Good news for Terence Conran fans in the US: the British designer is, for the first time, creating and producing a collection to be sold in the States. Earlier this week, an agreement between Conran and US retailer JC Penney was signed to create a homeware collection.
The collection will arrive in the 300 JCPenney stores across the country and will also be accessible online. Due to be unveiled in March 2013, the collection will include furniture, upholstery, lighting, textiles and accessories. Conran's style, often described as eclectic and modernist, mixes flea-market and vintage style with modern creations.
The British designer, restaurateur, writer and Conran shop founder launched the homeware shop Habitat back in the 1970s. The Conran Shop was launched in the mythical Michelin building in London and the chain now includes 11 stores around the world, including locations in Paris, Dublin and Osaka. Conran currently has an exclusive Home & Furniture collection for British department store Marks and Spencer.
In a statement, the designer said: "The collaboration is ... a great boost for British design in a significant market... Personally it is a dream come true to make our work available to a huge and knowledgeable audience of design enthusiasts across America."
This move is part of the new JCPenney strategy which hopes to offer a new home shopping experience to American consumers. Rival American retailer Target, meanwhile, has previously collaborated on housewares with design brands such as Orla Kiely and Missoni.
