Ethan Allen’s casual push continues with Tango
Brian Carroll -- Furniture Today, September 27, 2004
DANBURY, Conn. — Ethan Allen’s aggressive push into casual continued at its International Retail Convention here this month with the introduction of Tango and the rebirth of two long-lived collections.
 This vignette blends product from Ethan Allen’s new line with an existing group, Swedish Country. The company is moving away from collection-oriented displays in its stores and toward lifestyle presentations, which can blend multiple collections. |
| This vignette blends product from Ethan Allen’s new line with an existing group, Swedish Country. The company is moving away from collection-oriented displays in its stores and toward lifestyle presentations, which can blend multiple collections. |
Once known for classic lines and Colonial looks, Ethan Allen began overhauling its product line 12 years ago, and started by experimenting in casual. In 2005, the retailer-manufacturer’s showrooms will have more casual looks than classic.“By spring of next year we will have one of the strongest casual contemporary lines in the country,” said Farooq Kathwari, chairman.Tango is an eclectic, versatile whole-house collection that inspires adjectives as disparate as “urban loft,” “beach house” and “rumpus room.” Relying heavily on texture, modern function, light distressing and warm wood finishes, it was developed to blend with several other Ethan Allen collections, including New Country, Newport and New Impressions. “Awareness of styles among consumers has grown,” Kathwari said. “We no longer sell a product developed by a manufacturer. We develop product for a lifestyle based on the needs of the consumer. In the past 10 years, we have migrated from collections to developing lifestyles.”Planned for retail launch next spring, Tango is offered in a warm brown finish over primavera veneers and in a worn Glacier White. Some items, such as dining chairs, also are available in a distressed black.“Tango is designed to attract a new customer to Ethan Allen and to expand our market share” in casual, said Craig Stout, vice president of design and product development. “The finishes are forgiving. The pieces are versatile. There is variety in the species and in the materials that give us a global look in many cases.”Materials used include rattan and split bamboo for an island influence in many pieces, glass in tabletops and door fronts, and pewter hardware. Acknowledging modern living, products include barstool chairs, home office and home entertainment pieces, and a complement of Tango Kids bunk beds and cribs.
 The Tango collection’s dining options cover both casual, family dining and more formal configurations. This 48-inch round will retail at $1,000. |
| The Tango collection’s dining options cover both casual, family dining and more formal configurations. This 48-inch round will retail at $1,000. |
Refurbished collections unveiled here included American Impressions, first launched in 1991 and now relaunched as New Impressions. Still based on Shaker and Arts and Crafts style influences, the new look has updated proportions, new function and storage, and a lighter, warmer, deeper cherry finish that is lightly distressed.Two new entertainment wall systems in the collection accommodate large-screen plasma and LCD televisions. American Impressions was “due for a makeover,” Stout said. “We restyled the beds (and) updated and reproportioned most of the pieces.”Also redone was Horizons, a casual contemporary style with an urban outlook. It benefits from several new pieces and a new, dark Henna finish on ash solids and veneers. The finish is designed to help Horizons blend with Tango and New Impressions pieces. Gone from the line is Avenue, an elegant Art Deco/Moderne offering that was only a few years old. Saved from that collection, however, were five occasional pieces that will appear in stores on both the classic and casual sides.In upholstery, leather made headlines at the convention. The chain’s Leather Expressions program has been expanded to 65 leathers from 35, including 52 new leathers and two new grades. The expanded assortment gives Ethan Allen 5% to 10% lower opening price points in the category, said Jane Roberts, vice president of product design for upholstery, who joined the company in March.New cover choices in leather include neutrals and several fashion colors such as aubergine and turquoise.
Other upholstery changes include the addition of four fully upholstered casual chairs, several frames designed to go with Tango, and an update of the company’s TriBeCa frames, which have been relaunched as Triad. A pair of rattan and seagrass chairs and two new office chairs also have been added.
 *For more coverage of the Havertys celebration, see Furniture/Today's Sept. 27th print issue. |
*For more Ethan Allen coverage, see Furniture/Today's Sept. 27th print issue. |
Ethan Allen shows revamped Chicago store
06/19/2009Florida retailer sues Ethan Allen
02/11/2008Ethan Allen picks up its pace
09/26/2004
