The Well-Tailored Addition of Donghia Furnishings from Kravet
Iconic designs with an Italian flare from a purely American company. Is such a thing even possible? Well, when the industry leader to-the-trade gets involved, of course it is! And so, for those yet to know, we are happy to announce that as of last summer the Donghia line of fine furnishings has become the latest member of the Kravet family of brands.
The acquisition included the Donghia brand name, the company’s intellectual and digital property, its designs, archives, and all current inventory. Never a design house willing to rest on its laurels, as evidenced by the addition of heritage textiles brands like Lee Jofa, GP&J Baker, and Brunschwig & Fils over some 25 years, bringing Donghia into the Kravet family was something of a “no-brainer”.
As president of Kravet Inc. Cary Kravet said in a statement, “The Donghia brand is distinctive and enduring. It stands for the inherent beauty in clean lines and the appreciation for impeccable quality in materials and construction. The Donghia aesthetic and brand market position are fully complementary to our current brands and aesthetic positioning. The look and attitude are wholly additive for us.”
Why Donghia Furnishings? Why Not!
The Donghia tag line, “Live a well-tailored life” is merely a hint at the innovation and quality to be found in the fabrics, furnishings, and wallcoverings from Donghia. Founded by Italian American interior designer Angelo Donghia in 1968, iconic Donghia collections have consistently reflected a dynamic and innovative approach to design. In a stunning fusion between handcrafted workmanship, modern looks, and trendy designs, the collection includes textiles, furniture, wallcoverings, case pieces, accessories, and upholstery.
According to Kravet, the hurdles to bringing a reimagined Donghia line to market are less about logistics and more about the brand and product development. “Believe it or not, [the integration] is the easy part. The hard part is the softer side – understanding what the brand is and where it should go. That takes a lot of thought, communication, research, and understanding.”
As a result, the relaunch will take time. Kravet says that the company’s first Donghia collection will likely focus on the brand’s most iconic patterns and pieces; a release that can be folded into existing showrooms while a more robust revamp is developed. (BOH.com)
Over the years, Donghia produced fabric, wallcovering, floor covering, furniture, lighting, and accessories; all product lines Kravet ultimately plans to develop and relaunch. The company also acquired Donghia’s archive, including some of its late founder’s sketches and original furniture prototypes. These will all be folded into Kravet’s deep archive at its headquarters in Bethpage, New York, and which will inform the work of the product development team.
Our Continued Commitment to the Luxury Furnishings Industry
Kravet remains committed to supporting and expanding the luxury furnishings and design industries, just as we do at TD Fall:
“We’ve been in this business for over a hundred years, and we really believe in this industry,” says Kravet. “There’s no real short-term advantage in this [acquisition] – it’s a long-term strategy. This is part of our belief in the strength of this industry.”
Get in touch with TD Fall today to discover more about this traditional yet innovative line.