Luxury clothing and accessory brand Peruvian Connection (PC) is expanding its core product offering this fall to include original print bedding designed in-house featuring new and archival prints from the brand’s storied history. The Andean weavings and ethnographic textiles of Peru that first inspired Peruvian Connection Founder Annie Hurlbut Zander and led her to launch the apparel brand in 1976 continue to tell the brand story in the 15-piece bedding collection.
“Every print or knit design in our collection draws on an authentic historical or ethnographic reference, and it’s almost always a handmade textile,” Hurlbut told InspireDesign. “That is where the print inspiration begins, but it evolves from there, with intriguing layering and aging effects that add depth and character.”
When Peruvian Connection ventured into brick and mortar retail in 2008, Hurlbut personally sourced every detail of each of the brand’s eight stores. Her mission was to create an authentic context for the brand’s artisan-made apparel collections. Details incorporated into the store interiors included 19th century Peruvian photographs, smoke-stained Victorian wallpaper, vintage cash wraps, and of course, Andean textiles—all reminiscent of the way Hurlbut’s own home has evolved over the years.
A launch into lifestyle seemed a natural extension that was further amplified when Hurlbut began looking into the brand’s archive of original prints. Prints developed over the decades for the apparel collections form the basis for the premier bedding collection.
“Launching into lifestyle, specifically bedding, is a natural evolution of the same conversation we’ve had with our apparel customers. We believe that they will be thrilled that we are offering them products in new and fresh categories. But we also believe PC lifestyle offerings will broaden that audience to include people who express themselves through the things they choose to surround themselves with—the nesters,” she said.
While PC doesn’t have any specific plans to get into the hotel space, it’s an idea the company has bounced around. “An exclusive relationship with an upscale boutique hotel (or small group of hotels) with a unique character would be a natural choice. We would be open to discussing the idea at any point,” Hurlbut said.
The 15-piece bedding collection includes two mixed print sets of cotton sateen sheets and duvets, woven and knit alpaca throws and pillows, printed velvet pillows, and a matelassé cotton coverlet with shams. It will be available to purchase in Peruvian Connection retail stores and online beginning in July.
“The collection can work in many different settings—definitely in an eclectic environment with old wood floors, oriental rugs and a cabinet of curiosities bent,” Hurlbut said. “But the prints can also be a stunning accent in a clean, contemporary decor with organic elements of wood and stone and plaster. Of course, the patterns will bring to life a room with bland walls and a safe neutral rug. But it also works with color: The Magnolia bed looks brilliant in our barn red painted bedroom at home.”
She believes it will work well in hospitality, not only because the cotton sateen sheets are easy to care for and the sateen finish makes them wrinkle resistant, but because of its luxury.
“The prints used in our bedding collection are gorgeous and would make a statement in any room,” she said. “People these days are seeking out experiences with meaning and character in everything from restaurants to travel. They also want to feel as if they are at home and not in a sterile environment. We know that from our eight retail stores, each of which has its own distinct personality. But every store has a familiar, comfortable feel—as if it’s always been there. Customers come in and don’t want to leave.”
