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Foreign Flavours
Listed under: Trend Report
Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Buying British might be all the rage these days, but that hasn't stopped crafters taking inspiration from overseas. CB investigates
As ever, this year's Knitting and Stitching Show was overflowing with new products for 2011, with some of the industry's most well-known and exciting rising stars showcasing their latest lines. Key themes at the event included pieces with a foreign flavour, seeing designs influenced by India, Africa and China take precedence.
Indian-inspired pieces were particularly popular, with a number of companies featuring patterns typical of the region – bold sunflowers and suns, for instance – on their made-up designs. Wooden blocks used for printing fabrics with different logos also had a strong presence, as did beads, sequins and diamond-shaped mirrors in colours synonymous with the region.
Shimmery, silk-like fabrics in red, gold, purples and oranges were particularly in favour, as were glittery ribbons and any other sparkly embellishments in those shades.
Commenting on the growing interest in Indian-style crafts, Joanna Hall, owner of craft store Bazaar, tells Craft Business, “There seems to be a lot of stigma about the quality of materials from this area, which is quite ironic given the fact that some of the world's most beautiful beads, fabrics and textiles come from there. Fortunately, people's perceptions of these items have changed considerably over the past few years and we have definitely noticed a huge rise in our sales.
“Consumers are also far more interested in knowing where their products come from nowadays and, although buying British is still of great importance, programmes highlighting the poor working conditions in other parts of the world have made customers more aware of the ethical side of things,” she adds. “As such, Indian-style goods seem to be very popular right now and this is something I expect will continue to be a huge trend in 2011.”
This certainly seems to be the case thus far, with a number of mainstream outlets – Accessorize, Evolution and New Look, to name just a few – already featuring a large selection of exotic-looking lines. Indian-inspired bags, cushions, book covers and throws are all in vogue at present, as are any earrings, necklaces or beaded charms with a similar look.
Interestingly, African- and Chinese-inspired projects also seem to be growing more popular, with leopard-, tiger- and zebra-print patterns appearing heavily in collections influenced by the former, and blue, red and white fabrics, images of chariots and anything to do with dragons taking centre stage with regards to the latter. Wall hangings had a particularly strong presence at the show, as did any garments, accessories or cushions influenced by these regions.
Have you noticed any new trends you would like us to investigate? Email your thoughts to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Indian-inspired pieces were particularly popular, with a number of companies featuring patterns typical of the region – bold sunflowers and suns, for instance – on their made-up designs. Wooden blocks used for printing fabrics with different logos also had a strong presence, as did beads, sequins and diamond-shaped mirrors in colours synonymous with the region.
Shimmery, silk-like fabrics in red, gold, purples and oranges were particularly in favour, as were glittery ribbons and any other sparkly embellishments in those shades.
Commenting on the growing interest in Indian-style crafts, Joanna Hall, owner of craft store Bazaar, tells Craft Business, “There seems to be a lot of stigma about the quality of materials from this area, which is quite ironic given the fact that some of the world's most beautiful beads, fabrics and textiles come from there. Fortunately, people's perceptions of these items have changed considerably over the past few years and we have definitely noticed a huge rise in our sales.
“Consumers are also far more interested in knowing where their products come from nowadays and, although buying British is still of great importance, programmes highlighting the poor working conditions in other parts of the world have made customers more aware of the ethical side of things,” she adds. “As such, Indian-style goods seem to be very popular right now and this is something I expect will continue to be a huge trend in 2011.”
This certainly seems to be the case thus far, with a number of mainstream outlets – Accessorize, Evolution and New Look, to name just a few – already featuring a large selection of exotic-looking lines. Indian-inspired bags, cushions, book covers and throws are all in vogue at present, as are any earrings, necklaces or beaded charms with a similar look.
Interestingly, African- and Chinese-inspired projects also seem to be growing more popular, with leopard-, tiger- and zebra-print patterns appearing heavily in collections influenced by the former, and blue, red and white fabrics, images of chariots and anything to do with dragons taking centre stage with regards to the latter. Wall hangings had a particularly strong presence at the show, as did any garments, accessories or cushions influenced by these regions.
Have you noticed any new trends you would like us to investigate? Email your thoughts to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
