Trend Flash is exclusively for members of The Trend Curve™ subscriber family with immediate updates from major markets and trade shows around the globe. Douglas Thayer, Editorial Correspondent for The Trend Curve, is in Atlanta for the semi-annual Rug Market. His top-line trends are below. For more details about this show, read the August 2011 issue of The Trend Curve.
Most important:
COLOR
– Minimalistic tonality was directional as contrast decreased
– Gray was still king; It mixed with beige/cream or newer red
– Green got clearer and brighter
– New blues lost warmth, especially in advanced navy/cream duos
– Blue-greens were seen as jewelry focused turquoise
– Yellow went on the watch list
TEXTURE/CONSTRUCTION
– A plethora of textural combinations flourished
– Pile, shorn drastically low, and antique finishes produced aged effects
– Patchworks with original design still evident made reusing/recycling feel modern
– Flat-weave kilims—used for stripes, plains—had multi-colored fillings and clean geometrics
– Felt was used as weaving insert
– Washing allowed wool rugs to simulate silk pile
PATTERN/CONCEPT
– Ikats were the strongest design motif around
– Streamlined florals and other nature-inspired themes advanced
– Animal-skin abstracts were simplified with neutrals
– Tribal inspiration grew
– The market showed fewer traditional designs, more transitional types
– New stripes meandered or looked slightly uneven, as linear plaids heated up
– Old-World designs were pieced/patch-worked to soften and modernize them