SHL Showcases Retail-Focused Home Textile Strategy In New York
Studio Heritage Living (SHL), a strategic sourcing and product development advisory, has concluded its participation in the Fall 2026 NY Home Fashions Market Week, held from September 14–17, with a focus on retail architecture and product storytelling for the home textiles industry.
A key part of SHL’s participation was its collaboration with Alok Industries, for which the studio designed the retail architecture for the company’s Home Textiles Division at its Madison Avenue showroom. The concept was aimed at presenting Alok’s product portfolio through consumer-oriented product stories rather than conventional product specifications.
The showroom was organised around four sleep-focused platforms — Recovery, Reset, Restore and Balance. Each platform combined a specific consumer need with a product story and dedicated retail presentation, bringing together product development, packaging, pricing and merchandising.
The approach was designed to demonstrate how manufacturers can present product ranges as integrated propositions for retailers and sourcing professionals. The showroom presentation received interest from retailers and buyers during Market Week.
Biji Chacko, COO, Alok Industries, said the collaboration involved developing the product concept, packaging and overall presentation. “They helped us in designing this thought process, and within a short time, they did a marvelous job. I am very happy with the work Disha and her team have done in putting everything in place, developing the packaging, and helping to develop the products,” he said.
The collaboration also reflected Alok Industries’ efforts to develop product propositions around consumer needs such as comfort, wellness and functionality. The portfolio included breathable and performance fabrics as well as products using natural materials.
According to SHL, the project highlights the growing need for home textile manufacturers to communicate their product offerings beyond traditional parameters such as specifications and thread count. Retail architecture can help bring together product selection, pricing, packaging and merchandising into a more cohesive proposition for buyers.
Disha Shah, Founder, Studio Heritage Living, said manufacturers had an opportunity to communicate their product offerings through more integrated product stories.
“Retail architecture is about bringing clarity to how a product is positioned, presented and communicated to the retailer. Our work with Alok Industries reflects this approach, bringing together product development, packaging and merchandising to create a retail proposition that connects the manufacturer with the needs of the market,” she said.
During Market Week, SHL also held meetings with other home textile manufacturers and industry stakeholders. Discussions focused on product differentiation, pricing, functionality and the need to develop clearer product narratives for retail and sourcing audiences.
SHL works across sourcing, manufacturing, buying, product development and consumer-oriented strategy, supporting manufacturers in translating their product capabilities into market-focused propositions.
The New York engagement comes as home textile manufacturers increasingly look at ways to present products through consumer needs and applications, alongside traditional manufacturing and technical specifications. SHL said its focus would remain on helping manufacturers connect product development with retail positioning, packaging and presentation.
