The 2013 Oklahoma City tornado as it passed through
south Oklahoma City. Photo courtesy of Ks0stm

No matter where you stand on the causes of global climate change, some facts are not particularly disputable. There are now more people living in more parts of the U.S. than in the past, and weather events, such as Hurricane Sandy and the rash of tornadoes currently hitting our nation’s Midwest, are taking a much bigger toll on our lives and homes than ever before.

Sure, the obvious home-rebuilding products are crucial at times like these. And big companies such as Home Depot, Renewal by Andersen, and Sherwin-Williams have generously proven their indomitable American spirit by donating what’s desperately needed to rebuild homes.

But, at The Trend Curve™, we know about so many smaller companies that create the personal treasures lost from inside those homes.  The companies we work with every day make blankets, rugs, toys, bedding, clocks, candles, housewares, lamps, pet products, garden supplies, table and bath linens, cabinetry, window dressings, permanent floral, lace, seasonal décor and Christmas ornaments. In short, the things that make a home feel like home again. 

We know you, and the exceptional products you create.  So, now may be the time for the nation to get better acquainted with you, too. Consider donating.

Here are some sites to visit:      

• http://rebuildingtogether.org/
• http://helpinghighlands.org/
• http://www.freshstart.ncat.org/rebuild.htm

Spring Forward™ 2014

Your customers don’t need to be anywhere near the ocean to embrace coastal looks and the ambience of the ocean. All they need is our Beach House Luxe trend from Spring Forward™ 2014!

Sea coral informs the shape of items from lamp bases to bottle stoppers. Shell shapes inspire vessels of all kinds. Fine linen or cotton curtains and tablecloths stir as if in a seaside breeze. Lightly glazed ceramics capture the luster of pearls and seashells. All the details you need to create this upscale look for your assortment are included on the Beach House Luxe Trend Card, including a dedicated palette of volume-selling, accent and fashion-forward hues.

Learn more about the 27 colors, 4 metallics and 11 trends we have prepared for 2014 in Spring Forward.

The Trend Curve Colors™ 2014 color-and-trend forecast.

In a world filled with far too many places to plug in—Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and more—you can bank on the fact that lots of consumers are looking for a place to unplug—even when they’re not on vacation. That need inspired some of the best trends in The Trend Curve Colors™ for 2014, our bestselling color-and-trend package. Here are just two examples:

Garden’s Edge – With patio doors closed to ringing phones and Facebook pings, this 1980’s return to lush, large scale casual flowers tells the brain it’s time to stop and smell the roses.  Lithe and well-spaced tulips, orchids and lilies float over open grounds on comfy pillows on lawn furniture.  Natural garden hues, like our Burlap Brown, Prairie Grass and Herati Leaf, invite the eye and say it’s time to take a deep breath and enjoy the full-bloom time of year while it lasts.

Best Of The West – With a color palette that’s as warm and welcoming as the Southwestern sun, this trend is perfect for family rooms and man caves alike. Kilim-rug designs and blanket stripes are just a few of the Navajo-inspired print choices that make this a perfect recipe for creating both a fun and relaxing setting.

We do so by connecting the dots between emerging motifs, materials, textures and palettes discovered as we travel the globe to keep our Members ahead of the curve on trend. 

For our latest Halloween & Fall package, we once again let our seasonally inspired creativity connect with everyday décor to ensure a solid foundation for each trend. And this time, we developed our most eclectic and plentiful range of trends yet! 

Like a mummy revival we found building quietly over the past six months. It will be ready for mainstream consumers in 2014, so we created Spirits of the Nile, with all the details you need to make this trend work for you.

Dia de Muertos taps into the expanding interest in Day of the Dead celebrations. The lively color and fascinating icons in this theme are sure to expand your customer base. 

Our gunslinger ghost town in Hang ‘em High shows how perilous an 1800’s cowboy way of life could be.  Masked Jack-o’-lantern bandits, the famous dead-man’s-hand of playing cards, and parched steer skulls take center stage in this haunting, yet humorous setting.

Then we explored a positive and playful brand of Halloween magic in New Orleans in The Big Uneasy. You’ll love all the voo-doos and don’ts for the hosts of Louisiana-style autumn entertainment!

For the later days of fall, we let vegetables and all the trimmings upstage the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. And woodland creatures—foxes, owls, and opossums—emerge from their hiding places to inspire all sorts of autumn décor.  

