"What's great about French Connection is that the aesthetics of the brand really lend themselves to all the home fashion trends that are really hot right now." Shamesh said. "It's not like we're taking a trend and trying to make it work. The brand actually is everything that we're using it for."
The fashion-retailer, known for its trendy casual apparel, brings its signature style to a broad range of home goods including, area rugs, bedding, pillows and curtains. The new home collection features relaxed global designs and the area rugs in the offering carry the eclectic and bohemian styling so popular at the moment.
Yaron Shamesh, executive vice president, YMF's Creative Home Ideas, walks RugNews.com through the new French Connection Home line.
"The home collection will start at department stores," Shamesh continued. "It's French Connection's first time doing home, and it's exciting that we're a part of that. We're a young company. We aren't interested in super trendy products, but we want to be in the trend. We want to allow our customers to introduce a product quicker and at the right price."
The initial area rug program includes more than 50 styles, and finishes range from tufted Moroccan cotton rugs to shags and natural vegetable dye area rugs, both machine-made and handmade, are manufactured in India, Turkey and China, with prices ranging from $199 in 5x8 to $1,000. Said Shemesh, "These rugs feature very creative constructions we came up with just for the French Connection rugs."
Pictured above is a French Connection rug from the Moroccan Cotton collection, with the look and feel of a knotted heavy wool rug.
"We have a collection we call Moroccan Cotton, which is Moroccan-inspired designs with that look and feel of heavy wool knotted rugs, but it's basically chunky cotton.
Other area rug collections include Heathered Wool, Vegetable Dyes, Stonewashed Printed Cotton, Vintage Jacquard and Bohemian Cotton. "The stonewash is a bit more boho with the block print. It's very in style right now. People love these," Samesh noted.
Above and below, Creative Home Ideas offered New York shoppers their first look at French Connection Home's comprehensive area rug debut.
The inaugural bedding collection includes seven collection focused on 100 percent cotton with a soft hand and an attention to detail including frayed edges, coconut buttons and textures that brings out the casual living brand identity with high end fabrics. Creative Home will also offer the finishing touches to any interior with a range of decorative pillows featuring various textures, furs and printed cottons, as well as sheets, towels and shower curtains.
Above and below, Creative Home Ideas debuts French Connection's first home products, including area rugs and soft goods.
