I first saw Irish designer Rachel O’Neill’s (she studied at the University of Iowa) work 2 years ago at imm Cologne as part of the British Design Students booth. Rachel creates large scale wall hangings and lighting from custom dyed velcro. Who knew?! Some combinations include feathers and metallic finishes.  I loved the idea of taking a common material, in this case- velcro- and turning it into something else. The results are as you will see are completely unique and original. This year she surfaced again at ICFF with some stunning lighting concepts. Love the play on light and shadow.  What designer/workroom/installer hasn’t become frustrated by a jumbled mess of velcro? Now we know what to do with it.

One of the highlights for me at Paris Deco Off was Jacob Schlaepfer. For me, Jakob Schlaepfer epitomizes the best of both design worlds. They call their textiles “industrially hand crafted “and it is so true- innovative, ingenious design done by the hand of master artisans. Known as the purveyor of haute couture fabrics since 1904 to such fashion houses as Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Vivenne Westood and Christian Lacroix (That is a whole other story!),  They entered into interiors in 2008 with couture worthy textiles that… well; you have to see it to believe it!   

 I was honored to be invited to experience their 2010 decor line at Galerie Alain  Blondel in the Marias and they did not disappoint.

Artisitc Director Michele Rondelli and Creative Director, Martin Leuthold led us on a mouth watering tour of their third edition interior collection. Each new piece was better than the last. This collection was meant to be experienced by all the senses.

Vada Tulle and Vada Gardinio Blackout

In 2008 they introduced a world first in by Vada Pleats and Vada Giardino. Never before has printing been carried out on three layers of tulle simultaneously. The effect is as beautiful as it is striking, since the three layers give the fabric a 3D look. The collection is supplemented with the flame-retardant Buonanotte fabric for black out draperies, which can be printed with all the motifs in the collection.

Phanton in Motion

Phantom – the world’s lightest textile for windows needs to be thrown up in the air to see how it float swirls around you like smoke rings. Weighing only 10 grams per square meter, this polyester fiber enhanced with metal floats with every movement of the air. Introduced in 2009 and winning several prestigious textile design prizes; they built on its success with a printed version- Secret Garden.

 

 

Secret Garden

Detail Secret Garden

 “The technical perfection of the material, which shows most spectacularly in movement, has here been made entirely subservient to the poetic effect achieved,” commented one member of the Textile Design Jury.

Pollock Wall Panels

Playing with pollock

 

 

 

Pollock must be played with. This textile is like a incredibly beautiful etch-a sketch. Invention is in Jakob Schlaepfer’s blood: it has been  more than thirty years since the St Gallen manufacturer developed the first industrial procedure for applying paillettes(sequins) to fabrics, revolutionizing the entire textile industry. Now a new process has made these same paillettes interactive: by stroking them you can turn them over, from one face to the other, from one colour combination to another,from bright to matt, from plain to printed, from glittering to iridescent – with more than 200 combinations the possibilities are simply endless.  Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and Marc Jacobs, were so enthralled they included the fabric in their new collections just off the runway.

Korsakow close-up

Korsakow is …how do you explain Korsakow-? It is embossed foam tipped with gold or silver leather and applied by hand to transparent black tulle).See what I mean you just have to see it to believe it!

Aluminum Sheer

A layer of aluminum is sandwiched between contrasting chiffons in this sculputural curtain.

2009 Academy Awards set design

2010 Academy Awards set design

Rockwell Group has reprised one of the most dazzling elements of the 81st Academy Awards design – the Swarovski Crystal Curtain - but with new and unexpected features for an even greater theatrical effect.  I was blown away by the Crystal Curtain last year. Not only was it stunning, but I don’t know how you justify not using it again. ( OK, I am a huge Swarovski fan.)The curtains shimmers with over 100,000 Swarovski crystals flown in from Austria and stands 60 feet tall and 100 feet wide.

Elements added

 This year’s set also features three circular, revolving platforms that work in combination with rotating LED panels and architectural metalwork screens for film projection.  ( The wonders of modern technology!) The overall design is intended to evoke a classic but modern glamour, with white, platinum, topaz and smoky bronze hues added this year.

Sounds amazing. I can’t wait to see the final results.

This is fiber optic ready made curtain panel from Italian firm Decobel gives new meaning to “light at the window”.

Color schemes were lighter and fresher than last year and foreshadowed brighter days to come.

It was obvious that innovation had taken a back seat to reworking old favorites and best sellers, but if you looked hard enough you could find some truly amazing fabrics. The dimensional structures and surface trend for textiles is still gaining speed on the trend curve.

More to come tomorrow from imm Cologne and later this week- Maison et Objet!

I just bought my September issue. Do you have yours?

I anxiously await this issue of Vogue. As they say; if fashion is a religion than Vogue is the bible. Weighing nearly 3 lbs and consisting of 584 pages of inspiration, it provides hours of browsing, dreaming. I always rip pages, tag corners; filing it away in my journal.

 This issue was a definite MUST HAVE with the drop of this month’s magazine coinciding with the premiere of The September Issue, filmmaker R J Culter ‘s  documentary about the making of the 2007 version of the issue. Cutler got unprecedented access into Anna Wintour’s world; so of course I was curious… not to mention I was interested in seeing see what it takes to stay on top in the fashion world -giving lessons that could be learned in the interior world two fold.

Top  Inspirations

The Steven Meisel shoot In the Mood – 1942 New York – bebop, smoky bars, peplums and shoulder pads. A fashion era I have always had an infinity for.  Love, love, love the detail on the Dior wool suit to the left.

This shot seems like a flashback of my family album. It could very well be my grandmother and my great grandmother- two women  that have inspired and framed my design outlook.

Don’t you just LOVE the draping-  so Barbara Stanwyck. 

Into The Woods is Coddington’s fantasy fashion version of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood celebrating my fav color -red

Also check out:

Merci- a new concept store in the marais neighborhood of Paris that I will certainly be shopping at in January.

My Sew Called Life-a short article about Jason Wu teaching one of the Vogue editors to sew. Good insight from anovice what the craft and art of sewing is like.

Country Couture – Vogue visits Juicy Couture co-founder Gela Nash-Taylor’s country manor

Still looking for more Fashion Inspiration? Check out Valentino, The Last Emperor

The judges have deliberated and here are the 2009 Ample Sample finalists and winner. If you’re going to NeoCon in Chicago; check them out in person where the finalists’ products will be showcased. The finalists include:

Jake Tompkins of JMBC Design – Magic Carpet Ride

Sean Miller – Mailbox

Heather Wright and Christina Jih – Plush Petal Pendant

Wuthichai Leelavoravong – Shoe-Keeper

Sean Miller’s Mailbox

The Plush Petal Pendant used a cylindrical, reclaimed lampshade frame which allowed for 32 strips. This fabrication used exactly 2 carpet tiles. The shade was designed for the reuse of materials, and the absence of glues and adhesives. This picture is an actual fabrication which is lit by a spherical compact fluorescent bulb.

An Eco-Friendly Hammock, Magic Carpet Ride, inspired by the paper chains of childhood that utilizes the texture and feel of carpet to create a more comfortable and relaxing surface.

AND THE WINNER IS……

Cut, Clip, and Hang. There are only 3 simple steps to create “Shoe-Keeper”.  Shoe-Keeper was inspired from the close (physical) relationship between the carpet and shoes. Importantly, there is no waste in this design. To keep a pair of shoes, we need only a half of the carpet tile. Besides its main function, we can also use Shoe-Keeper as decoration on a wall by mixing and matching different colors and patterns of carpet tiles.