Texworld Evolution Paris welcomes the return of Asian participants in February 2023

 Texworld Evolution Paris is back next February from  6 to 8, with a complete edition welcoming back the physical presence of Asian participants. The fair will take place at its usual venue at Le Bourget, north Paris.

Exhibiting textiles will be companies of Indonesia companies such as Daliatex, as well as Taiwanese manufacturers such as Rorica and Convertec in embroidery, or Hi-Tec Industries in knitwear. 

Turkey and Korea will be represented by their respective national pavilions, in partnership with the official trade institutions of both countries, namely the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce for Turkey, and the KOFOTI for Korea.

On the apparel side, the textile fair will see an exceptional physical presence of Chinese companies, which had been notably missed in the last two years, and other economies including Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Pakistan and Sri Lanka which were not able to participate in February 2022. 

Organisers at Messe Frankfurt Paris say India's presence will be significant, especially through a group of garment manufacturers brought by the institution Texprocil, and Mongolia will be represented by Munkh, a manufacturer of high-end products made from Cashmere.

Contemporary abstract portraiture Vladinsky returns to London at HOFA Gallery

London’s HOFA Gallery is to unveil 18 new and never-before-seen artworks by Romanian abstract portraiture painter Vladinsky at a solo exhibition titled"Revealing Obscura" between November 3 and 17 2022.

The forthcoming show will be the artist’s second solo exhibition in London following the previous year’s highly successful and sold-out exhibition "Fragments".

Observer 690, 2022. Oil on canvas (127 x 127 cm)

"Revealing Obscura" delves into the artist's new techniques and ideas developed during the previous year, commenting on a shift in philosophical perspective that has also influenced the forms within the 'Observer' series.

Observer 744, 2022. Oil on canvas (147 x 147 cm)

Flat layers of paint obscure the underlying figures, creating a new form and a renewed sense of mystery that precisely completes the imagery of this highly regarded contemporary practice. It represents an important juncture in the evolution of contemporary art as changes in our world have deeply influenced our senses of freedom and creative expression.

Observer 657, 2022. Oil on canvas (139 x 176 cm)

Vladinsky was born in Romania, in the city of Onesti in the Moldovan region in 1988. From a young age, he grew fascinated by art, living in a country that had just survived communism.

He is resolved to become one of the world's top visual artists; this objective made him rapidly realise that this may only be attained with hard effort and exercise, leading to the creation of the now famous and ongoing "Observer" series.

The spontaneity with which he completes the paintings bearing his mark is the result of a lengthy period of research into the human condition and naturally ideal forms of existence within society.

In "Revealing Obscura", the artist also celebrates the milestone in his journey to 1,000 'Observer' paintings however, (a few showcased here) while reaching this point Vladinsky sensed a lack of command over his work, which inspired the artist to pursue the most natural path possible ahead: Vladinsky says "To let go when you feel you have to."

The artist has expressed his belief that conflict and overall hostile forces have a profound effect on the human psyche. In current times, the artist has also noted that his artistic independence and power of expression are under threats of repression; our current socioeconomic status quo directly inspired the new compositional features in the latest assortment of 'Observer' artworks.

Images from HOFA Gallery.

Retailers face a challenging Christmas shopping season, says KPMG research

Now with a new Prime Minister (yes, another one) ushered in, the economic and political climate in the UK should for the time being calm down and stabilise, we hope, and we can start thinking about Christmas which is just around the corner. 

A wide selection of vintage inspired Christmas decorative items and gifts available at LiveLaughLove.co.uk

In the face of a global economic and financial crisis, this year’s Christmas shopping season could be marred by the rising prices as consumers count their pennies.  But new research suggests Black Friday sales and the World Cup are expected to boost food sales alongside Christmas gift buying despite the cost of living crisis in November and December.

A new research by KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank (RTT) members suggests that while UK consumers contend with rising energy bills and interest rates, retailers face a "challenging" Christmas shopping period, with the health of the sector seeing its biggest "golden quarter decline" since 2011.

The latest assessment revealed the health of the retail sector is expected to decline by two points to 70 points in the final quarter of this year. (See  RTT original report HERE.)

Pop Up advent calendar available at Victoria and Albert Museum Shop.

