From The Archives Of...Peacock Alley

Imagine if your family's business was linen. Neat, huh? I say this because my family's business is really large machinery, something which tends to befuddle me. (I still don't understand how any of it works.) But linens? I totally get that. So say if a family member started a company like, oh, Peacock Alley, well, I would probably want to continue the family tradition too.

Peacock Alley was started in good old Dallas, TX back in 1973 by former stockbroker Mary Ella Gabler (that's her, above). Gabler was prescient in her prediction that people would start spending more quality time in the bedroom. As such, Gabler saw the linen business as an opportunity to introduce high quality, fashionable bed linens to people who may not have thought much about bed linens before. Starting with patchwork pillows (remember, this was the 1970s) and evolving into a full line of bed and bath linen, Gabler developed Peacock Alley into a successful business that still thrives today. In fact, Gabler's sons run the family business today and are positioning the company to remain viable well into the 21st century.

I remember growing up with Peacock Alley linens; they just always seemed to be somewhere around our house. My mother bought a set of sheets at either Lord & Taylor or Neimans back in the late 1970s, and she still talks about how they wore like iron. If you look back at the Peacock Alley archives, you'll see the different bedding trends: prints, neutrals, minimalism, and prints once again. But the thing about Peacock Alley's prints (and their color selections too) is that it's all rather subtle. I believe that people prefer sedate bedding (meaning no loud prints), and these linens fit that bill. You can buy a few pieces, and more than likely it will go with what you already have on your bed. Just take a look at their Spring 2010 collection. Can't you see some of these linens working with what's in your linen closet?


From the Spring 2010 collection, the Lotus Ensemble collection


Fortuna Ensemble, Spring 2010


Eden Collection, Spring 2010


It all started with patchwork pillows.


Another look from the 1970s. I think this Lily of the Valley print is actually quite sweet.


A minimal look from 1998.

All images courtesy of Peacock Alley

From the Archives of...Léron Linens

Some say luxury and quality are dead. A rather dire statement perhaps, but one that warrants discussion.

But, all is not lost. There are linen companies, stationers, fabric makers, and the like who have for decades catered to a knowledgeable, often well-heeled, and exacting clientele. These companies have been in business for years, long before the internet and corporate outsourcing became part of our lexicon. And, they're still doing business much as they have for generations. I thought that I would start a series that profiled these venerable firms in hopes of introducing them to a wider audience.

So, first up is Léron linens. Every time my travels took me to New York, I would stop by Léron's jewel box of a shop on Madison Ave (now located at the D&D Building). Imagine being surrounded by bedding, table linen, and blankets adorned with custom monograms and embroidered motifs. Holiday linens with embroidered nutcrackers on them. Sweet baby blankets and coverlets. For this girl, it was manna from heaven!

What makes Léron unique is not only its quality custom linens (although in today's world that does make one unique) but also its history. It is believed that Léron is the oldest luxury linen company in the United States, with its centennial anniversary to be celebrated in 2010. And amazingly enough, the company has remained in the same family since its inception. Now run by third-generation owner David Forster and his wife Dale, they have positioned Léron to remain viable in the 21st century by moving its showroom to the D&D building, the mecca for all designers.

Over the years, Léron has had clients ranging from royalty, socialites, and others who appreciate fine quality. In fact, it's still like that today. Léron specializes in custom linens that hearken back to the way they used to make them ages ago. Many of the linens are hand embroidered and hand appliqued. And because they've been in business for as long as they have, there is a large archive of designs from which to choose. That's not to say that you can't commission something completely new; Léron welcomes the chance to work with its customers on custom design. The sky's the limit. If you can't wait for your beautiful custom linen, there are also in-stock items that can be purchased immediately. (Check out the gorgeous holiday linens on their website.)

To learn more about Léron, I encourage you to visit its website. Or, if you're in New York, swing by its showroom at the D&D building. If you don't live in New York, there are opportunities from time to time to schedule an appointment in your home with one of Léron's sales representatives. For more information, call 800-954-6369 or email sales@leroninc.com. Now regarding my Léron wish list- do I choose bed linens embroidered with a floral motif? Perhaps table linens with an ornate, embroidered monogram? Better yet, how about custom mats and napkins to match my discontinued china?


Beautiful linen and organdy table linen


Camille


Beauvais tablecloth


Toile birds bedding


Tara bed linen


Emily bedding


Fantastic monogram made of Beauvais embroidery, some of the finest in the world. Note the embroidered cherubs.


A beautiful example of Italian lace.


How fabulous is this? Bedding designed for a Sun Valley ski lodge c. 1950s.


The new Graphique collection will appeal to those whose tastes are more contemporary.


The classic Léron pink box. It might be almost as beautiful as the linen.

(All images courtesy of Léron)