These are just a few of our 10 delightful new directions for Halloween & fall 2014. For more details, or to order, go to Haute Halloween & Fall™ 2014.

1. You’ll save $200 if you order by March 24, 2013.
2. We have done all the work for you! Our 36 all-new colors and details for 9 incoming trends were carefully researched and selected.
3. This forecast covers all of 2014, not just the first season.
4. Each color is provided in a 5 x 5 inch size, plus a portable mini-deck.
5. The color collection has 6 different ranges in personalities from Pretty Pastels to Baroque Deeps.
6. Our trends cover looks from casual living to luxury décor.
7. Every trend has a dedicated palette of recommended volume-selling, accent and fashion-forward colors. 
8. All this comes in a compact, easy-to-store 6 x 6 inch box.
9. It cost only $5.50 for us to ship it to you within the U.S.
10. You can trust The Trend Curve Colors™ 2014 because it was created by the experienced trend team at The Trend Curve™.

Click for more information or to order The Trend Curve Colors™ 2014.

We made the decision to go to a digital-only format for two reasons. The first was the steady beat of progress. Publishing has been moving from print to devices for the past several years. In 2012, the move went from a trickle to a rush.

The Trend Curve first offered digital subscriptions in 2010. That was the year when many of our subscribers outside of the US (and especially beyond North America) began to ask for it. By 2012, requests were coming steadily from those closer to home. People told us they wanted our trend forecasts faster and in an easier format. We listened and delivered.

View this short 1:30 video on accessing the new digital versions:

This issue of The Trend Curve can be viewed when and where you want it—on any device—so you not only get it fast, but also can reference it anywhere, anytime, any place.

The online version of The Trend Curve uses Google Translate which supports 65 languages and variations!

The second reason to embrace digital delivery is that the amount of content we can deliver to you is now greater. Specifically, we have doubled the number of images to help you see the trends, and we can put them directly into The Trend Curve, rather than in related posts (though we will continue to post special content for Members). Since most Members of our subscriber family love the visuals at least as much as what we write, we know this will help you to get a clearer perspective on incoming trends.

1. Click the Member Login link at the top of this page
2. Login with your username (or email address) and password. If you forgot your password simply click the “forgot password?” link and follow the instructions to reset your password
3. After you login you will automatically be taken to your new Member Homepage with easy access to The Trend Curve, Member Posts and Trend Flash™
4. Click on the image or link for “The Trend Curve for Members“
5. Instructions on “Downloading & Viewing” are in the right sidebar on The Trend Curve for Members page. 

We hope you enjoy the new, easier-to-read-digitally format and the significantly faster access to The Trend Curve (as well as our continued capability to keep your subscription cost as low as possible). Let us know your thoughts by sending an email to michellelamb@trendcurve.com

But it wasn’t until this morning’s news feed that I first realized that 3D printing has gone far beyond typical object creation and now toward flexible, wearable, 3D printed clothes.

3D Printed Cape & Skirt

Stratasys is the world’s leading 3D printing technology company behind this new wearable 3D printed clothes proof-of-concept. They are right in our back yard here in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and is one we’ve kept a close eye on for some time. 

Stratasys completed their merger in December of 2012 with Objet, Ltd., a company that provides, “…3D printing systems, resin consumables, and services worldwide. The company’s printers use its proprietary PolyJet inkjet-based technology, resin consumables, and integrated software to create 3D models directly from computer data, such as 3D CAD files.” Basically Objet had an industrial-strength, world-class capability to deliver 3D printing at scale and the merger made complete sense for a company (Stratasys) to accelerate worldwide with product, service and support.

3D Printed Dress

This next phase of the 3D printing revolution will see designers and creatives build products, prototype them on desktop 3D printers, and send the digital files to a service bureau…just like the “old days” of desktop publishing where files ended up at a printer who would print, bind and box publications by the thousands or millions. Same concept here: As Stratasys turns their 3D printing process from design-to-prototype-to-manufacturing (with full service and support Objet offers) then they will “own” the process like Heidelberg did for hundreds of years with printing presses.

