It's just emerging, and it's not for everyone. Brutalism has begun to reappear. Call brutalism an extreme countertrend to the minimalist techniques that have dominated the scene for so long. Smooth lines, clean edges and perfect patterns don't just a backseat here, they are virtually nowhere to … [Read more...]
New Looks for Stripes
The Trend Curve has already put Members of our subscriber family on alert for a stripe revival. In our forecast, we have indicated that thin widths will be the best growth engine for new stripes. This trend will be visible later in 2016, and will accelerate into 2017. But those thin stripes will … [Read more...]
Plaidemonium
Plaids have been incoming for the past couple of seasons. Going forward, they will have even more visibility and trend status. The return of a 21st-century take on traditional style has already resulted in a new take on classic windowpanes, Tartans and ginghams. Specifically, these patterns are … [Read more...]
Time for Tropical Style
Tropical looks started a quiet build over a year ago, and have been building slowly. At the Showtime decorative textiles market, however, they were out in force. Palm leaves were the top choice, but broader versions were also there. So were flowers, albeit many fewer than leaves. Other design … [Read more...]
Menswear Goes Modern
Menswear suiting patterns have earned an ongoing place in home décor. They are basics that both men and women find appealing, and they are chosen for products targeted to ages from baby to adult. Suiting patterns are comfortable at every price point, in every material and in almost every style … [Read more...]
Red Hot
The Trend Curve has been talking about an overall warming of color for the past year. New hues introduced at the Showtime upholstery textiles market confirm that direction. They also suggest that this trend may be headed for an extreme as reds come into the picture. Reds will be hot, beginning in … [Read more...]
Analyzing Animal Skins
Animal-skin looks are a constant for home interiors, and they can be found at every price point. But every few years they also hop onto the bell curve for trend. Introductions at the recent Showtime upholstery textiles market indicate that the market is about to embark on another trend cycle for … [Read more...]
Black is Back
Do you remember the plethora of designs with black backgrounds from the 1980s? Florals were a particular favorite, especially in five-star layouts. Now it's almost 2016, and black grounds are back. They have been seen in velvet, chenille, cotton and linen. They have lots of texture or almost none. … [Read more...]
Abstract Concepts in Design
One of the biggest designs trends at this week's Showtime upholstery textiles market was the idea of abstraction. This concept was applied broadly to styles and motifs, yet it had the greatest impact on geometric icons. Why? Because geometry has been popular for so long that designs had lost their … [Read more...]
Fringe Benefits
After many seasons of minimalism, details and decorations have begun reappearing on all kinds of home-interiors products. At the recent High Point furniture market, the high end was paying more attention to fringe than they have in years. This went beyond the brush fringe that has been emerging for … [Read more...]