Trend Flash is exclusively for members of The Trend Curve™ subscriber family with immediate updates from major markets and trade shows around the globe.
Doug Thayer, Editorial Correspondent for The Trend Curve, has been in Atlanta covering the semi-annual rug market. Below are his top trends. For more-complete coverage, read the February 2012 issue of The Trend Curve.
Notable in Atlanta:
COLOR
- Gray kicked out beige as the predominant neutral.
- Tone-on-tone color surged, allowing for more-complex designs.
- Peacock with claret-accented neutral, grayed designs.
- Ivory was the must-have contemporary option.
- Fun brights topped very light backgrounds.
- Green went primary, like Kelly, especially in over-dye looks.
- Tangerine went beyond accent roles to solid over-dyes.
- Brick was incoming as the new red.
MATERIALS/TEXTURES
- Texture’s mix-and-match approach paired several in one piece.
- Over-dyed looks evolved with more patterns and complex sewing.
- Un-dyed cowhide was appliquéd on flat woven, textured backgrounds.
- Silk intended for saris was woven as ikats, done as dhurreys.
- Metallic yarns worked as flat background to high pile constructions.
- Silk pile with wool-loop Nepalese weave simulated antique, over-dyed Oushaks with a modern twist.
STYLE AND DESIGN
- Designs were less traditional and markedly more modern.
- The market was ikat crazy.
- African bark cloth appeared in earth colorations.
- Intricate, small-scale geometrics were interpreted by a single tonality into overall textures.
- Gabbeh, tribal designs from Southeastern Iran got contemporary color and design infusions.
- Decomposed, deconstructed patterns advanced.