By Nancy Meyer
ROCKWALL, Texas–A new high-end accessory line that combines handcraftsmanship and natural materials has been unveiled from two veteran home decor executives and partners in db Sources, a direct importer.
The line, db Sources Limited, features handmade vases, frames, wall decor and sculpture made from exotic shells like Capiz, Cabibe and other materials; floor candles wrapped in abaca; decorative pillows embellished with coconut shells; and a host of other accent pieces. All pieces are made of indigenous materials from southeast Asia and each has a story to tell. The coconut shell pillows, for example, are woven by a tribe in the mountains of the southern Philippines.
The upscale line is the brainchild of Isabel Barrientos, longtime wall decor buyer for several major chains, and Deborah Wilson, a professional photographer who has served as a former retailer, sales representative and Dallas Market Center executive. Wilson handles product development and design, while Barrientos works on the business and logistics side.
When Wilson and Barrientos launched db Sources in November 2002, they did consulting and design work for other wholesalers. Since then, they have been direct-importing containers of wall decor and accessories to mass retailers under db Sources. But their world travels led them to better goods made from natural materials in very small quantities, and the two decided it was time to create a line for high-end retailers.
“It’s a pretty sophisticated look, and I think the upper end of the market is so conscious of wanting to use natural materials,” Wilson told HFN. “Handcrafted is a big selling point,” she added.
The line will be shown next month at the High Point Market and future Atlanta markets in the Napp Deady showrooms. Its trade show debut was in January at The Mix showroom in Dallas.