German Silk Producer Spinhutte Unveils Clara S. Brand
August 13, 2002
Purcell & Letchinger picks up Second Silk Line as Spinnhutte's Exclusive U.S. Agent
New York — Spinnhutte, Germany's only silk producer, introduced a line of upholstery and drapery weight silk fabrics through the Purcell & Letchinger Group, Inc. under the Clara S. brand.
The 100 percent silk and 60/40 mohair/silk fabrics were unveiled at Showtime in July. The products are available for the furniture industry in solid yarn-dyed colors as well as piece-dyed colors. Exclusive designs are also available to customers. The new line is priced at $14-$20 per yard in solid colors and $18-$25 for the jacquards. Spinnhutte also exports to Europe.
"We found Purcell & Letchinger on the Internet," said Annett Herzer, export manager for Spinnhutte. P&L is Spinnhutte's exclusive agent in America for the home furnishings and fabric collections.
Spinnhutte also has a line of silk fabrics for home textiles in 110-inch width for the American market.
"This offers the U.S. market seamless, king-size bedding, while Chinese silk is almost always made on a narrow width and produces seams in the finished product," said Herzer. Spinnhutte also sells silk in 100 meter pieces, cuts and sews finished products for the retailer and provides private label packaging. "Most customers want the product finished in a package, especially the catalog companies like Cuddle Down, Front Gate and Schweitzer Linen," she said.
Previously, yarn-dyed wovens were available only in white and ecru, however, now all colors are available in a minimum order of 300 meters.
Spinnhutte said it uses strictly natural methods to degum the silk fabrics through the use of olive oil. "It creates a fine hand that is friendly to the environment as opposed to harsh chemical treatments of the silk," Herzer said.
"Spinnhutte silks are washable. We sell a down proof silk duvet to the down and feather industry in the U.S.A., which includes Down Lite, Pacific Coast, Hollander and United Feather. Catalog houses like Cuddle Down sell a queen size comforter cover to retail for $599. The silk bed linen line is also available under the Clara S. label."
Spinnhutte was started in Plauen, Germany, in 1937 to make silk parachutes. The company was state-owned until 1990 when Christoph Loening, now 38, bought it from the German government. The company's main headquarters is located in Celle. All weaving is done in Plauen, but the raw silk comes from Brazil.
This is the second silk line that Purcell & Letchinger, known for representing high-end fabric mills in North America, is offering to the furniture industry. P&L also offers Zensilk, a silk line from India with multiple warp colors and up to 72-inch width.
"We needed this silk line to complement our existing business," said Andrew Purcell, principal of Purcell & Letchinger Group. "While we already have one high-end silk line, this second addition puts us into a different handwriting that our customers are interested in."
Harold Purcell, consultant to Purcell & Letchinger estimates that the new silk business will produce over $1 million in sales. F&FI
New York — Spinnhutte, Germany's only silk producer, introduced a line of upholstery and drapery weight silk fabrics through the Purcell & Letchinger Group, Inc. under the Clara S. brand.
The 100 percent silk and 60/40 mohair/silk fabrics were unveiled at Showtime in July. The products are available for the furniture industry in solid yarn-dyed colors as well as piece-dyed colors. Exclusive designs are also available to customers. The new line is priced at $14-$20 per yard in solid colors and $18-$25 for the jacquards. Spinnhutte also exports to Europe.
"We found Purcell & Letchinger on the Internet," said Annett Herzer, export manager for Spinnhutte. P&L is Spinnhutte's exclusive agent in America for the home furnishings and fabric collections.
Spinnhutte also has a line of silk fabrics for home textiles in 110-inch width for the American market.
"This offers the U.S. market seamless, king-size bedding, while Chinese silk is almost always made on a narrow width and produces seams in the finished product," said Herzer. Spinnhutte also sells silk in 100 meter pieces, cuts and sews finished products for the retailer and provides private label packaging. "Most customers want the product finished in a package, especially the catalog companies like Cuddle Down, Front Gate and Schweitzer Linen," she said.
Previously, yarn-dyed wovens were available only in white and ecru, however, now all colors are available in a minimum order of 300 meters.
Spinnhutte said it uses strictly natural methods to degum the silk fabrics through the use of olive oil. "It creates a fine hand that is friendly to the environment as opposed to harsh chemical treatments of the silk," Herzer said.
"Spinnhutte silks are washable. We sell a down proof silk duvet to the down and feather industry in the U.S.A., which includes Down Lite, Pacific Coast, Hollander and United Feather. Catalog houses like Cuddle Down sell a queen size comforter cover to retail for $599. The silk bed linen line is also available under the Clara S. label."
Spinnhutte was started in Plauen, Germany, in 1937 to make silk parachutes. The company was state-owned until 1990 when Christoph Loening, now 38, bought it from the German government. The company's main headquarters is located in Celle. All weaving is done in Plauen, but the raw silk comes from Brazil.
This is the second silk line that Purcell & Letchinger, known for representing high-end fabric mills in North America, is offering to the furniture industry. P&L also offers Zensilk, a silk line from India with multiple warp colors and up to 72-inch width.
"We needed this silk line to complement our existing business," said Andrew Purcell, principal of Purcell & Letchinger Group. "While we already have one high-end silk line, this second addition puts us into a different handwriting that our customers are interested in."
Harold Purcell, consultant to Purcell & Letchinger estimates that the new silk business will produce over $1 million in sales. F&FI
