T
Launched in New York just two and a half years ago, Riley is a home textile brand that tries to stand out for one reason: all of its products are manufactured in Portugal. A feature that the brand proudly highlights, and that, according to CEO Sarah Abitbol, does not go unnoticed by consumers. And it has even put Riley on the radar of publications such as the New York Times and GQ Magazine.
“Portugal is the place to be when it comes to sourcing home textiles. From the beginning, we realized that Portugal meant added value, due to its long tradition and history regarding home textiles. Portugal is the capital of home textiles”, explains the brand’s CEO to T Jornal.
“In Portugal, we find suppliers that meet our three main criteria: quality, design and sustainability”, explains Sarah Abitbol, who says that in her sourcing process, she mainly looks for producers with certified social and environmental responsibility practices, from the choice of raw materials to the energy source used.
The New York Times supplement Wirecutter has already awarded the best choice awards to the brand’s blankets and sheets: Riley won the Best Cotton Sheets Award for two consecutive years. GQ magazine also included SPA sheets and towels in its selection of the best choices on the market, The Best Stuff Award.
Currently, in addition to online sales, the brand has conquered the market through a partnership with the Bloomingdales chain.
For 2021, Sarah Abitbol set the goal of opening more stores, and on expanding Riley’s offer towards kitchen textiles. For this to happen, the company continues to seek to expand its network of Portuguese suppliers.