Natural elements define WONZ 2010 color forecast

-- Home Textiles Today, 3/6/2009 9:48:00 AM

Marble Hill, Ga. – Cool grays, warm neutrals, ecological greens, and rich tones make up the 89-color palette in the Wools of New Zealand 2010 color forecast.

WONZ creates its own color forecast annually to aid its brand partners – which in the area rug category include Karastan, Nourison, Couristan and Momeni, among others – in creating upcoming soft flooring collections that use the brand’s pure-wool fiber.

The 2010 forecast, “Colorscape: Natural New Colors for Natural New Carpets,” was prepared by Joanna Ramsden, creative manager for WONZ. Ramsden is based in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, England and sits on a number of international forecasting panels.

“Colorscape encompasses an eclectic palette of 89 organic colors targeting both residential and contract carpet and rug markets,” she explained. “Nature continues to dominate the forecast, underlining the trends already signaled for 2009. A host of new shades, associated with the earth’s natural habitats, are integrated into an extended palette of hues, embracing colors synonymous with both natural elements and atmospheric conditions.”

Barely-there pastels, frozen naturals and powdered minerals morph into meteorological-inspired tones of stormy grays, teals and midnight blues.

Fresh vegetable-inspired greens blend into herbal-like olive tones. Mellowed gold hues diffuse into spice shades of cinnamon and saffron as well as a burnt orange.

Romance also comes into play with the use of faded rose and mulberry intersperse with deeper shades reminiscent of wild berries, plums and violets.

Almost aromatic are the coffee, caramel, cocoa and melted chocolate colors20that are paired with soft naturals.

Then tamed bright color touches add some “zest,” the company said.

Finally, black and white are included to offer stark accents to the program.

Inspiration for the 2010 WONZ color forecast stems from the work of Scottish artist James Wheeler, who began his career as a carpet designer. The company took its cues from the way Wheeler used color to create light and atmosphere in his landscape paintings.