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Buttons Galore!
Listed under: Trend Report
Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
As ever, this month's Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace was brimming with hot new products, but one category seemed to generate more excitement than most
Affordable, versatile and full of pizazz, buttons are fast-becoming one of the strongest areas of the craft market – appealing to dressmakers, jewellery-enthusiasts and everyday crafters alike. With the number of products entering the market at an all-time high this year, Craft Business caught up with retailer Sarah Hodgson of The Button Company to get the lowdown on all the hottest trends
“At the moment, there's one word that sums up the category and that's quality,” she begins. “Consumers are generally gravitating towards the more expensive buttons, particularly coconut varieties, which have been selling especially well. Over the past year, sales of our products have risen continually, and we're seeing more new crafters enter the market than ever before.
Contrary to what many people might think, lower mortgage rates and the cut in VAT mean most of us actually have more money in our pockets now than we did a year ago and, while the British public might be cutting back on some of its larger, slightly more indulgent purchases, it is spending that little bit more on everyday essentials.
The past year has seen a growing number of young crafters enter the market – particularly 20 and 30 year olds with high-powered jobs who are looking for new and relaxing ways of entertaining themselves at home. Jewellery-makers are also expressing more of an interest in these products, as are sewing enthusiasts and some of the more experienced quilters.
Generally-speaking, polyester buttons tend to be the most popular, largely because they have much smoother edges and are therefore less likely to wear away than nylon ones. Colour-wise, acid oranges, limes, fuschias, taupes and dusty pinks are favourites for the spring and summer, while jewelled tones, such as golds, reds and silvers, are very much in vogue during the winter and autumn.
Magazines, catwalks and online blogs are a great way of keeping up with the latest trends, as choices within the button world tend to reflect what's big in the fashion industry at the time. Nowadays, the market for these products is huge, seeing people incorporate them into everything from quilts, bags and jewellery pieces, to everyday clothing, handmade toys and corsages.
At the moment, bigger buttons seem to be very popular, and we're seeing a growing number of people combine several shades of the same colour in their designs. Natural varieties – particularly shell and coconut ones – are also very much in favour, as are vintage-inspired buttons, especially the slightly rusty-looking ones in muted colours. Interestingly, these tend to attract a much younger demographic than some of the trendier varieties, appealing to a predominantly teenage market.
Buttons interest everyone from traditional quilters in their late 40s – who currently account for the largest area of the market – to stay-at-home mums, teens and the elderly. Over the past year, we have seen sales grow more than 20% and our button-related classes are always the first to fill up. Ironically, I think the current economic climate has actually helped the craft industry, as people are no longer spending as much money going out, but looking for inexpensive, fun and creative ways of entertaining themselves at home.
“At the moment, there's one word that sums up the category and that's quality,” she begins. “Consumers are generally gravitating towards the more expensive buttons, particularly coconut varieties, which have been selling especially well. Over the past year, sales of our products have risen continually, and we're seeing more new crafters enter the market than ever before.
Contrary to what many people might think, lower mortgage rates and the cut in VAT mean most of us actually have more money in our pockets now than we did a year ago and, while the British public might be cutting back on some of its larger, slightly more indulgent purchases, it is spending that little bit more on everyday essentials.
The past year has seen a growing number of young crafters enter the market – particularly 20 and 30 year olds with high-powered jobs who are looking for new and relaxing ways of entertaining themselves at home. Jewellery-makers are also expressing more of an interest in these products, as are sewing enthusiasts and some of the more experienced quilters.
Generally-speaking, polyester buttons tend to be the most popular, largely because they have much smoother edges and are therefore less likely to wear away than nylon ones. Colour-wise, acid oranges, limes, fuschias, taupes and dusty pinks are favourites for the spring and summer, while jewelled tones, such as golds, reds and silvers, are very much in vogue during the winter and autumn.
Magazines, catwalks and online blogs are a great way of keeping up with the latest trends, as choices within the button world tend to reflect what's big in the fashion industry at the time. Nowadays, the market for these products is huge, seeing people incorporate them into everything from quilts, bags and jewellery pieces, to everyday clothing, handmade toys and corsages.
At the moment, bigger buttons seem to be very popular, and we're seeing a growing number of people combine several shades of the same colour in their designs. Natural varieties – particularly shell and coconut ones – are also very much in favour, as are vintage-inspired buttons, especially the slightly rusty-looking ones in muted colours. Interestingly, these tend to attract a much younger demographic than some of the trendier varieties, appealing to a predominantly teenage market.
Buttons interest everyone from traditional quilters in their late 40s – who currently account for the largest area of the market – to stay-at-home mums, teens and the elderly. Over the past year, we have seen sales grow more than 20% and our button-related classes are always the first to fill up. Ironically, I think the current economic climate has actually helped the craft industry, as people are no longer spending as much money going out, but looking for inexpensive, fun and creative ways of entertaining themselves at home.
