Press Release

For more information contact:
Missy Farren & Associates, Ltd. 212-528-1691
Caroline Andrew
Samantha Lacher

WILLIAMSBURG® AND SCHUMACHER LAUNCH EIGHT NEW LUXURY PATTERNS TO THE TRADE

(WILLIAMSBURG, VA, March 11, 2008) – WILLIAMSBURG and Schumacher, licensing partners since 1941, have teamed up to launch their first new fabric collection in three years. The eight new designs include four prints and four wovens, each available in three or four colorways. All are available exclusively to the trade.

“Schumacher’s latest collaboration with WILLIAMSBURG was the result of another wonderful opportunity to draw upon the Foundation’s rich and extensive collection of classic 18th-century textiles,” says Susan North, vice president of design for Schumacher.

Each woven fabric is rich in detail. The Beckman Counterpane Embroidery is inspired by a linen needlework bedcover dating back to 1749, from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s collections. The monochromatic design features one color of cotton thread on a dyed cotton ground. The Raleigh Tavern Embroidery is named after one of colonial Virginia’s most prominent locations and is inspired by a crewel-on-linen bedspread. The original pattern has been retained beautifully in wool yarns embroidered onto a linen ground. An antique needlework coverlet inspired the Everard Velvet Embroidery, wool embroidery on a cotton velvet ground. The original dates back to New England circa 1800. The richly elegant Grafton Silk Stripe is based on a French silk bourette. Both the original and the new WILLIAMSBURG fabric showcase ikat patterns woven in pure silk taffeta with a raised ottoman rib stripe.

The simple monochromatic Griffin Flower Print was adapted from a small print found on the lining of a woman’s stomacher (bodice), dating back to about 1730. The Charlton Floral Vine was tailored from an 18th-century French bed curtain. The adaptation is available in four colorways, each inspired by nature. During the 18th century, some wealthy British collectors kept menageries and incorporated animal prints into period textiles—the inspiration for WILLIAMSBURG’s Randolph Leopard Print. The Waller House Damask, printed on silk dupioni, is inspired by an Italian silk bourette. The original, found in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s collections, was stamped using heat and pressure. The inspired WILLIAMSBURG version is printed in metallic pigments, creating a subtle shimmer against the silk ground.

“After more than 65 years of reproducing fabrics from Colonial Williamsburg’s antique collections, Schumacher has created bold and beautiful interpretations of 18th-century bed coverings, ikats and French silks in a way that is perfect for today’s contemporary lifestyle,” says Gail Burger, product manager for WILLIAMSBURG.

 

The WILLIAMSBURG® brand offers fresh, spirited designs in all categories of home and gift. With products inspired by the 18th century and designed for today’s lifestyle, WILLIAMSBURG is the preeminent leader of American style. The Colonial Williamsburg Products Program includes 60 licensees producing more than 7,000 products under the WILLIAMSBURG and WILLIAMSBURG Reserve brands. It operates 24 retail stores, a mail-order catalog and an e-commerce site. Sales of WILLIAMSBURG products support the preservation, research and educational programs of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the not-for-profit organization that oversees the restored colonial capital in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is located 150 miles south of Washington, D.C., off Interstate 64. For more information, call 1-800-414-6291 or visit www.WilliamsburgMarketplace.com.

From versatile sheers and solids to opulent textures and velvet plains, the Schumacher brand remains a consistent resource for the essential needs of interior designers. Known for high-quality textiles and wall coverings, Schumacher’s signature looks encompass a diversity of design, including classic luxurious silks and European derived wovens as well as innovative modern patterns gathered from sources around the world. Historic interpretations and reproductions, often in collaboration with museums and historic foundations, have also been a central part of the Schumacher heritage.

© 2008 F. Schumacher & Co.    800-523-1200