As reported by Yahoo!Finance on 25th October 2022, that is a drop in Christmas trading not seen since 2011 where growing uncertainty in the European and global markets kept consumer confidence low.

According to the Retail Health Index (RHI), a combination of pressure on margins, rising costs and shaky consumer demand are predicted to produce the difficult trading environment.

Create a festive living room with a wide selection of Christmas trees and decorative accessories 
from Dobbies.com
All Dobbies’ trees are sustainably grown from specially selected seeds, taken from hand-picked cones which have been left to dry and nurtured into seedlings.

Paul Martin, head of retail at KPMG in the UK commented: "The health of the retail sector continues to slowly deteriorate, and it has been over a decade since we have seen a two point drop in the health index during the vital golden quarter." 

The economic and political turmoil are yet to "trickle down" to consumers, according to Martin, who added that while economic and political uncertainty influence the health of the retail sector, the usual festive boost will not be enough this year to counteract the ongoing issues that retailers are facing with rising costs, squeezed margins and fall back in demand.

Christmas hamper featuring Prosecco, Yankee Candles and
Chocolates from FunkyHampers.com

However consumers will still want to enjoy Christmas, with many choosing to spend on hospitality and enjoying time with friends and family.

"Many will be looking to trade down, search out bargains and purchase less – but Christmas is by no means cancelled – despite the mood music around an impending recession," said Martin.

But the RTT noted Black Friday (November 25th 2022) sales and the World Cup (November 20th to December 18th 2022) are expected to boost food sales alongside Christmas gift buying despite the cost of living crisis this November and December.

Heimtextil is back on track in January 2023

Come January 2023 10 to 13, 2023, Heimtextil, the international platform in Frankfurt for home and contract textiles, interior design and trends at the start of the 2023/24 season will be back in full swing.

Heimtextile image.

Organisers at Messe Frankfurt say demand from exhibitors is strong and once again the show will cover the entire spectrum of global suppliers of home and contract textiles. To date, more than 2,200 international exhibitors have registered for the event. This figure represents some three quarters of the number of exhibitors at the pre-pandemic level in 2020.  

Last summer, during the one-time Heimtextil Summer Special, the industry's great need for personal encounters, tactile impressions and creative input became apparent. The next Heimtextil, leading international trade fair for home and contract textiles, will start the new season as the first event of the year from January 10 to 13, 2023.

Among the participators are companies from all over the world, such as ADVANSA Marketing GmbH (D), Alfred Apelt GmbH (Germany), Aznar Textil, SL (E), Essenza Home (Netherlands), Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Ltd. (Pakistan), Lameirinho - Indústria Têxtil, S.A. (Portugal), Lenzing AG (Austria), Marburger Tapetenfabrik (Germany), Norvigroup Denmark A/S (Denmark), Microcotton Inc (US), OBB Oberbadische Bettfedernfabrik GmbH (Germany), Standard Fiber LLC (US), Tanriverdi Mensucat San. A.S.(Turkey), Trendart (Switzerland), Trevira GmbH (Germany), Trident Limited (India), Velamen S.A. (Spain) and Zorel Tekstil (Turkey).  However Chinese suppliers are still struggling with planning uncertainties, say the organisers.

Textiles Matter: Heimtextil Trends 23/24 define the future of home and contract textiles

According to the Heimtextil Trend Preview 23/24, presented by the UK-based Futures research agency Franklin Till, under the heading “Textiles Matter”, the focus is on circularity, setting the benchmark for tomorrow’s forward-facing and sustainable textile furnishing.

The Heimtextil Trends show ways in which the international textile industry which obtains raw materials from a broad spectrum of sources, can use various processes to make utilise and develop sustainable products.  In the Trends Space at the fair, visitors can explore concepts for increased circularity, which will generate new impulses for the sustainable market of the future.

Franklin Till’s materials-first approach spotlights on the full textile life cycle, from fibre cultivation to afterlife, and is rooted in circularity.  Under four trend directional themes, namely Make and Remake, Continuous, From Earth and Nature Engineered, "Textile Matter" will provide inspiring concepts for a better, greener, kinder textiles industry, offering orientation and insights into the future of home and contract textiles for visitors from all over the world.

