Material Matters
Visitors at Decosit Brussels, recently renamed MoOD, were living in a material world as they took in designs from more than 370 exhibitors specialized in upholstery and decorative fabrics. From the emerging trends, you would never guess that we are headed for a global recession. The prevailing look was rich, sumptuous, and glamorous. Designs featured faux animal hides and organic textures, jacquard and simple florals, metallic hues, and multidimensional layers. Plain was certainly not the name of the game.
The aim of Decotec is to expand the knowledge of innovative materials – more specifically, versatile interior and outdoor decoration materials. This year, the theme was “OUTDOOR.” Interestingly, Belgium now leads the market in outdoor furnishings, an enormous growth market. The sample bank, in collaboration with matériO, was filled with performance fabrics. Words like breathable, water resistant, flame retardant, antifungal, stretchable, and malleable were repeated throughout the displays.
Metallic, reflective materials – reminiscent of a satellite’s solar panels – combine featherlike quality and space-age technology. Sandvik’s 3D golden creation resembles metallic wrapping paper and is resistant to fingerprints. (Good for housework, but not for police work) Youjin’s ultra-lavish, gold damask print is free from toxic gas when burned and Konrad Hornschuch AG’s fabric is flame retardant, stretchable, and abrasion and tear resistant.
Moving towards subtler tones are soft silvery greys that are timeless and elegant. Spidery fabrics, translucent, cellophane threads and even nail heads are found in window coverings and wall upholstering. Freedom of Creation pulls off a daring chainmail-esque look, very rich in texture. Telerie D’Arte and Gratry-Lorthiois both use copper yarns to add shimmer.
Rich textures were divided into three main categories – animal, organic, and 3-D. The faux animal prints and organic-looking textures were an interesting way to highlight the outdoors without using natural resources. Skin Bag and Bark Cloth were perhaps the most lifelike with their amazingly realistic synthetic skin and rubberized bark leaf. Also spotted were faux-ostrich and faux-croc with metallic pigments, and a slew of papery bark-like materials. Swarkovski’s version incorporated crystals, and La Maille Plissage’s modern take was simply stunning. Another “double-entendre” was materials with antifungal properties that were positively spore-like: notably Satin Textiles Co Ltd. and Carpet Sign BV.
Multidimensional materials stood out from the pack, some materials reaching depths up to 1” deep. Puckered and padded circles and ovals were definitely a noticeable trend. Studio Aleksandra Gaca’s designs would make for comfortable upholstery, whereas Innofa’s creations used a louder orange, super stretch, double knit to create their 3-D effect. Most extreme was Euro Co’s stretch fabric textured with silicone and dripping with texture. The Trendease team also enjoyed some of the more classic looks: shadowy flowers, simple embroidery, thick weaves, and velvety reliefs.
Synopsis
* Faux animal hides / organic textures
* Traditional jacquard and simple florals
* Multidimensional / 3D
* Metallic hues
* High performance qualities
—Morwenna White
