If you're a reader of the New York Times, take a moment to flip through to the magazine this Sunday and see our new spring ad, shown below. It features 3 different scarves and the overall image looks like a flower. Hope the color brightens your day and that flowers are blooming wherever you are!

Kravet Inc.'s home furnishings line of fabrics, trims and wallpapers designed by Echo recognized by Interior Design Magazine.  Here is the notice that ran in Interior Design's "DesignWire Daily" newsletter today!

INSPIREDESIGN Design Excellence Award Winners Announced

INSPIREDESIGN, the inaugural hospitality design tradeshow hosted by Las Vegas World Market Center and sponsored by Interior Design, is in full swing this week in Sin City. Topping off the show’s events, the magazine recognized the best and brightest in new products yesterday with the show’s first annual Design Excellence Awards.

 Kravet / Echo

A panel of esteemed judges hand-picked by Interior Design's editor in chief Cindy Allen— Michael Morris and Yoshiko Sato of Morris Sato Studio; David Ashen of D-Ash Design; D.B. Kim; and Alice O’Keefe of Gensler—strolled the floor of exhibitors with discerning eyes and selected their top picks that showed excellence in any of the following categories: general design, presentation, sustainability, technology and innovation.

Nano-tex; overall product
Stacy Garcia; Fashionista Collection
Kravet; Echo Collection
Jane Hamley Wells; Para Sectional Sofa
Phillips Collection; Silver Console
Aceray; booth presentation excellence
Global Views; 3-Light Lamp
Dimension Millworks; Stealth Door
Leftbank Art; overall product
Fermob; Luxembourg Collection
Korel Design Tiles; KGRR60 Circle Tiles and 6300-2 Striped Tiles
Stimex; Desk Uno by Karim Rashid
HCI Hospitality Design; Tub
Naturemaker; Steel Art Trees
Kohler; Eco Faucet (Hybrid Energy System + Insight Sensor Technology)
McGuire; Walnut Swivel Chairs
AF Lighting; Candice Olson Collection
Home Source International; Bamboo Sheets
Mayer Fabrics; Frolic
 

We know shopping can be either an exercise in drudgery: we plod along, methodically acquiring items simply because it's necessary to sustain ourselves. Drop it all in a cart and stand in line. Overall, a dull, purely business transaction. Like buying a hammer. Or some duct tape. Or Shopping can be a joyful, blissful experience where we marvel at the choices, the colors, the arrangement, and comfortably weigh our options in a pleasant, beautiful space. All of this adds up to an overall feeling of satisfied contentment. They don't call it Retail Therapy for nothing.

One little shop in Miami has an especially delightful and inviting take on the shopping experience. Miss Peppers accessories boutique just opened in November and they were featured in Daily Candy. At Miss Pepper, you are greeted with a burst of fresh flowers, a fainting couch (you know, it can happen), a friendly boston terrier and a beautifully decorated room accented with bright funky globe chandeliers. When we saw the Daily Candy article and photo about Miss Pepper, we did a happy double take - looked closer and noticed that the wallpaper is Echo's own flower power wallpaper. They used our retro pattern in soft grey to be the backdrop of their customer's shopping experience. So not only can you find hip, new jewelry and accessories but this boutique will make you feel hip and new ... and happy!

Miss Pepper, 7308 Red Road, South Miami (305-668-8282) http://www.misspepperboutique.com/

This quilted trapper hat with plush fur (faux, of course) and earflaps has become a staple in the New York woman's winter wardrobe.   But wherever you are, this style works for anyone with a cold, blustery winter ahead of them.  Because when that icy wind comes whipping around the corners of the buildings here in the city, we often see this classic, unfortunate move:  gust of wind hits, hat goes flying, the 20 oz double caff soy latte plunges mercilessly to the sidewalk.  (a moment of silence for the coffee...)   And contrary to popular belief, rarely does a man like Mr. Big stop to help (remember how Carrie and Mr. Big met?).  So keep your 'cool' by buckling the strap under your chin. The plush fur will keep your ears warm, your iPod earphones in and your grace in check.  Add some aviator sunglasses and it's style, function and ecologically friendly. And it goes with everything - especially coffee.