Under the theme Make and Remake, pre-used materials, deadstock and remnant textiles are given a new lease of life with the focus shifting to the aesthetics of repair and taking the form of a specific design element of the recycled product. Bright and joyful colours and techniques, such as overprinting, overdyeing, bricolage, collage and patchwork, result in new and creative products. Layered colour patterns and graphics lead to bold and maximalist, yet conscious, designs.

Next, the Continuous trend theme describes closed-loop systems in which materials are recycled into new, waste-free products again and again. Putative waste materials are separated out and reprocessed as new fibres, composites and textiles. Thus, synthetic and cellulose yarns can be produced zero-waste. Thanks to technically advanced reclamation processes, the materials retain their original quality and aesthetic. Practicality, essentialism and longevity determine the design of Continuous products.

The From Earth theme focuses on the natural world and harmony with the nature of organic materials. Natural colours communicate warmth and softness. Imperfect textures, signs of wear and irregularities create ecological and earth-born aesthetics. Earthen and botanic shades, natural variation and tactile richness dominate the From Earth segment. Unrefined and raw surfaces, unbleached textiles and natural dyes celebrate materials in their original states.

Finally, Nature Engineered is a reinterpretation of the concept of “natural”, using mechanical means to elevate and perfect organic materials, such as bast fibres, hemp, linen and nettles. Cutting-edge techniques process natural textiles into sophisticated and smart products. Combined with shades of beige and brown, clean lines and shapes are the distinguishing features of this theme.

Decorex – a treasure trove of interior trends from industry leaders and design experts

A political storm may be boiling ferociously in the country amidst economic uncertainties, but for four days inside the Olympia London exhibition centre in Kensington, London, the annual interior design trade fair Decorex returned this autumn in an optimistic mood, bringing together more than 12,000 design trend watchers, designers and buyers from around the UK and other parts of the world.

Wood Tailors Club

Velvet fabrics, wall-hangings, wallpaper, throws, cushions and bespoke furniture from Blackpop.

Throws and blankets from Wallace & Sewell, established by Harriet Wallace - Jones and Emma Sewell, known for their mastery of colour and woven structure.  They design bold and original works in natural fibres, uniting traditional craft with modern production and manufactured in the British Isles.

Pure White Lines won Best Stand at Decorex 2022.

Held between October 9th and 12th 2022, Decorex was buzzing with positive sentiments, with more than 200 exhibitors showcasing their latest designs and products for home interiors.  

A wide array of products were featured ranging from wall coverings and design prints to furnishing fabrics, decorative items and housewares, lighting collections, furniture, rugs, to unique crafts and bespoke products.

Pooky furniture and decorative lighting.

The Tree of Light installation provided a
calm, woodland space with seating and adorned with
hanging Occulo lights, from Bert Frank

Decorative lighting from Serip

Home textiles and soft furnishing fabrics designed by Sophia Francis Studio

Upon entering the main hall in Olympia, visitors were greeted by calming seating area designed into a woodland with trees and the Occulo lighting system by Bert Frank hanging from the branches.  

The Decorex Bar
designed by Carden Cunietti

This was surrounded by rows of curated exhibitor stands, each of them well designed to showcase their wares.  Pure White Lines won the Best Stand award from the organisers.

Also for relaxation, visitors were able to wind down in The Decorex Bar and the VIP Lounge, both decorated and furnished in collaboration with exhibitors and emerging designers.

Cole & Son's enchanting wall covering from The Gardens range, hand-drawn and hand-painted. 

Elegant and eclectic lighting collections from Gong by Jo Plismy

Elspeth Pridham hosted a Design Talks session with interior designers Rosie Ward, Natasha Dartnall and Tiffany Duggan on the fundamental impact modern habits have on the design of homes.
The wallpaper in the Design Talks area is by Cole & Son.

On the mezzanine floor, in the Design Talks theatre, which was decorated in partnership with wallcovering company Cole & son, some 80 experts of the industry shared their experiences, new insights and perspectives including Ben Pentreath, Suzy Hoodless, Jojo Barr, Pollyanna Wilkinson and Maddux Creative, to name a few.

Also upstairs in the gallery, of particular interest to visitors on the look-out for unique crafts and artistic skills, was the Making Spaces area where talented craftspeople of various genres held live demonstrations to showcase their skills, and in some cases, visitors were encouraged to participate in exploring their own creative skills.

