Ruggiero creates American-Asian Sunbrella collection

Staff -- Casual Living, 7/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

A collection of Sunbrella fabrics, designed by Joe Ruggiero, debuted during Showtime in June, and reflects a melding of American and Asian cultures. Americasia fabrics feature classic styling, but with a contemporary interpretation in colors lighter than typically found in Asian design.

"Asian art and culture have been the inspiration for home furnishings for centuries, dating back to Chippendale in the 1700s," said Ruggiero, a home furnishings designer and HGTV host, based in Los Angeles. "Our new Sunbrella fabrics collection continues this tradition, but with an American twist to make the fabrics more relevant for today's homeowners."

Patterns in the line include Chip in the color Mist, which was inspired by Chippendale furniture fretwork; Geisha in the color Silk, which was inspired by a collection of geisha kimonos Ruggiero discovered in Japan. Kimono in Gold is a small-scale floral pattern based on garments often worn by geishas underneath more elaborate silk kimonos.