ALYNNE RHYS
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

growing number of in-
trepid clothing design-
ers, both famous and
little-known, have
been brave enough—
some
ome would say
brazen enough— to
come out of the
clothes closet and
take on the home.
"Fr om
Menswear to Everywhere" is the
sweeping slogan that launched
Alexander Julian Home Colours,
a new line of furnishings for the
home. Now Julian can dress
clients Paul Newman, Harry Con-
nick Jr. and the Charlotte Hornets
in his signature jewel tones, and
furnish their houses with "Blue-
berry" and "Rhubarb" finishes and
"Peacock Plaid" upholstery. Calvin
Klein Inc. just launched a more
understated and expensive home
collection this fall, and there's a
buzz on Seventh Avenue about
Perry Ellis' re-entry into the busi-
ness after a three-year absence.
Detroit's own Dominic Pang-
born, known for his graphic de-
sign firm Pangborn Design Ltd.,
formed the Pangborn Design Col-
lection to include silk scarves, bow
ties, ties and cummerbunds. Next
spring the firm plans to introduce
silk shirts and fine china. The
w first Pangborn Design Collection
Li-I
z store opens on Oak Street in
= Chicago in early 1996.
(.3
Gorman's kicked off a "furni-
ture you start with collection" at
Uj the beginning of November in the
I- Novi store with the J.G. Hook
3 Home Fashions Collection by Bas-
cc sett Furniture. According to Tom
I--
LU Lias, vice president of Gorman's,
(=,
"The introduction of the apparel
LLI
= designer J.G. Hook into the home-
1— furnishings line represents ma-
jor changes in the merchandising
attitudes of the 1990s." Gary
Kane, president of J.G. Hook,

G4

Lured by the growing home-furnishings market,
fashion designers are crossing over with their versions of everything
from table mats to lounge chairs.

