Ashley Wilde Group Adds First 'Twiggy' Home Lines
April 4, 2006
HERTFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom -- The Ashley Wilde Group is delighted to announce that Twiggy has signed an exclusive deal to create, with her combined flair for fashion and textiles, a signature range of contemporary and timeless designs for curtains, bed-linen, cushions and throws, to be launched later this year. The first collection of Twiggy designs will be introduced in the autumn in London at a private showing, said Ashley Brodin, a principal of Ashley Wilde. "This is a design led market. People want to buy design."
Twiggy is currently part of an advertising campaign for the retailer Marks & Spencer in the UK and is a panelist on "America's Next Top Model" television show in America.
"Twiggy is very interested in fabrics herself." Ashley Wilde Group is now looking for prospective partners in America to carry the Twiggy brand forward. "We need people who are either retailers or are American converters who will take the Twiggy label for the USA," Brodin said. The initial rollout markets for the Twiggy Collection will be the UK, Ireland and the USA in bed linen, cushions, throws, towels and readymade curtains.
With this deal, Ashley Wilde Group has cemented its transition from a converter/wholesaler of fabrics to a design driven manufacturer of finished home textiles, with total sales of $75 million, Brodin said.
Twiggy epitomized the Edwardian look. "She has made a big comeback in England," Brodin said, as well as in the USA. "Twiggy is a nonstop British television personality on several shows. She also acts on stage—just finished a pantomime show in Brighton." Twiggy also co-stared with Tommy Tune on Broadway some years back in 'Boyfriend,' a musical.
"We started our lives as a traditional textile converter under my father's watch. Today we are a design driven manufacturing house," Brodin said. Ashley Wilde Group now owns several new brands including the recently acquired blinds producer, IIumin8. Wilde also owns Kai—an upmarket brand of furnishings fabric; a furniture company named The Leather Home Store; also on the Wilde team of brands is Linda Barker, an interior design television personality in the UK.
"Twiggy will be our international brand along with Kai. Kai is furnishings fabrics while Twiggy is our upmarket brand for made ups including bedding, cushions, throws and curtains, mostly manufactured in China."
Ashley Wilde Group is now in its third generation. Father Nick, 90, founded the company in 1950 followed by Ashley Brodin, chief executive and Simon Brodin, Ashley's son who serves as MD. Ashley says the company is also planning a big push in wallcoverings starting in June for the first time in years.
"We saw the handwriting on the wall as a fabric converter and have completely diversified. We now have a massive studio with nine designers and five additional designers who work from home. About 80 percent of our design needs are generated internally."
Ashley Wilde Group exhibits at Decosit, Heimtextil and Soft Furnishings in Birmingham, UK. The company sells worldwide in 53 countries including finished textiles in 12 to15 countries to retailers in Europe and in the US. As for the rest of the world, Ashley Wilde sells piece goods through wholesalers.
Twiggy is currently part of an advertising campaign for the retailer Marks & Spencer in the UK and is a panelist on "America's Next Top Model" television show in America.
"Twiggy is very interested in fabrics herself." Ashley Wilde Group is now looking for prospective partners in America to carry the Twiggy brand forward. "We need people who are either retailers or are American converters who will take the Twiggy label for the USA," Brodin said. The initial rollout markets for the Twiggy Collection will be the UK, Ireland and the USA in bed linen, cushions, throws, towels and readymade curtains.
With this deal, Ashley Wilde Group has cemented its transition from a converter/wholesaler of fabrics to a design driven manufacturer of finished home textiles, with total sales of $75 million, Brodin said.
Twiggy epitomized the Edwardian look. "She has made a big comeback in England," Brodin said, as well as in the USA. "Twiggy is a nonstop British television personality on several shows. She also acts on stage—just finished a pantomime show in Brighton." Twiggy also co-stared with Tommy Tune on Broadway some years back in 'Boyfriend,' a musical.
"We started our lives as a traditional textile converter under my father's watch. Today we are a design driven manufacturing house," Brodin said. Ashley Wilde Group now owns several new brands including the recently acquired blinds producer, IIumin8. Wilde also owns Kai—an upmarket brand of furnishings fabric; a furniture company named The Leather Home Store; also on the Wilde team of brands is Linda Barker, an interior design television personality in the UK.
"Twiggy will be our international brand along with Kai. Kai is furnishings fabrics while Twiggy is our upmarket brand for made ups including bedding, cushions, throws and curtains, mostly manufactured in China."
Ashley Wilde Group is now in its third generation. Father Nick, 90, founded the company in 1950 followed by Ashley Brodin, chief executive and Simon Brodin, Ashley's son who serves as MD. Ashley says the company is also planning a big push in wallcoverings starting in June for the first time in years.
"We saw the handwriting on the wall as a fabric converter and have completely diversified. We now have a massive studio with nine designers and five additional designers who work from home. About 80 percent of our design needs are generated internally."
Ashley Wilde Group exhibits at Decosit, Heimtextil and Soft Furnishings in Birmingham, UK. The company sells worldwide in 53 countries including finished textiles in 12 to15 countries to retailers in Europe and in the US. As for the rest of the world, Ashley Wilde sells piece goods through wholesalers.
