Currey signs Claiborne license, promotes Caldwell

Lighting and accent furniture manufacturer Currey & Company has reached an agreement with Liz Claiborne Inc. to design and manufacture lighting for the Liz Claiborne Home Collection. The line will include lamps, lighting fixtures and decorative accessories in a style mix complementing the Liz Claiborne bedding and furniture lines.

The collection will launch at the October International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., and will be available in stores in the spring of 2005.

"Currey & Company has a reputation for fine quality and design along with outstanding sourcing capabilities, and we are pleased to partner with them," said Barbara J. Friedman, president of licensing for Liz Claiborne Inc.

"We are excited to be a part of the Liz Claiborne Inc. family of licensees and look forward to developing a line of lighting that will delight the Liz Claiborne customer and that will coordinate with the other areas of the Liz Claiborne Home Collection," said Marion Kelly, president of Currey & Company.

In other news, Tom Caldwell has been named vice president of product development and design, according to Robert B. Currey, CEO. Caldwell joined Currey & Company in February after leaving TomLin Designs.

"Tom Caldwell brings his expertise in portable lighting and a keen product sense in all categories to our company," Currey said. "He has already proven himself to be a valuable addition to the Currey & Company team and we have all certainly enjoyed working with him."

Currey & Company's first collection of lamps designed by Caldwell was shown at the Atlanta market last month. A larger presentation of Caldwell's lamp designs will be shown at the October High Point market.

The company also has added Clarence Mallari to its design team. Mallari will be based in Atlanta, The Atlanta group, headed by Caldwell, works with the design team at Currey International in the Philippines.

Mallari has previous experience as a designer with Currey & Company's manufacturing partner in the Philippines as well as design work with Kalco Lighting and with two Japanese manufacturers of furniture and accessories.