August 2019 / Cool Summer Heat


Located throughout the world, the Trendease Team continues to deliver our subscribers around the globe must-know market information and inspiration straight to their computer screens.

This month’s global round up of design covers ethnic inspirations, smart textiles, pattern pizzazz, textural tendencies, and innovative materials. In this issue you will discover vegan alternatives to wool, vinyl substitutes for grasscloth, multicultural ceramics, layered designs, new approaches to the seasoned tropical trend, and surface designs that are complex, as well as simple. Get inspired with the August edition!

We attend over 100 design events a year on your behalf to bring you trend insights and design movements to help you maintain cutting-edge knowledge of the lifestyle and design markets. Currently we keep readers within 173 countries/territories in the know! Are you reading Trendease.com?

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REPORTING TO INSPIRE,
Jennifer Castoldi,
Chief Creative Director

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Features and Articles

Jennifer's August Amusings

Worldwide — From Aboriginal to African this selection of images from our scouting trips brings ethnic inspirations into the home. Patchworked textiles, decorative bowls hung on the wall, dinnerware with punchy patterns, carved wood, woven rattan, and knotted crochet join together to celebrate diversity. Zigzags, dots, and crescents adorn furniture, textiles, wallcoverings, and tabletops.

Dynamic Textile Patterns from the Smart Textiles Design Lab

The Difference a Little Light Can Make

Frankfurt — A new light is shining on textiles, and from within them. Fiberoptics, LEDs, and photochromic inks are giving textiles a fresh look, and new purpose. From Germany to Sweden to Switzerland, see how these companies have developed global smart textiles for home, fashion, architecture, and the automotive industries. Here is a collection of companies who make it all happen, a valuable network to have.

Phi by Cairn Young

A Fresh Angle

Worldwide — A fresh angle can often help us approach things from a direction we were not considering prior to the new viewpoint. This gallery features an abundance of new angles for your perusal. Wallcoverings, soft window coverings, acoustic paneling, ceramics, bedding, upholstery, and furniture are rocking this aesthetic in numerous forms.

Dual Action

Multiple European Cities — Looking to give bed and bath a kick? These latest design directions certainly have oomph. While trekking through the trade shows aisle by aisle this is a trend we saw emerging. Dual action pattern layering, catering to a variety of tastes from classic scrolls to bold black and white stripes, is in the fashion pipeline.

The Tropics Remain Hot

Worldwide — Tropical designs have been in the spotlight for over five years now and have been moving from the “trendy” part of a company’s merchandise mix to a mainstay of the regular collection, but of course many still stay contemporary with a trend twist in terms of color, motif, or style. What is plain to see from our market research is that the design directions are vast.

Portofino Italian Wallpapers - Dynasty Textures, Antique Grass

Nature is the Wallcovering Winner

Worldwide — Texture is the name of the game and grasscloth is the winner in the high-end category. Despite all of the fuss, one look at this material and you will see why it is adored. Our recent jaunts around the industry events brought us in contact with some striking designs, some of which can be made to order for bespoke projects. Read more about the material and contemporary designs here.

Portofino Italian Wallpapers - Dynasty Textures, Linen Netting

T is for Texture

Multiple European Cities — We’ve already mentioned how grasscloth is a top pick for texture, but it is not the only option. Advances in technology mean that manmade textures can have a more natural look. From high-end to mass market, within this gallery you can find some hot textures with diverse materials, one suitable for every interior. Texture is ‘in’ across the board. The options are plentiful, take your pick.

An Alternative to Wool

London — Is wool as sustainable and earth-friendly as we think and have been led to believe? Here’s one young lady who challenges the notion with her research on a vegan alternative to wool that embraces the circular economy. Learn more about her fruity twills, combination weaves, felts, tufting, knits, and herringbone textiles of the future here.

NEWSLETTER #642 - Nouveau vs. Deco

Multiple European Cities — The debate is on. Art Nouveau or Art Deco? We are far from ~1890-1935, and yet these styles continue to have influence on design today. After a friendly deliberation with another design professional about the return of Art Nouveau and Art Deco styling in some contract spaces, we thought we’d share some contemporary interpretations of these movements scouted during our travels.

NEWSLETTER #643 - M&O Trend Preview

Paris — It’s hard to believe how fast time appears to fly by! The autumn trade show season is almost here. For the upcoming season, at Maison&Objet in Paris, Chantal Hamaide plans to demonstrate the latest trends through ‘WORK!’, the emerging hybridization of work, home, and accessories to be showcased in the Inspirations Zone.