Dive Brief:
- Crate and Barrel has partnered with fashion designer and co-Creative Director of Oscar de la Renta Laura Kim to launch a home goods collection, the retailer announced Thursday.
- The collection has more than 110 items in the home decor, kitchen and entertaining categories. Among the available items are glassware, a serving platter, a bench and a dining table, per the retailer's website.
- The retailer began offering the collection online and in stores on Thursday, per the press release.
Dive Insight:
Laura Kim’s collection with Crate and Barrel was inspired by various runway trends and ingredients. The Pratt graduate started her fashion career interning at Donna Karan and Oscar De La Renta, eventually ascending to become the co-creative director of Oscar De La Renta and founder and co-creative director of Monse.
The collection is Kim’s first foray into the home goods market.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Laura Kim on her debut home collection, bringing our customers new products born from the creativity, eye for detail and design expertise of our joint team,” Sebastian Brauer, senior vice president of product design at Crate and Barrel, said in a statement. “Each piece embodies a signature blend of timeless elegance, craftsmanship, beauty and modern innovation, coming together as a collection that brings fashion home.”
Crate and Barrel has tapped other creatives to develop products based on their taste in home goods. The retailer recently worked with chef, host, and cookbook author Eric Adjepong to create a collection of more than 60 pieces of cookware, glassware, decor and serveware.
Crate and Barrel’s collection collaborations come as the retailer aims to revamp its customer service experience and accelerate growth. Last fall, the company unveiled its “Bring It Home” investment strategy, which involves deploying artificial intelligence to provide personalized customer shopping experiences, streamline facility operations and reduce its environmental impact.
Beyond its technological enhancements and product assortment expansion, Crate and Barrel has also grown its physical reach. Last November, the company opened a 23,000-square-foot, two-story location in New York City’s Flatiron District. The flagship store, which CEO Janet Hayes referred to as “the future of the brand,” is the company’s first immersive design store.
