Trend Flash is one of many exclusive benefits for Members of The Trend Curve’s subscriber family. Elaine Markoutsas, Editorial Correspondent, is in Chicago for this important annual event. Her top trends are below. Watch for even more in the next issue of The Trend Curve.
New and noteworthy at the Housewares Show:
COLOR
- Pink surprised in cookware and small appliances
- Deep and rich purple made a statement in cookware, too
- Blues ran the table from ice to sapphire, but the real strength was in warmer tones
- Greens got retro, but grass looked fresh
- Coral joined ever-popular reds
- The newest yellows hinted at a milky saffron
- Watch for a dialed-down range of neon brights
MATERIALS, FINISHES AND FORMS
- Colored metallic rocked, from cookware to colanders and serving pieces
- Burnished gold was a strong contender, especially in oven-to-tableware
- Copper showed a softer, rosier face and appealing matte finishes
- Crystal paired with wood touches—an elegant note
- Relief textures added purpose to nonstick pans, décor to insulated bottles and dimension to bowls
- Ellipses, broken planes and origami folds changed the face of products
FUNCTION
- Multifunction was the show’s clear headliner
- It vied for attention with anything “smart”
- Wifi streamed into air purifiers
- Infusers and cold coffee elements met the insulated-bottle and glass-carafe categories
- Cookie cutters beefed up and repurposed for fun sandwich shapes
- Bakers’ squares encouraged hip cake shapes, while pan sets allowed stacking to new heights
- Stove-top pizza cooker delivered in just six minutes