Wearable Stratasys and Materialise 3D Printed Pieces Hit Paris Fashion Week at Iris van Herpen Show

MINNEAPOLIS, REHOVOT, Israel and LEUVEN, Belgium, January 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/

Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a leading manufacturer of 3D printers and production systems for prototyping and manufacturing and Materialise, a Belgian-based pioneer in Additive Manufacturing software and solutions, today announced the unveiling of 3D printing collaborations on the catwalks of Paris Fashion Week as part of Iris van Herpen’s Haute Couture show, ‘VOLTAGE’.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/589134-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/589134-b )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/589134-c )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/589134-d )

Dutch designer van Herpen’s eleven-piece collection featured two 3D printed ensembles, including an elaborate skirt and cape created in collaboration with artist, architect, designer and professor Neri Oxmanfrom MIT’s* Media Lab, and 3D printed by Stratasys. An intricate dress was also designed in collaboration with Austrian architect Julia Koerner, currently lecturer at UCLA Los Angeles, and 3D printed by Materialise, marking the second piece created together with Koerner and the ninth with Materialise.

The 3D printed skirt and cape were produced using Stratasys’ unique Objet Connex multi-material 3D printing technology, which allows a variety of material properties to be printed in a single build. This allowed both hard and soft materials to be incorporated within the design, crucial to the movement and texture of the piece. “The ability to vary softness and elasticity inspired us to design a “second skin” for the body acting as armor-in-motion; in this way we were able to design not only the garment’s form but also its motion,” explains Oxman. “The incredible possibilities afforded by these new technologies allowed us to reinterpret the tradition of couture as “tech-couture” where delicate hand-made embroidery and needlework is replaced by code.”

Van Herpen adds, “I feel it’s important that fashion can be about much more than consumerism, but also about new beginnings and self-expression, so my work very much comes from abstract ideas and using new techniques, not the re-invention of old ideas. I find the process of 3D printing fascinating because I believe it will only be a matter of time before we see the clothing we wear today produced with this technology, and it’s because it’s such a different way of manufacturing, adding layer-by-layer, it will be a great source of inspiration for new ideas.”

According to van Herpen, motivation to collaborate with Oxman came after seeing her ‘Imaginary Beings : Mythologies of the Not Yet‘ collection – 3D printed by Stratasys’ matchless  Objet Connex multi-material 3D printing technology – that featured in the Multiversités Créatives exhibition at the Centre Pompidou,Paris, last spring. Oxman explains that the joint venture is very much an extension of the series:

“This project has taken ‘Imaginary Beings’ to ‘Wearable Beings’, myths that one can wear. The original collection includes 18 Stratasys 3D printed prototypes for the human body inspired by Jorge Luis Borges’Book of Imaginary Beings. They are human augmentations inspired by nature; but not all wearable. For Iris’ collection at Paris Fashion Week it was important to take the series to the next level, thinking not only about form and materials, but also about movement and wearability. This was a new challenge for me and for my colleagues – Prof. W. Craig Carter (Department of Materials Science & Engineering) andKeren Oxman. It inspired us to design algorithms that could map physical movement and material behaviour to geometrical form and morphological variation in a seamless and continuous wearable surface.”

Van Herpen, Koerner and Materialise have continued testing the limits of 3D printing with this 3D printed dress, proving once again that normal rules don’t apply when fashion and high technology combine. In last season’s ‘Hybrid Holism‘ collection, they first introduced the use of Materialise’s Mammoth Stereolithography machines for a stunning semi-transparent dress that one spectator compared to liquid honey. For this latest collection, ready for an even greater challenge, an experimental new material was put to use in the creation of a flexible, soft dress of stunning complexity. The piece’s intricate lace-like texture was created with precision by lasers (in a process known as Laser Sintering) and would have been impossible to realise any other way.

Julia Koerner explains, “My collaboration with Materialise for the 3D printed dress for Iris van Herpen’sHaute Couture Show ‘Voltage’ 2013 reveals a highly complex, parametrically generated, geometrical structure. The architectural structure aims to superimpose multiple layers of thin woven lines which animate the body in an organic way. Exploiting computational boundaries in combination with emergent technology selective laser sintering, of a new flexible material, lead to enticing and enigmatic effects within fashion design. New possibilities arise such as eliminating seams and cuts where they are usually placed in couture.”

Following the Paris Fashion Show, the skirt and cape will be exhibited at MIT’s Media Lab.

*MIT = Massachusetts Institute of Technology

About Stratasys Ltd.

Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS) is the corporate entity formed in 2012 by the merger of 3D printing companies Stratasys Inc. and Objet Ltd., based in Minneapolis, Minn. and Rehovot, Israel. The company manufactures 3D printers and materials for prototyping and production. Prior to merging, the two companies’ revenues totaled $277 million for 2011. Its patented FDM^® and Inkjet-based processes produce prototypes or manufactured goods directly from 3D CAD files or other 3D content. Systems include affordable desktop 3D printers for idea development, a range of systems for prototyping, and large production systems for direct digital manufacturing. Since June 2012, the company’s range of over 130 3D printing materials is the widest in the industry and includes in excess of 120 proprietary inkjet-based photopolymer materials and 10 proprietary FDM-based thermoplastic materials. Stratasys also manufactures Solidscape 3D Printers and operates the RedEye On Demand digital-manufacturing service. The company has over 1100 employees, holds over 500 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally, and has received more than 20 awards for its technology and leadership. Online at: http://www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com / http://www.objet.com orhttp://blog.objet.com .

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements regarding Stratasys’ beliefs, intentions and expectations, including statements regarding the management of Stratasys, Inc. and Objet Ltd. as a combined company, the benefits of the combination of the companies, and the future financial performance of the combined company after their merger, are forward-looking statements. The statements involve risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including the risk and uncertainty that the businesses of the two companies may not be integrated successfully; the risk that the merger may involve unexpected costs or unexpected liabilities; the risk that synergies from the merger may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that management’s focus on and disruptions arising from the merger make it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees, or suppliers. Stratasys’ ability to achieve the results presented in any forward-looking statement will depend on numerous factors, including its ability to penetrate the 3D printing market; its ability to achieve the growth rates experienced in preceding quarters; its ability to introduce, produce and market both existing and new consumable materials, and the market acceptance of these materials; the impact of competitive products and pricing; its timely development of new products and materials and market acceptance of those products and materials; the success of Stratasys’ recent R&D initiative to expand the DDM capabilities of its core FDM technology; and the success of Stratasys’ RedEye On Demand™ and other paid parts services. These and other applicable factors are discussed in this presentation and in Stratasys’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings include the definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on August 8, 2012, as well as the filings that Stratasys, Inc. has made with the SEC and that Stratasys Ltd. has made and will make with the SEC in the future, including its report on Form 20-F to be filed for the year ended 12/31/2012. Any forward-looking statements included in this presentation are as of the date they are given, and Stratasys does not intend to update them if its views later change, except as may be required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Stratasys’ views as of any date subsequent to the date they are given.

About Materialise

With its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium, and branches worldwide, Materialise has been playing an active role in the field of Additive Manufacturing (AM) since 1990. In addition to having the largest capacity of AM equipment in Europe, Materialise also enjoys a stellar reputation as a provider of innovative software solutions. They have used their experience and expertise to create a better and healthier world through their involvement in AM for industrial and medical applications, and by providing bio-medical and clinical solutions such as medical image processing and surgical simulations. Materialise has developed unique solutions that make a world of difference for its many customers with their prototyping, production, and medical needs. These customers range from large companies in the automotive, consumer electronics, and consumables sectors; to famous hospitals, research institutes, and clinicians; to individual consumers interested in bringing their own unique creations to life through i.materialise or who want to purchase a celebrated .MGX design. Discover more at:http://www.materialise.com/

Stratasys Media Contacts

USA 
Todd Graff 
Conover Tuttle Pace 
Tel. +1-617-412-4000
Email. tgraff@ctpboston.com

Europe 
Claire Russell-Jones 
UK Bespoke
Tel. +44-1737-215200
E-mail. stratasys@bespoke.co.uk

Stratasys 
Arita Mattsoff / Joe Hiemenz 
Stratasys
Tel. +972-(0)74-745-4000 (IL)
Tel. +1-952-906-2726 (US)
Email. arita@stratasys.com 
Email. Joe.Hiemenz@stratasys.com

Korea 
Jihyun Lee 
The Hoffman Agency Korea
Tel. +82-10-3408-1609
Email. jhlee@hoffman.com

Japan 
Objet Japan
Aya Yoshizawa 
Tel. +81-90-6473-1812
Email. Aya.yoshizawa@stratasys.com

