Tropitone expands its sling seating with the Debut of the Ravello Collection
The graceful new collection is being launched in Chicago at the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market on Sept 17-21.
Irvine, Calif., August 31, 2007 – Tropitone Furniture Co., a leading manufacturer of fine casual furniture, announced today that it is debuting the new Ravello Collection to further expand the company’s sling seating, which is recognized throughout the casual furniture industry for eye-appealing designs and exceptional comfort and durability.
According to Michael Echolds, Tropitone’s chief executive officer, the traditional style of the Ravello Collection was designed by Robert Mainville and inspired by the gardens throughout the Italian countryside with their lush foliage and intricate wrought iron gates.
“The soft flowing curves of the Ravello frame give the collection a casual elegance while the broad extrusions of its arms and legs add both comfort and strength. And its fully cast arms are gracefully accented with two opposing scrolls tied together with a band and embellished with the leaves of a laurel wreath. The result is a beautiful collection which is an ideal combination of versatility and classic, old world charm,” Echolds said.
Sling seating is a mainstay product category for Tropitone and has been for much of the company’s history, which spans more than 50 years. A hallmark feature of Tropitone’s sling seating is its superior lumbar support considered by many to be the most comfortable in the casual furniture marketplace.
While Tropitone’s sling seating has always been a popular choice among consumers, the company has continued to look for innovative ways to expand its enduring appeal. To accomplish this, over time Tropitone has broadened its selection of fabrics and frame finishes for its sling seating to include over 150 fabrics and 16 frame finishes. In addition, the company began offering more individual pieces in its sling collections over the years, such as swivel rockers and recliners with ottomans, to expand seating options beyond the typical dining chairs and chaise lounges.
According to Peter Homestead, Tropitone’s vice president of design, as consumers spend more time in their outdoor spaces not only dining but also relaxing and entertaining, they want casual furnishings to accommodate their personal preferences and lifestyles. To make this possible, Tropitone focuses on providing consumers many types of seating in many different styles.
“For example, a variety of our collections, such as the Ravello Collection, include a padded sling style as well as a woven seat, in addition to Tropitone’s familiar Textilene sling. This makes it possible for customers to choose the softness of a more upholstered look with a padded sling or the rich and textured look of leather or rattan with our woven seating system.
“Introduced in 2006, our woven seats feature the company’s proprietary TropiKane™ material, which is woven using a twisted cord weave and a wide flat weave both made from synthetic materials with an antiquing stain applied by hand. While this woven material resembles natural materials, it has the durability necessary for outdoor use and is easier to maintain,” Homestead said.
The Ravello sling and padded sling collections include a high and low-back dining chair, a high and low-back swivel rocker, a recliner and ottoman, a swivel barstool and a chaise lounge.
The Ravello woven seating includes a high-back dining chair, a high-back swivel rocker, a swivel barstool and a chaise lounge. The woven seats are available in Saddle (a deep brown) and Camel (a light golden brown), to coordinate with the frame finishes and fabrics in Tropitone’s extensive color palette.
Tropitone was the first in the casual furniture industry to offer a free sling replacement program for certain items, which allows consumers to update or replace their worn or damaged sling fabric -- free of charge.
Founded in 1954, Tropitone is based in Irvine, California, and is recognized throughout the casual furniture marketplace for its design leadership as well as its commitment to service and value. The company sells its products to retailers, designers and the hospitality trade under the Tropitone and Basta Sole trademarks. In addition to its headquarters and manufacturing plant in Irvine, the company operates a manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Florida. For more information about the company and to view its products, visit the company’s permanent showroom in space #1780 at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Illinois.