Luxury linen brand House of Pratesi returns to Palm Beach after five-year absence
A century-old Italian luxury brand once favored by royals and celebrities has returned to Worth Avenue.
The House of Pratesi, which crafts fine linens for bedding, bath and the dining table, opened a new boutique March 14 at 400 Hibiscus Ave.
The brand previously operated a location at 324 Worth Ave., but the store abruptly closed in August 2018 after decades in Palm Beach.
The new location is the brand's first standalone store in more than five years. Its products are available at pratesi.com, Harrod’s department store in London and Woods Fine Linens in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK.
The new boutique, designed by Studio Monteleone & Associates, brings the luxury of Pratesi's fabrics to the Palm Beach community of residents and international travelers, Pratesi CEO Michelle Klein told the Daily News.
It occupies an 820-square-foot space that previously housed Salon Yoshiko.
"Pratesi has maintained a legacy of crafting the world’s most iconic, comfortable, and indulgent textiles and accessories for the well-dressed home," Klein said. "With a 118-year tradition of Italian innovation, precision haute-couture tailoring, and the use of premium-grade natural materials, Pratesi remains unrivaled in the world of luxury linens. This makes it a perfect fit for the discerning Palm Beach clientele, where many of the brand’s longtime loyal customers spend time."
The Palm Beach boutique will showcase an array of Pratesi collections, including Angel Luxe, Paradise, Tre Righe, Treccia, Federico, Fresia, Divino and Marca.
Those collections include hand-sewn towels, tub mats and robes; tablecloths, napkins, runners, and placemats; and duvet covers, shams, blankets and sheets.
"The Pratesi flagship store will carry the entire range of the brand’s beloved bed, bath and table linen collections as well as beautiful cashmere throws and a selection of fine gifts," Klein said.
Pratesi also has partnered with ready-to-wear shoemaker Stubbs & Wootten on a special collection of made-to-order women’s and men’s slippers, mules and clutch bags.
The bespoke, leather-soled collection of jewel-toned velvets and terry cloth is handcrafted in Spain and available online, at Pratesi in Palm Beach, and at Stubbs & Wootten stores in New York, Connecticut and Palm Beach (340 Worth Ave.).
“We are thrilled to partner with Stubbs & Wootton on this exquisite capsule collection,” Klein said. “This collaboration between two sought-after brands is a wonderful meeting of true craftsmanship and a complimenting addition to our new Palm Beach boutique’s offering, which we are excited to bring to the discerning Palm Beach clientele.”
Pratesi hosted a grand opening event March 14 at its Palm Beach store that included cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and shopping. Ten percent of the proceeds from sales during that event through March 16 were donated to The Society of the Four Arts, the brand said.
Frank Steinhart, president of the Worth Avenue Association, welcomed the brand to Palm Beach.
The nonprofit association works to promote, preserve and enhance the Worth Avenue business district through advertising, sponsorship of local events, social activities and charitable endeavors, and regular networking events.
"We're honored to have such a heritage brand that is 100 years old come back to the avenue," Steinhart said. "The new store is amazing. With those great big windows facing the fountain and the Preservation Foundation, it's just a great, great store."
Founded in 1906, Pratesi has long been the go-to linen for royals and celebrities, including Ernest Hemingway, Elizabeth Taylor, Pope Paul VI and Michael Jackson. Palm Beachers shopped the original Worth Avenue store for decades before it closed.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Linen brand House of Pratesi returns to Worth Avenue in Palm Beach