If you were reading up on Fashion Week in this weekend's NY Times, then you may have seen our ad in the Magazine.  It features the Quilted Fur Trapper Hat and the Abstract Metallic Muffler.

How did you spend your morning?  Was it spent standing in front of your closet, cereal bowl in hand, pondering the eternal question "What should I wear today?"  I know we'd rather wrestle with more pressing issues (Am I recycling enough? Can we save the Galapagos?) but this universal problem has the tendency to interfere with us actually leaving the house so I wanted to share some tips with you on those days you need a little inspiration. The Today Show ran a segment this morning on 4 different ways to wear one 36" square silk scarf.  These are also great tips for stretching an existing wardrobe on a tight budget.  Starting with one of these 4 different ways to wear a scarf is a great way to build an outfit. For me, the headband is my 'ace' in the 'deck of cards.' What's your favorite way to wear a scarf? Is it your fail-safe, you're sure-thing when you need a great outfit?

A halter top
1. Lay the scarf down, with the dull side facing up (36" inch square — if you want more coverage, go bigger).

2. Take the middle of the scarf and tie a small knot (right in the middle).

3. Tie two of the corners around your neck and the other two corners around your waist. Pair this with a flowy skirt or pair of pants and you are set! This look is also great under a suit jacket or a bomber.

A belt
1. Lay the scarf out flat.

2. Fold the scarf into a triangle and roll it, starting at one corner, until you have one long, tubelike scarf.

3. Put it through the loops of jeans or slacks and tie a knot in the front.

A purse
1. Take any square scarf (36" by 36" is standard — go bigger if you want to go bigger). Lay it with the dull side facing up.

2. Take two opposite corners and tie them into a square knot.

3. Then take the last two opposite corners of the scarf and tie those into a square knot. This will become the handle for the bag. Voila! You have a purse!

Headband
1. Start with a square scarf. Fold it in half to form a triangle and then fold inward until you get the desired width. Smooth the long portion across your forehead and tie the ends in knot under your hair.

If you've been to Soho - in New York city or in London - you know that half the fun of shopping is in the people-watching. Thanks to Elizabeth M. for pointing out this great picture from BeautifulStranger.tv of Katie K. who was spotted wearing an Echo caravan patchwork scarf today in SoHo - NYC. 

When you're in the 'cement jungle' of the city, the beach is like a figment of your imagination. Not today though! Good Morning America trucked in the sand for that authentic beach look behind the season's beach fashions.

Check out Echo's woven tote (in chocolate brown) - which actually looks good on the sand AND in the city.

If you were using Sunday's NY Times to cover your head from the rain this weekend, you might have noticed a pretty picture on one of the pages.  It seems that the 'Kate Moss' of our umbrella collection was featured in a pretty little photo shoot. Our Geo Zig - Zag behaved well and didn't trash her hotel room. Check out all the other umbrellas and rainwear that fit every mood and maybe you can go back to just reading the Times instead of holding it over your head and running between the raindrops. Thanks NY Times!  We heart New York!

It may be raining  - we can't avoid that - but a brightly colored umbrella could be the bright spot in your day and add spring to your step!  You know how the saying goes "April Showers..." you've got a whole month of this so skip those dull raincoats and soggy hats and check out some color!  If you were at home tucked under a blanket drinking tea and watching the Today Show then you saw the segment on rain wear that featured Echo's reversible cheetah lined cape!  Maybe you were flipping through the new issue of Real Simple and came across our rain hat! Or maybe you checked your email and you received a little note from us with a gift of 15% off on any rain wear shopping you need to do!  Either way, we've got you covered!  Here's to those May flowers!

Check out Echo's ruched rain coat in the April issue of Lucky Magazine!  Thanks Lucky!