Kravet/Lee Jofa Studio Tour

 I think my favorite part of Blogfest 2011, beside the wonderful people I met or reconnected with, was the studio tour.  I am always fascinated by what's going on behind the scene.  What are we not seeing?

Everything starts with an idea or a look back.  You need to understand the past in order to look forward.

Archival fabrics are reimagined and often times recolored to update them for a more modern consumer, but the beauty remains.  Hand painting is rare but sometimes necessary; many fabrics are screen printed or hand blocked.

The designers that have collections with Kravet are very hands-on.  Kelly Wearstler found an archival fabric that she reworked, changed the color, and made it much more textural ~ the results speak for themselves.

original

New collection,
 the wave pattern was recreated in different colorways.

This is an example of how the bays will be merchandised and hung.  Everything is carefully coordinated for each showroom across the country.

Wish lists from each showroom target that specific part of the country.  You can see the 2 different selections to appeal to 2 different states.  Kravet re-merchandises their showrooms often, and that's why they always looks fresh.  Furniture as well as fabric is switched out, and nothing is left to chance

Kravet also manufactures carpet.  They have a custom and made to order program; you can choose from 500 colors and different textures.

There are 60 to 70 designs to choose from, including antique reproductions.  Only about 3" a day is woven.

The contract department no only remakes popular residential fabrics, but also reweaves them for commercial applications.  These fabrics have a higher rub, are teflon coated, and fire retardant to comply with industry standards.

Disney is one of Kravet's commercial clients.  A really cute thing they do is hide Mickey's ears or  Disney characters in the fabric.  It is incorporated into the design so well, if they didn't point it out I would not have seen it.  They make digitally themed fabrics for each hotel.

Do you see the character in this traditional, almost formal fabric?

Kravet recently bought the venerable Brunschwig & Fils.  They are known for their strong French influence and clear color.  Kravet wants to maintain the distinguised line that was traditionally thought of as just for a mature audience, and also introduce it to younger, affluent clientel.  B & F will keep the French influence and marry it with American flair.  It is being studied behind closed doors and will roll into showrooms next fall.

Shhh... here's a sneak peek of what the Philadelphia Lee Jofa showroom will be wearing come fall ~

photos:CLI

Kravet ~ Capturing Timeless Beauty

It's almost TIME...

I am declaring May 2011 "Blogfest Month".  All month long I will be highlighting the people, places, and companies that will be featured and participating in the event I am describing  to others as:  a Disneyland experience for design bloggers.

Kravet, D & D Showroom

Kravet/ Lee Jofa is sponsoring this event.  Kravet is a privately held, muti-generational, global powerhouse.  They are an industry leader that began with fabrics, while later incorporating furniture, trim, wall covering, carpet, and accessories.  Anyone who is even casually aware of the goings on in the design industry is familiar with the Kravet name.

Eric Cohler

Kravet/Lee Jofa collaborates with notable designers who license their designs for distribution through Kravet.  Barbara Barry, Thom Filicia, Candice Olson, Barclay Buttera, Alexa Hampton, and Windsor Smith, to name a few.

Thom Filicia

Alexa Hampton

Lee Jofa is considered a bit hipper and more fashion forward than Kravet, with collections by Oscar de la Renta, Ashley & Allegra Hicks, Diamond & Baratta, Kelly Wearstler, and Eric Cohler, among others.

Oscar de la Renta for Lee Jofa

Diamond and Baratta 

Kravet acquired the company GP & J Baker which has the distinction of having the largest archive of decorative textiles.  It also holds a Royal Warrant.  Any company that provides goods or services to a Royal household holds this distinction.  That means their fabrics and wall coverings are gracing palaces all over the world.  In fact, the purple velvet in the Queen's throne and crown is Kravet's!

A Royal Interior

The Kravet family has been quietly building an empire, even in a dismal economy.  They recently acquired Brunschwig & Fils, The Rolls Royce of textile and furnishing houses. 

Charlotte Moss for B & F

Mario Buatta for B & F

"We're not aggressive people, but we make aggressive moves," says Ellen Kravet.  Innovation and social media are tools that Kravet really embraces.  After all, it was the 1st fabric company to create an iPhone app. 

Barbara Barry

Cole and Son is the only company producing hand made flock wall paper the traditional way, which is gaining favor once again.  They also created a process by which beautiful silk wall covering could be imitated.

Cole & Son paper. Victoria Klein via Country Living

Additionally, under the umbrella of the Kravet empire is the Kravet contract line serving the hospitality trade, Kravet Green; recycled poly and eco-friendly, Soleil; durable indoor/outdoor fabrics and Kravet Smart; a high performance, well priced collection.  Their motto is Reuse, Recycle, Redecorate.  I couldn't agree more . 

G P & J Baker

I am a HUGE fan of Kravet/Lee Jofa!  Not only do they have beautiful fabrics that are well made and competitively priced, they have wonderful reps.  Help is always just a click or phone call away.  I can depend on them, and in this business that is getting harder to find.  And I don't just talk the talk.  This is my next project~ it is almost exclusively Lee Jofa. 

It should also be noted that their furniture, carpet and lighting collection is all made in America!

As Martha would say, "that's a good thing."