In the Making Spaces area, Eppie Thompson, of The Fabled Thread, makes luxury embroidery kits inspired by
story telling, world textiles and traditional folk art.

Natasha Mann showcased her creative artistry on decorating lampshades. 

She creates paintings, bespoke pieces for interiors and decorative objects that are

largely inspired by Moroccan architectural painting. 

Cushion featuring a print of tonal pencil drawing with delicate hand embroidery, created by Susannah Weiland, a textile designer and artist known for her mixed media one-off designs and her passion for texture and colour. She works from her home studio in Richmond upon Thames, UK.

Ellen Merchant (left, in yellow) who creates hand-printed textiles and wallcoverings, invites 
a visitor to take part in creating a block print.

A dining room by Pandora Taylor who was inspired by the tableware of Bonadea in creating this space.

Nearby, visitors were treated to four decorated rooms in the Decorex Diningscapes section, another new feature at Decorex this year.  The space showcased four expertly designed dining rooms complete with furniture and accessories alongside a beautiful table setting to provide visitors with design inspirations.  They were created by leading interior designers Christian Bense, ND Studios, Pandora Taylor with Bonadea, and Bertrando di Renzo with Les Ottomans. 

Mamoa Designs from Porto, Portugal.

All photos © Lucia Carpio 2022

Monkey Puzzle Tree showcased new textile wallcovering at Decorex

The Monkey Puzzle Tree founder, Charlotte Raffo
at Decorex October 2022.

The award-winning British company The Monkey Puzzle Tree has launched their new "Blues Fantasia" textile wallcovering at the premier interiors fair Decorex held in London Kensington Olympia in October.

Wallpaper entitled ‘Blues Fantasia’ from Monkey Puzzle Tree was co-created with Ghana-born artist Josephine McYebuah whose original design took inspiration from  African wildlife,
comic book art, Bollywood films and Art Deco style. 
Image courtesy of Monkey Puzzle Tree.

Blue Fantasia showcases a modern take on Art Deco.  The design contrasts a natural toned textile background, with bold colours and metallic gold featuring a striking African-inspired graphic print depicting “elegant antelopes intertwined with rich gold and jewel coloured motifs”.  

The design was co-created with Josephine McYebuah (in picture below) who was chosen for her unique style and interesting and unusual influences.

Growing up in Accra, Ghana, she was fascinated by the cartoons and animation she saw on television as well as Bollywood films and the wildlife and colours in her surroundings.

Company founder, Charlotte Raffo said, "To achieve its astonishing depth of colour and texture, Blues Fantasia is silk screen printed onto a natural toned textile base.  The wallpaper takes two people five hours to produce each run of 30m, with each colour having to be left to painstakingly dry before the next is applied."  With a mandate to help preserve local industry and traditional skills, the wallcovering  is hand-made by craftsmen in the North of England.

Charlotte founded The Monkey Puzzle Tree in 2017 in Leeds.  The company is known for its individual fabrics and wallcoverings, putting art at the heart of their designs. Via unique collaborations with talented artists from England's industrial north, the company produces "joyful textiles that defy passing trends, bringing originality, imagination and beauty to interior."  

Awarded a Design Guild Mark and nominated for an Eco Award , "All Tomorrow's Futures"
 was among the wnning designs at The Monkey Puzzle Tree.

Designers who have worked with Charlotte include Drew Millward whose award-winning design 'Hit the North' wallpaper features an intricate industrial design printed on cork.  And the 'Body Lace' voile from artist Sarah Jane Parker has erotic nudes hidden beneath its veneer of delicate respectability. 

Campaign for Wool launches Wool Month this October

As the world battles with climate change and issues around over-consumption, emissions and non-biodegradable waste, The Campaign for Wool designates October as Wool Month 2022 in the UK, celebrating all things wool, from clothing to home interiors and lifestyle products, and a wide range of 21st century commercial and industrial uses. 

Wool Month celebrates wool's natural attributes and benefits and its unassailable environmental credentials.  For this year’s flagship event, The Campaign for Wool reminds consumers "Why Wool Matters," and encourages us all to ask more questions about the products we buy and, most importantly, where they come from, putting the focus firmly on wool’s natural attributes.

