I just finished writing Trend Album™: Christmasworld 2018, The Trend Curve's trend report about the Christmasworld trade fair that runs about 80 pages and includes more than 150 images. Among the noteworthy surface-design trends for Christmas was dots. Dots are trending for Christmas because they … [Read more...]
MADE/Slow at Showcase Ireland
Showcase was founded by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland 42 years ago. Today, it is among The Trend Curve's favorite trade fairs. Why? Because most of the products found at this annual Dublin-based event are designed and made by Irish crafters, so the quality is high. Even better, these are … [Read more...]
Lessons Learned from Halloween 2017
Those who create retail assortments rarely get a full view of what happens to products they develop and select at the fateful point of purchase. Which items really made cash registers ring? Which in-store displays actually swayed customers to buy? Not knowing the answers to these questions can feel … [Read more...]
The Allure of Outer Space in Décor
It seems that designs suggesting outer space can always be found in décor. But lately, they are being seen more often, and in a larger variety of interpretations. And although lighting seems to have a particular affinity for the topic, space-themed designs are also cropping up in a greater range of … [Read more...]
Halloween 2017 in a Few Words
I recently finished writing a retail reconnaissance report, along with my licensing-genius colleague, Leigh Ann Scharzkopf of Lookout Marketing. While we have created an entire series of these store-check reports, called Taking Stock of Retail™, the subject of this version was Halloween … [Read more...]
The New Look For Dots
Dots started to attract The Trend Curve’s attention at the beginning of 2017. The reason they stood out was a new level of sophistication that made polka-dots look positively dated. At December’s Showtime textiles market, dots grabbed the eye again, this time because of a hand-drawn character … [Read more...]
Heimtextil 2018
Heimtextil is the biggest international trade fair for home and contract textiles, and because it’s the first trade fair of the year for its sector, it acts as a barometer for the new business year. Interestingly, however, the next edition of it (to be held from January 9th through 12th 2018) will … [Read more...]
Deconstruction: The Next Textiles Trend
One of the biggest trends for home décor fabrics features a hand-stitched look that The Trend Curve has been writing about for the past year. Whether woven in for upholstery or done by hand as an embellishment on items like cushions, embroidery and crewelwork looks are experiencing a pile-on of … [Read more...]
Get Ready for More Purple
Ultra Violet may be Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2018, but a quick glance around the Showtime textiles market in December revealed that Ultra Violet is not the only purple trending for next year. From amethyst to royal and from lavender to plum, purples made surface designs look fresh. Seen in … [Read more...]
Going West at Showtime
While most collections were exploring a Boho revival for décor (driven in great part by the success of Justina Blakeney's book, The New Bohemians), an American West theme was quietly emerging at the Showtime textiles market. Showtime was not the first time a Western trend got noticed. Hints of this … [Read more...]