Decosit and TIP Show the Way

Techniques, Colors Improving

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 9/27/2004 12:00:00 AM

Brussels, Belgium —

Reversible fabrics, dainty pretty florals, and a new spectrum of blues were among the leading directions at Decosit and Textiles d'Interieur Premiere (TIP) here earlier this month.

At TIP, which is home to many companies from India and China, design and weaving techniques have advanced dramatically since 2003's event with novelty effects in window, fabrics, contemporary jacquard techniques, and colors reflective of Western trends.

At Decosit, reversible fabrics were offered by a number of European mills with multi-purpose weight jacquards and sheers both used as the base cloths.

Typically, European decorative-fabric fashion focuses on contemporary design and a bold, almost brash color. In this year's exhibition, Decosit was the platform for a host of dainty, pretty florals in both prints and wovens.

In terms of color, there is a new wave of blues, including aqua shades, as well as the family of pinks leading into the berry shades and wines. Metallic gold is being used as a fashion accent. The family of oranges, the fashion star of recent past European fabric fairs, continues to influence the palette.