The Trend Tracker
The best fashion and trend information from the home furnishings world.
Paris Design Week
Due, no doubt to the success of similar events in London and New York, Paris is pulling out all the stops by making Paris Design Week an adjunct event concurrent with Maison & Objet to take advantage of so many design-focused visitors.Literally hundreds of design showrooms, studios and design stores throughout Paris will welcome those visitors willing and ready to fan out after covering Maison & O... Read More
Comments (2)The Cozy Cocoon of Neutrals
High Point, N.C. - I think it was last season or even a bit longer that I said I saw the brown family come back into prominence in home textiles. That was indeed the case in many a showroom this week - starting with predominantly mid-brown furniture finishes to upholstery textiles featured in the full range of this neutral family. However, since grays are also still very much with us, a distinct m... Read More
Comments (2)Something to celebrate
High Point, N.C. - Happy to report that the market here is not only well attended, but a new optimism and eagerness to find exciting new product prevails. Excitement can be found both in greatly expanded furniture and accessory lines. Century, as an example, is introducing some 500 skus with four new collections. Baker is offering a 65-piece collection by Barbara Barry and an almost equal amount o... Read More
Comments (1)Small matters
High Point, N.C. - After most of the main buildings around town changed hands recently and in rapid succession - a process that's still ongoing - the showroom landscape is essentially dividing down into two shopping areas: Hamilton/Wrenn and environs for the high-end stuff and the large core buildings for the rest.There are exceptions, of course, but as I said, the process is still ongoing. I pre... Read More
Comments (2)Inside Out, Outside In
High Point, NC - Indoors or outdoors - that is the question. The distinction was blurred long ago but has now virtually disappeared. What started with a couple of lounge chairs, an x-base redwood picnic table and benches or a round one with an umbrella stand, developed in recent years into the "outdoor room," complete with kitchen appliances, wine bars and fireplaces. Now comes Barbara B... Read More
Comments (2)Heading to High Point
New York - Looking forward to the opening of the High Point International Home Furnishings Markets this Saturday, get ready for the BIG Red White & Blue. Last season, I reported that I saw American Design resurfacing in the marketplace and predicted that a major review of American history and culture was in the offing. Already, the seeds could be seen then in new products. Even more so, a rising... Read More
Comments (0)Reflections on High Point
High Point, N.C.--After every Market, a few standouts summarize what's NEW and what's likely TO COME Here are some of those that stand out in my memory:THE SHIFT BACK TO TRADITIONAL - was clearly evident in many of the new line introductions and confirmed a similar change of direction detected a month earlier at Maison & Objet. In other words, we really are becoming a Global Village.Whether it's t... Read More
Comments (1)Needed: An updated definition of "Trends"
High Point, N.C. - Bunny Williams and Kelly Hoppen, both present with new collections at the High Point Market here prompted me to review the word "Trends" and its different, sometimes misleading definitions. Bunny Williams conducted a seminar entitled "The Tyranny of Trends" more than implying that trends should be all but ignored and banned from the home decor vocabulary beca... Read More
Comments (1)America the Beautiful
High Point, N.C. - When I blogged from the High Point Market in April, I advised that you keep your eye on American Design. Well, there is lots of it on view here this time - fueled in equal measure by domestic manufacturers' activism against foreign imports as well as rising protectionism and patriotism. Such strong motivations have brought about a number of collections rooted in the American... Read More
Comments (1)The Dichotomy of Markets
High Point, NC - What strikes me as I review High Point Market for the third day is how uneven traffic flow has become at any market, not just High Point, between the haves and the have-nots. The haves being the companies that consistently offer newness, innovation and excitement motivated and inspired by and responsive to designer and consumer needs and wants. Here at this show, these include fi... Read More
Comments (6)The Little Things That Count
High Point, N.C. - Often, it is the smaller exhibitors who bring newness to so large a show with so many big players. They also serve retailers not looking to invest in major collections but to add spice to their existing inventory or because they represent a segment of the home business geared more to accessories and occasional pieces. It's what has made "Interhall" in the IHFC Building... Read More
Comments (2)Final thoughts
I forgot to tell you about - FEATHERS and FOSSILS, SKELETONS and SKULLS.First: FEATHERS. Birds as a design motif have been with us for an easy three to four years - but not so in three dimensions. We are familiar with them from prints and embroideries, but at this show fully reconstituted stuffed birds appeared in full plumage and frequently. I did mention previously an exhibit using full-size pea... Read More
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