Trend Flash is sent exclusively to Members of The Trend Curve’s subscriber family. Arthur Douglas Thayer, Editorial Correspondent, is in Atlanta for the semi-annual rug show. His top trends are below. Look for more from Doug in the next issue of The Trend Curve.
COLOR
- Greens became the go-with everything color family
- Minty versions combined with lapis over a ground of variegated grays
- Warmer types combined with fiery orange and off-white neutrals
- Blues like medium-sky and navy became commonplace
- Red became a critical accent in contemporary combinations
- Pink came to maturity, morphing into a neutralized apricot
- Color in new traditional designs avoided neutrals in favor of updated, saturated hues
MATERIALS AND TEXTURES
- Texture dominated every segment of the market yet again
- High/low was key, achieved via high shrink yarns and cut-uncut surfaces
- Weaves and knots were being fine-tuned for more apparent texture
- Wool remained a player for high-end goods
- Rayon and bamboo back off, while sturdier, yet equally lustrous polyester advanced
- Digital prints on polyester were thriving (of note: mixed with jute in a textured weave)
SURFACE DESIGNS
- Flowers/botanicals/leaves went mega-large
- Abstracts appeared less pixilated/more organic, and less allover/more organized
- Geometric, plaids and stripe designs rose, especially in flat weaves
- Grids were everywhere
- A cleaner, more-open approach to traditional heritage updated motifs like medallions
- A new approach to classic Persian, Turkish, Mumlak designs found them broken up with add-on textures
- Traditional monochromatic designs were overlaid with colorful, contemporary patterns