In a major scoop for the industry, British tableware manufacturer Portmeirion has partnered with British fashion house, Ted Baker, for new gift and dinnerware ranges.
Simply called Ted Baker Portmeirion, the exclusive collaboration includes a 41-piece vintage floral bone china dinnerware range and a 22-piece porcelain giftware range.
Baker is renowned for his eye-catching prints, which is reflected in these new collections. Inspired by the designer’s Spring/Summer 2015 apparel collections, the dinnerware range features a floral print set on a mismatching pastel palette, while the gift range combines animal and geo prints.
Corporate vice president of Portmeirion Group USA, Wendy Motlag, says the two companies have a lot in common.
“From the beginning, Portmeirion has pushed the boundaries of the tabletop category when Susan Williams-Ellis launched her ground breaking Botanic Garden design, featuring mismatched dinnerware in the 1970s, long before any other manufacturer,” she says. “Ted Baker has done the same and shaken up the fashion world and we’re incredibly excited to begin this partnership with such a well-received major designer brand.”
Craig Smith, global brand communication director of Ted Baker London, adds there is much excitement around this partnership.
“Ted Baker is extremely happy to announce our partnership with Portmeirion, not only is the heritage and ideology of the brand reminiscent of Ted’s but so are their design and creative aesthetics,” he says. “We look forward to going live with the collection next spring.”
Portmeirion is distributed in Australia by Whitehill and managing director Bryan White believes the release of Ted Baker Portmeirion will, indeed, create an impact across the trade.
“This is a fabulous combination of design and product,” he says. “Ted Baker Portmeirion will further reinforce the Portmeirion brands’ relevance to an ever-increasing number of retailers as its portfolio of winning designs continues to grow.”
The Ted Baker Portmeirion ranges were launched in the UK from February 2015 and at Whitehill’s Melbourne & Sydney shows that same month.
