursery items, the finished knit fabric is durable and shrink-resistant in addition to having a fabulous hand. Robes have been the big sellers for these reasons. Throws come in straw, off-white, chocolate, camel, and purple, with sage coming soon.

Old World Imports encourages worry-free dining with its stain-resistant table linens and aprons. A special anti-stain polyester caters to "mothers who love the French Country look, but have messy kids," said Louis Foubare. The company tested the fabric with olive oil and balsamic vinegar: "We let it sit for 24 hours, washed it with cold water, and gone!" Sponge-off acrylic-coated cotton linens resist stains without looking or feeling plastic. Available in more than 30 patterns and colors, they come in 70" rounds and various rectangle sizes.

Stain-proof linens are certainly a coup. If only there was such a thing as a recession-proof economy. Perhaps in time for the summer markets (the AMERICASMART show runs July 8-17, 2003), there will be reason for brighter spirits, instead of just brightly colored products.