November 2006 / Innovation + Invention


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Covering a multitude of design events and keeping our finger on the pulse of emerging trends the Trendease Team continues to bring you cutting-edge information to keep you ahead. This month see trends in product, material, trim, technique, texture, and color with Pantone references. Also get inspiration from history, EcoChic inventions, new talent, retail displays, learn about consumer tendencies, and more!

Get inspired with the November edition,

Jennifer Castoldi,
Chief Creative Director

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Features and Articles

Jennifer's November Notes '06

Istanbul — Another month has flown by and the Trendease Team is here to bring you the latest findings from the world of design. Trends the team has already reported on continue strong in the marketplace. This issue gives foresight all the way through to 2008 for color and material direction. Enjoy a look at new product trends and ideas that are shaking things up a bit. In this gallery also see an amazing new retail location for a modern world.

Material Innovation

Brussels — Intelligence, interactivity, and integration are all buzzwords in the material world. Smart fabrics can now guide robotic cleaners, fight vandalism, ward off mosquitoes, repel and hold moisture, remember, light up a room, create sounds, amplify sound, muffle sound, and give the illusion of water flowing, ice melting, fire burning, or a tropical forest. All this and more can be discovered in this Trendease feature!

Yarn & Fiber Futures

Paris — The most recent edition of Expofil, the event focusing on yarns and fibers, specializing in flat-bed knitting, weaving, circular knitting, hosiery, hand-knitting yarns, furnishings and technical uses, focused on what is to come for the Spring/Summer ’08 season. In this feature discover what is next in line for color, material, aspects, and functionality. A list of buzzwords is also laced with the latest trend terminology.

Fabric Futures

Paris — Premiere Vision, for years, has been one of the most important destinations for people in the fashion world to journey to see what was in store for seasons to come in regards to fabric offerings. This recap covers some trends presented at the event and focuses on the directions that were presented for decoration.

Trimming Futures

Paris — This is the spot for designers, manufacturers, and specifiers to learn about the future of trim. Looking towards the Autumn/Winter 07-08 season, this report reviews new stories and themes, accessories, buttons, and various other trim aspects and detailing enabling professionals to be in the know now.

Left side: Matieres Caravel; right side France Croco

Transcending Nature

Pairs — Le Cuir à Paris is the event to pre-select materials such as leather, fur, textiles for accessories and components. Attendees comprise a body of manufacturers, buyers and stylists of shoes, leather goods, garments, fashion accessories, furnishings, and automotive supplies. This gallery explores the trend direction of Legends presented for Autumn/Winter 07-08 and includes a color mood with Pantone references, buzzwords, materials, trims and surface effects.

Detective Story

Paris — Le Cuir à Paris is the event to pre-select materials such as leather, fur, textiles for accessories and components. Attendees comprise a body of manufacturers, buyers and stylists of shoes, leather goods, garments, fashion accessories, furnishings, and automotive supplies. This gallery explores the trend direction Romans Chapter 1 presented for Autumn/Winter 07-08 and includes a color mood with Pantone references, buzzwords, materials, trims and surface effects.

Popular Romance

Paris — Le Cuir à Paris is the event to pre-select materials such as leather, fur, textiles for accessories and components. Attendees comprise a body of manufacturers, buyers and stylists of shoes, leather goods, garments, fashion accessories, furnishings, and automotive supplies. This gallery explores the trend direction Romans Chapter 2 presented for Autumn/Winter 07-08 and includes a color mood with Pantone references, buzzwords, materials, trims and surface effects.

Science Fiction

Paris — Le Cuir à Paris is the event to pre-select materials such as leather, fur, textiles for accessories and components. Attendees comprise a body of manufacturers, buyers and stylists of shoes, leather goods, garments, fashion accessories, furnishings, and automotive supplies. This gallery explores the trend direction Essays presented for Autumn/Winter 07-08 and includes a color mood with Pantone references, buzzwords, materials, trims and surface effects.

A tea shop goes wild for lights in Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul Inspirations

Istanbul — While in Istanbul the Trendease Team was infused with inspiration from Turkish motifs found on ceramics and within many of the historical landmarks. From this infusion excitement was born by learning more about a foreign culture, and now the team wishes to share some of our motif madness with you. From Chinese influences to the largest calligraphy in the world, these motifs will leave our readers in awe.

Retail Recap

London — Casino Royale has infected the merchandise mix Bond-style at Harrods where the winter holidays’ trendy products are already on offer. Harvey Nichols deserves a shout out for the eco-chic displays turning recyclables into art. And Liberty boasts historical flare. Virtually explore the new merchandising techniques and product selections of some of London’s hottest retailers in this retail recap.

New Talent: Still More to Discover

Multiple European Cities — The designers in this month’s New Talent showcase come largely from the London Design Festival and from the Dutch Design Week. What unites the two main groups are their themes, with an emphasis on furniture and accessories that combine uses, cultures, traditional and cutting-edge technologies, along with furniture and accessories that change themselves. Also sprinkled within the selection are a variety of new products from wall coverings to floor coverings. Go ahead, take a look!

EcoChic Eindhoven

Eindhoven — Beauty, in and of itself, is good for the planet, but beautiful things that improve the world in other ways too are priceless. During the Dutch Design Week the Trendease Team discovered a solar oven, a folding greenhouse, Terrestrial Mechanics, a natural refrigerator, slow food flatware, glassware for revitalized water, organic tableware, an internet-based retail structure increasing farmer revenues while bringing fresher coffee to the consumer, and much more which can all be found here.

NEWSLETTER #146

Worldwide — A continuation of the Freshly Homespun trend can be seen in this selection of products. While a lot of the effect has to do with knitting or crochet, a similar feel can be found with cut-outs or in hardlines. Also read the latest tidbits on painting, sustaining arts and crafts, Second Life business opportunities, and a video clip that takes emotional consumption a bit far.

Fuzzy Cuzzy

NEWSLETTER #147

Multiple European Cities — Mr. Wuzzy may not have been fuzzy, but his cousin, Fuzzy Cuzzy the dog certainly was, as well as some mirrors, drawer interiors, chandeliers and lampshades, window treatments, tablecloths, decorative pillows, upholstery, and fabrics off of the bolt that were seen throughout the fall trade shows in Europe. In this gallery view a trend sweeping through products as observed at recent shows such as macef, Maison&Objet, Decosit, Decorex, and 100% Design London.

NEWSLETTER #148

Toronto — “The sign of a good store is that you discover things you never knew you needed,” declared a new customer Abraham Rotstein, Professor of Economics, University of Toronto, as he piled up the selection of goods he discovered while “just looking.” That was music to proprietor Jody Sanderson’s ears as she looked around her shop which can be described as a place where international flare meets local tastes. Explore this shop and read up on this week’s Swedish tidbits.

This is a colo direction home and fashion will see more of...

NEWSLETTER #149

Worldwide — Happy “Black Friday” or happy “Buy Nothing Day,” whichever side of the tracks you may fall. This week’s gallery is a glimpse into Swarovski’s crystal ball for Spring/Summer 2007 trends. Read more about these contradictory trends (a trend in itself) as well as see some trend collages and new products and catch up on the latest tidbits.

A perfect time to reflect on what you are about to learn is while watching the sun set

NEWSLETTER #150

Worldwide — This week’s newsletter is saturated in content on emotional consumption. Consumer trend guru Anne Lise Kjaer of kjaer global has shared with our subscribers her presentation on the E-Generation which they may access here. Today we ask how does a product or service tie feelgood factors to profitability?