PTM adds Walt Disney Signature line

An atmospheric sketch of the rainy streets of London was derived from original drawings for 101 Dalmatians.

The collection is not character-driven, and uses imagery and motifs from archival and original Disney art, re-cast in contemporary palettes and framing treatments.

“The Walt Disney Signature brand collaboration with PTM Images celebrates the archival art from classic films that has been so vital to the success of the Disney brand,” said Robert Oberschelp, director of licensing for the Walt Disney Signature Collection. “This collection of interpretive wall decor allows consumers to bring the inspiration behind some of Disney's most beloved films into their own homes.”

“There's really no branded product in (the wall decor) space that means much,” Jonathan Bass, president of PTM Images, told Home Accents Today. In a press release, Bass said, “we believe this relationship will successfully bring together the best of historical art and modern design.”

Each framed image has a small plaque attached to the back with a rendition of the original art that inspired the design, as well as verbage explaining it, Oberschelp said. “The consumer can be really proud to have it and can tell the story of what it means.”

PTM showed about 120 pieces of the 150-SKU line in Las Vegas last month. The company plans to unveil about 500 new designs for the January show.

Bass said the collection was well-received during the Vegas show.

“This brand really meant something to the buyers and they connected to it,” he said. “That's far different than anything we've experienced. I think that the excitement, and the consistent message that we got, is that we showed something new and different,” Bass said. “That's what set this line apart. It's not a me-too product line.”

He said the stores that bought it -- including department stores, lifestyle stores and furniture stores — won't have to compete with the big box stores for this line, because of the strict exclusivity that Disney enforces.

Inspired by Walt Disney himself and the furnishings in his office in Burbank, Calif. the Walt Disney Signature line was launched with a 12-piece furniture collection by Drexel Heritage in 2006. The Walt Disney Signature collection has continued to expand with a rug collection with The Rug Market, a lighting collection with Minka and most recently, a tabletop collection with Zak Designs.

Asian inspiration stars in this contemporary landscape, inspired by Mulan.

He said due to the fast turnaround at PTM and the breadth of the Disney archives, the line will stay current and on-trend.

“Leveraging the assets we have here at Disney, we can make it about trend and color and we will stay consistently on top of trends,” he said, noting that with thousands of archival images to work with, the inspirations are myriad.

And Disney is not stopping there.

“Over the next nine to 18 months, we are looking to expand the brand beyond the home and into the apparel and accessory market,” Oberschelp said.

Retail prices for the PTM collection range from $100 to $500.