 Heimtextil Frankfurt
Trends 2006/2007: Materials - Heart and Soul
Trend researcher Gunnar Frank calls for greater individuality
Symphony of blue light
 Gunnar Frank, the trend researcher from Amsterdam, opened his talk on the new home and household textiles trends for 2006/2007 with the words: "Everything will be blue – blue is the inspiration." The direction followed by the new trend, "Materials – Heart and Soul" leads away from existing living worlds towards material. "Material is all around us and mirrors our soul", Frank continues, emphasizing that the spotlight is on individuality and personality and that exhibitors need to develop a style of their own. Each of us has a preference for certain materials, ones we are particularly fond of, so the primary requirement is to find out what type we are. "Are you a wood, bamboo and reed person or maybe a glass, stone or steel type?", asks Frank, counselling exhibitors to get to know their customers better, in order to coordinate products in a more targeted way. Frank goes on to say that "The colours for the 2006/07 season develop from warm shades to cold, clean colours with a blue overtone, shining like a Symphony of Blue Light". He then presents the new Trendbook to the 300 or so representatives from the home and household textiles sector, who attended the event. Traditionally, the trend forecast is presented five months ahead of Heimtextil at the Frankfurt consumer-goods fair, Tendence Lifestyle. The Dutch trend researcher has developed four different characters or so-called material types to symbolise the four living trend themes: wood and rattan for "Emotions in Wood", metal and glass for "Reflections in Metal", fabric and leather for "Elegance in Textile" and plastic and rubber for "Dynamic in Plastic". The colour clusters for the four themes are about to become more harmonious, with colour set to continue but in a more sophisticated form than before, with the focus on structure and design.
The inspiration for tomorrow’s trends is the environment . Nature, architecture, art, music, foreign cultures, etc. have the potential to provide an excellent source of new ideas. Frank calls on exhibitors to apply these thoughts and ideas to home interiors, highlighting the four different living trend themes:
Emotions in Wood
Sleek Scandinavian design and woods such as beech, teak and jacaranda are symbolic of the "Emotions in Wood" home interior. There are many ways to process wood, which crops up in compressed, glued, painted and recycled form. Reed is another important material. Nature is the characteristic feature of the fabrics: cotton and linen with reduced designs, dobby and shaft weaves, faux-linen created with effect yarns, batiste, nattés, etamine and cotton twill, distinctive for their structured, dry, grainy qualities. The colours are also borrowed from nature, with a misty, soft look provided by the palest of browns, accented by an ultra-dark brown. Mini-designs, stripes, checks and feather drawings are the patterns attributed to this character type. The concepts behind this style come from Frank O. Gehry, Alvar Aalto, Hans Wegner, Klaare Klingt and Bruno Matthson.
Reflections in Metal
This interior expresses a masculinity and architecture-based, straight-line quality. "The metal type builds afresh, shows a preference for glass, stone, mirrors and adores the richness of textiles", Gunnar Frank explains. The source of inspiration here is modern, contemporary architecture, with names like Marcel Breuer, Eileen Gray, Mies van der Rohe, Ron Arad, Herzog & de Meuron, Future System and Rem Koolhaas worthy of mention. The fabrics are highly experimental, dominated by a glossy synthetic look, combined with open effects and special added, bionic-based functions. A plethora of plain and high sheen fabrics, mesh looks, sandwich effects and doubleface also play a role. Colours are rich and bold. Deep blue and pure white project themselves over subdued colour nuances. "Dark brown is tomorrow’s new black”, says Frank in conclusion.
Elegance in Textile
Elegant homeliness, a passion for stylish combinations and the fusion of chic tradition and modern design characterise this living trend. Top-quality materials, among them silk, wool and leather, are used, complemented by woven effects like sherly, brocade, taffeta, moiré, jacquard and satin. Other popular fabrics include bouclé, tweed and chenille-effect, velour, velvet, cord, trimmings and embroidery. Joe Colombo, Tom Dixon, Jasper Morrison, Pierre Paulin and Ulmeda act as the role models for this style. Characteristic of these designs are grandiose sets, inspired by Art Deco and the golden age of the 1920s. Generous decoration, floral and fairytale motifs belong to the rich repertoire of this style. Colours are dark and intense, creating a matte, shimmer effect, with caramel playing a prominent role.
Dynamic in Plastic
Acrylic sofas and chairs, large designs and plenty of colour are the distinctive features of this style for living, which is marked by the sixties and seventies, as well as by cutting-edge technology and materials like plastic, which are also "mise en scene” together with wood, steel and fabric. Here Vernon Panton, Enzo Mari, Shiro Kuramata and Jana Arfield serve as the source of inspiration. According to Gunnar Frank, "Yellow, terracotta and green form the basis for these designs, the colours are lively and intense and there’s a touch of humour over all of it". The fabrics are basic, everyday materials and mixed weaves, printed and embellished with pearl embroidery, appliqué animal motives and folkloristic applications and trims. Embroidery products create a 3-D effect. There are also plastic-coatings, foam-backs, bonded fabrics, crochet-look, crude wool embroidery, hand-finishing and experimental techniques. Folklore elements taken from foreign cultures come together again in the designs. In addition, gimmicks and inspirations from American advertisements serve as the motifs for the printed designs. Op-art, pop-art and hand-printed African effects, plus Brazilian and Mexican folklore, are just as much in evidence as influences from the cinema, theatre and sport.
The Material – Heart and Soul trend will be on show at Heimtextil from 11 to 14 January on Level 0 of the Forum
The Trendbook is available for € 30 from:
Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
Objektleitung Heimtextil
Postfach 05 02 10
D-60062 Frankfurt am Main
Tel: +49 69 75 75 60 02
Fax: +49 69 75 75 67 90
heimtextil@messefrankfurt.com
Photography:
Gunnar Frank, Trendwatcher and Stylist
Source: Messe Frankfurt GmbH/ Jean-Luc Valentin
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com |
