Posts from — September 2010

Traditionally, Heimtextil presents the textile trends for interior design and decorating six months before Heimtextil. The trend statements are developed at a two-day creative conclave of six international style agencies, one of which – this year, The Future Laboratory from Great Britain – filters out four major directions from the forecasts, color palettes and materials amassed and translates them into a trend concept.

The Trendtable is also made up of the following firms:

• Claudia Herke, Cem Bora and Annetta Palmisano of bora.herke (Germany)
• Anne-Marie Commandeur and Arie Vervelde of Stijlinstituut Amsterdam ( Netherlands)
• Mayouri Sengchanh , head of Exalis together with Dominique Cherpin represent Carlin International (France)
• Dan Namura of Dan Project (Japan) and his brother Gen are two young Japanese designers from Tokyo who trace their origins back to the famous ‘yuzen’ technique of dyeing and weaving kimono fabrics in Kyoto.
• Emma Clerici and Manuela Bonaiti of the Baolab (Italy)
• Caroline Till and Kate Franklin from British style agency, The Future Laboratory

Now for the best part- a sneak peek at 2011-12 Heimtextil trends:

 The 2011/2012 Heimtextil Trend Reconnect combines inspiring, amazing, thrilling sensual textiles with the rational. This year’s trend statements reflect a new functionality, value-awareness and sustainability. They are Sobriety – Mix Mash – Utility – Wilderness.

In the 21st century, people want to be amazed, carried away and overwhelmed by ideas, sentiments and philosophies. They have a strong need to concern themselves with values, live in harmony with nature and be extremely authentic. A feel for the handcrafted reflects this just as much as the need to limit consumption voluntarily.

The four Reconnect directions refer back to nature and roots in Sobriety, to culture, identity and tradition in Mix Mash. Utility recommits to real values and the art of craftsmanship and Wilderness to the essential, functional and every day.

Sobriety – a return to the essential and traditional

The Sobriety trend theme shows where short-lived, seasonal trends end and consistent value begins. The background to this change in consumer behavior is that, in recent years, consumers have built on an ethical self-image, concrete quality and service demands, which they want to maintain, even in difficult financial times. Consumer behavior may have changed but standards have not. The new consumer landscape is characterized by quality, longevity, sustainability and significance.

In this context, a new generation of designers are researching forgotten skills and traditional craftsmanship is making a comeback. This goes hand in hand with a growing desire on the part of consumers to find out more about manufacturing and manufacturers.

Within Sobriety are four sub trends. The Serenity trend characteristic makes it clear that consumers are re-evaluating their lifestyle and are looking for products to build emotional attachment with.

New School reinterprets the classic design of the 1950’s

While Classic Modernity reflects a style, which symbolizes honesty, quality and consistency, evoking nostalgia and authenticity.

Minimal Luxury satisfies the need for pure, clean, simple designs and symbolizes a charming, timeless look.

Mix Mash combines the high-tech with craftsmanship, new with old

Mix and match is what’s happening-turning something old into something new, combining colors and patterns with abandon. Mix Mash clearly shows how tradition is being turned on its head and stylized ethnic influences from all over the world meet with novel patterns, prints and fabrics. But Mix Mash also stands for a combination of global know-how and local production techniques.The emotional strength and tradition of craftsmanship, coupled with innovation and efficient functionality, symbolize the successful juxtapositioning of high-tech and craftsmanship.

 Within Mix Mash are four sub directions: The Experimental facet shows how unconventional brushstrokes, expressive, artistic designs and graphics generate energy and dynamism.

The chaotic aesthetic of Cultural Hybrid is decadent and poetic at the same time. It blends cultural heritage with local craftsmanship and nostalgia.

Technicraft, a mixture of heritage and modernity, examines the synthesis between technology and craftsmanship, innovation and tradition.

High-tech and low tech come together in the multi-layering of kitschy trash and valuables, which Treasure and Trash elucidates .

Tomorrow we’ll look at Utility and Wilderness.

Have you always dreamed of traveling to Paris?

* to experience the culture (and the food!)

* see the fabulous design shows

* inspire yourself and your clients

 Here’s your chance to experience the ultimate “city of dreams” with a group of like-minded designers, lead by experienced Paris habitués Deb Barrett and Susan Schultz. After 10+ years of visiting Paris regularly for the famed Maison&Objet show, they have compiled an impressive “little black book” of designer resources, information and contacts. Over the course of seven days, you’ll experience Paris like a design insider, with exclusive visits to artisan ateliers, VIP show access and more.

The “special visits” gave us an up close and personal look at the other side of the design world.   

 Here’s a partial peek at what you get in the tour package:

  *Airfare to/from JFK -Overnight flight arriving in Paris Wednesday, January 19,2011. *Hotel d’ Aubusson, Four-star, double-occupancy in the heart of St. Germain (Super-convenient location and we’ve stayed in this hotel and love it!) Five minute walk to the subway, direct line to the show. Walking distance of the Louvre, Orsay, Notre Dame, Sorbonne; surrounded by art galleries, restaurants and shops. )

 *Daily Breakfast at the hotel.  Value of $250.00

*Airport transfers. Value of $225.00

*5 day all zone metro pass.  Value of  $95.00

*Admission to Maison&Objet and Designers Lounge.  Value of  $90.00

*Design destinations and insider access to showrooms and ateliers across Paris. This is worth the price of the trip!

*As-you-wish meet-ups for cocktails or dinner to review the day, compare notes, share stories, etc.

*Pre-travel web session with Deb and Susan to preview locations, M&O planning, travel details, our Paris faves and more

*Cruise on the river Seine.  Value of $30.00

*Free entrance to the Louvre or Orsay.  Value of $30.00

My top takeaway from the trip was that I want to go back…

 

Download our itinerary HERE

More Details HERE

Register HERE 

With Fashion Week in full swing, here are some interesting spottings of the synergy between fashion and interiors:

The Nya Nordiska’s Isabella which has been awarded with several design prizes, took  part in Sidewalk Catwalk in New York City. 30 display mannequins located along the Broadway presented   models of some of the top US fashion designers. Among them, you will find such well-known names as Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan and Isaac Mizrahi.

Since the model dresses had to stand the conditions of an outdoor exhibition for about two months, “Material ConneXion” looked for especially vanguard and sustainable fabrics. The prominent designer duo Mark Badgley + James Mischka decided on Isabella. The interior dec fabric was transformed by them into a strapless wedding gown.

Designer Jane Bowler has created some stunning new takes on rain coats using old shower curtains. Her Fusion Collection uses a process that  is completely stitch-free, a combination of industrial techniques such as heat-forming and ultrasonic welding. (The latter method involves high-frequency ultrasonic acoustic vibrations to bind materials together.)

At the core of Fusion’s high-tech engineering is Bowler’s belief that recycled products can be luxurious, innovative, and desirable. “Fusion is designed to make plastic fantastic for longer,” she says. “[And] to create a garment that the owner will be reluctant to throw away.”

In keeping with Bowler’s mantra of reduce and reuse, even the rubber molds she had made are designed to be used again. The result is a series of space-age slickers in burnished metallic hues like gold, bronze, and titanium.

Bowler’s work will be included in an upcoming exhibition called Sustain during the this week’s 2010 London Design Festival. The show will highlight creative solutions to sustainability issues in design. 

Fusion will be on display at the Royal College of Art’s Upper Gulbenkian Gallery, as part of London Design Week, from September 23 to October 7.