Asia Pacific 
Objet AP Ltd
Vicki Kei 
Tel. +852-3844-8813
Email. Vicki.kei@stratasys.com

Brazil 
Tatiana Fonseca 
307 Nova Cidade, Sao Paulo 
Tel. +55-11-3846-9981
Email. tatiana@gadcom.com.br

Mexico 
Patricia Tawil 
IDESA
Tel. +52-55-5253-9670
Email. ptawil@idesap.com

South Africa 
Alison McDonald 
PR Connections
Tel. +27-(0)11-468-1192
Email. alison@pr.co.za

Materialise Media Contact 
Vanessa Palsenbarg 
Corporate Communications Specialist, Materialise
Phone: +32-16-39-66-37
Fax: +32-16-39-66-00
Email: Vanessa.Palsenbarg@materialise.be 
Twitter: @belgiancanuck or @MaterialiseNV

Mary Meeker

Mary Meeker, a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caulfield and Byers, has just published her latest internet trends report entitled, “2012 Internet Trends Year-End Update.”

Meeker, someone who is looked upon as one of the best analysts in the world about internet trends, delivered her report to a group of Students at Stanford University yesterday. To me, the biggest revelation within it is a huge section of her report that shows how device and connectivity trends are leading to the complete re-imagination of everything from encyclopedias to money. Think about how we are shifting from “stuff” to “online” and you’ll begin to sense the trends leading away from accumulation of material things to engagement with all things digital.

Admittedly there are a lot of slides (88) and you might not be inclined to go through the entire deck, but if you look at nothing else please skip ahead to slide #59, the section about the “Asset-Light Generation,” and think about how these trends — which many say are massive, fundamental and systemic shifts in consumer behavior — are already affecting your business or will very soon.

We studied this deck closely and point out a few obvious trends in that section:

• People used to buy CDs and DVDs but now buy digitally and stream. Impact on home furnishings? No need for ways to store them.
• Increasingly people are buying books, magazines and newspapers digitally. No need for bookcases? 
• Employment is accelerating toward “free agency” and the explosion of the home office. It’s easier than ever to be always on and always connected so why sit in a cubical all day? The blurring of lines between what is work and what is home is continuing unabated. Are you anticipating this trend’s impact on your business?
• Mobile payment, social commerce and other trends (e.g., Black Friday E-Commerce Hits Record $1 Billion)  means that your connected customer or prospect has higher expectations than ever for what you deliver online so they can make a decision on your product or service when they’re standing at the point-of-sale ready to buy.

You will obviously view this report and pull from it your own insights and conclusions about your own business. It’s well worth your investment of time.

The Trend Curve™

Every year we create a new color-and-trend forecast to make developing Holiday-themed collections easy for buyers, trend offices, interior designers and visual display. We highlight the freshest colors, motifs and themes for seasonal home décor and trim. Then we give you concrete suggestions for putting it all to work in products on the shelf or in the store window. 

Our most-recent collection for the Holidays, ‘Tis The Season™ 2013-2014 puts The Trend Curve’s trend-forecasting expertise at your fingertips! It includes 11 well-researched trends that take you from cutting edge (Neon Noël) to traditional—with a twist (Wise Reprised). My personal favorite is Sweet Nothings. It’s all about trend-right sweets for the Holidays (it’s not about gingerbread anymore!).

Each trend has its own Trend Card, with four different visuals to show you the trend, plus details about the best motifs, shapes, textures, materials and embellishments to inspire your assortments. You can take these ideas straight into your product development, or use them as a starting point for your own version of the trend.

Knowing that new color plays a big role in catching the consumer’s eye, we provide dedicated colors for each trend. Our customers have given us great feedback on this feature! Each palette includes up to four volume sellers. Use these colors in solid-color assortments, or make sure they dominate patterns. Between two and four accent colors are also shown. These hues play supporting roles to the volume choices. Fashion-forward colors are key to the equation. Used in any amount, they say NEW for any trend. 

All these colors are drawn from the 33 colors and pearl shades found in the ‘Tis The Season package. You get a full-size swatch that’s big enough to share, plus a mini-deck on a ring so you always have a handy reference. 

I personally created ‘Tis The Season 2013-2014. I had a great time developing the the colors and the trends based a blend of Holiday and everyday trends I have projected for the future.

‘Tis The Season 2013-2014 is available now in the Trend Store. Buy online or call 800.531.6614.