In early 1996, designer (and Bella Notte founder) Kathleen McCoy was a jacket designer, responsible for a line of polar fleece jackets under the name Marinwear. Her concept was one of “casual elegance,” elegant yet easy to wear, and easy to care for. Eager to innovate – and fond of linen – she decided to try her jacket styles in linen. Her new jackets received praise – but her buyers didn’t buy them. Faced with a couple hundred yards of unused linen lying around, she asked herself “why not try it in bedding.”


One thing led to another, and Bella Notte Linens was established by the end of the year. At its core, Kathleen’s concept was relatively simple: her favorite fabrics, soothing colors, easy elegance. Her bedding was machine washable; whereas other high-end bedding at the time was dry clean only. Also against convention, she made arrangements with a local dyer to have her bedding garment dyed, which involves dyeing pre-finished linens as opposed to yarn dyeing, where dyeing takes place prior to weaving. This was initially implemented to ensure consistency between fabrics, but the garment dyeing process also lent additional benefits; dyeing linens that have been woven and preshrunk allows for deeper color and a softer hand.

Bella Notte began celebrating its 25th Anniversary earlier this year, adding Taline – a tasseled collection of two-tone pillows and throws – and Poppy – a luscious lipstick red dye – to its line up. Now, the fall introductions. Rounding out Bella’s 25th Anniversary intros are Harlow, a subtle twist on Bella’s existing Austin collection, and two special new dyes – Fig and Moonlight.

Exceptionally sophisticated, Fig is a richly saturated garnet tone. A ripe and juicy purple with reddish undertones, it is described as a “confident color for the home,” mixing the energy of red with the calmness of blue. In contrast, Moonlight is a mid tone grey tone that varies in depth like the night sky under a moonlit reflection. It glows enchantingly in silk charmeuse, shows off its depth in velvet, and calms in linen. Intentionally introduced for Bella’s Silver Anniversary, it is a peaceful color that offers a calming, neutral base for the more spirited colors in Bella’s collection.

In pictures…

pictured:  Silk Velvet Quilted Coverlet and Royal Shams in Moonlight  , Ines Duvet Cover in Sterling, Ines 24″ Pillow in Mahogany, Carmen Deluxe Sham in Sterling, Paloma Euro Sham in Midnight

pictured: Taline Personal Comforters in Fig   and Poppy, atop Silk Velvet Quilted Coverlet in Fig  , Carmen Kidney Pillow in Poppy, in front of Ines Lumbar Pillow and Lynette 24″ Pillow in Fig  , in front of Taline Royal Shams in Fig   and Poppy

pictured: Harlow Accent Pillow   in Cloud, Taline Accent Pillow in Pearl

pictured: Lynette Personal Comforter in Moonlight  , atop Harlow Throw Blankets   in Parchment and Rouge, atop Taline Personal Comforter in Rosegold (discontinued), Linen Whisper Duvet Cover and Bedskirt in Moonlight  , Harlow 24″ Pillow   in Rouge, Frida Pillowcase in Parchment, Lynette Euro Sham and Linen Whisper Deluxe Sham in Moonlight  

pictured: Luna Coverlet in Fig  , Carmen Lumbar Pillow in Cenote, Taline Accent Pillow in Moonlight  , Paloma Pillowcase in Fig  , Ines Standard Sham in Fig  , Taline 24″ pillow in Cenote, Harlow Deluxe Sham   in Fig  , Silk Velvet Quilted Deluxe Sham in Cenote, Loulah Throw Blanket in Midnight (on the chair)

pictured: Ines Duvet Cover, Harlow Deluxe Sham  , Harlow Pillowcase  , all in Fig  

pictured: Harlow Coverlet   and Paloma duvet cover in Mineral, Fleur Accent Pillow in Cool, Taline Lumbar Pillow in Cenote, Paloma Pillowcases in Mineral, Harlow Deluxe Shams   in Eucalyptus

pictured: Harlow Coverlet   in Winter White, Taline Accent Pillow in Mahogany, Carmen Lumbar Pillow in Honeycomb, Taline 24″ Pillows in Moonlight