Under the patronage of King Charles III, Wool Month flagship event was launched at London's Saville Row on October 5th, hosted by Sir Nicholas Coleridge, Chairman of the Campaign for Wool.
Photo courtesy Campaign for Wool.

Some of the UK’s most important brands and retailers are participating in Wool Month. From a launch event in Yorkshire for the key wool manufacturing industry, and a flagship event in London on 5 October for leading retailers and brands, to a series of additional events and collaborations across the UK, a host of new cutting-edge wool designs and products will be released and brought together, highlighting wool’s natural and sustainable qualities.

Sir Nicholas Coleridge, Chairman, Campaign For Wool, said “Supported by its Patron, His Majesty King Charles III, Wool Month has become an increasingly important annual event. As the planet issues become more prevalent and natural fibre awareness increasingly important, industry relationships deepen and resources, insights and technology are increasingly shared, the Campaign for Wool’ ripple effect’ can be felt more widely now than ever before.” 

Woolroom

Brora

 

 

According to The Campaign for Wool, pure wool is 100% natural, 100% renewable, 100% sustainable and 100% biodegradable.  

Among the brands taking part is Marks & Spencer which is launching the new 

Originals Menswear Collection. 

Marks & Spencer Photo: Originals Menswear Collection

 Other participating brands include womenswear label Hobbs presenting from its new AW22 Collection wool tweeds from Abraham Moon and Sons, while luxury fashion brand Brora is showcasing a new jumper design, the result of a graduate design project, manufactured using Knoll wool yarns. 

British knitwear brand John Smedley is showcasing a special Limited-Edition jumper called the ‘Cornwall’, in a unique partnership with The Campaign for Wool and sourced using wool exclusively from farms on the Duchy of Cornwall estate.  

Unisex tailoring and knitwear brand Walker Slater has created a new collection featuring British Wool and Harris Tweed Hebrides cloth, while luxury wool bedding specialist Woolroom has launched a new sustainable Merino sleepwear collection in collaboration with Smalls Merino.  Tailors along London’s Savile Row and across the city are also supporting the Wool Month campaign with a series of special pop-up window displays.

When made into clothing, wool is warm but also cool thus it adapts to the wearer.  

A special guest who had flown over from South Africa to co-host the London event was Stefan Gerber, owner of Gerber & Co.  He said “We are thrilled to be in the UK to celebrate Wool Month and  showcase our traceable Merino pieces that use the communities in South Africa to bring you the wool we nurture and craft. We are a family business, and our plan is simple – where there is a wool there is a way. Gerber & Co have been building, rebuilding and reviving old crafts and upskilling new ones, mentoring and investing to use the finest wools to create heritage wool pieces.” 

For interiors, wool is flame retardant and will often self-extinguish, making it a safe choice for a variety of applications in homes and commercial premises.

Participating brands in the lifestyle and craft sector include Johnstons of Elgin which has launched a Limited Edition 'Farmers Blanket’ woven in 100% Scottish Blue faced Leicester wool, and in conjunction with a local artist and farmer Carolyn Milne is being released as an anniversary blanket to celebrate their 225 years in business.

 A group of UK flooring brands will also launch new wool designs including Abbingdon, Alternative Flooring, Axminster Carpets, Brintons, Brockway, Cavalier Carpets, Cormar, Crucial Trading, Hugh McKay, Kingsmead, Manx Tompkinson, Penthouse Carpets, The Real Shetland Company, Ulster Carpets, Victoria and Wessex, along with FLOOR_STORY, and their luxury rug designs.

While wool carpets and rugs can take lots of heavy wear and are known to look better for longer, wool is ideal for beds, pillow, duvet and blankets.

Wool toys hand-made in London by cdbdi.co.uk

Wool has hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial properties, thus makes the air that we breathe cleaner and better, and it is ideal choice for childrenswear and children's blankets and even for stuffed toys.

Wool Pots, along with Ocean Sheep wool rope, were
Winners of the 2022 Wool Innovation Awards.

Among the latest applications of  wool is using it for creating plant pots. According to founders of Wool-Pots.co.uk, Wool Pots offer a biodegradable, environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to plastic plant pots, and will help reduce the amount of single use plastic in horticulture.  Manufactured in the UK and Egypt, the end use of Wool Pots mean wastage is minimal.  

The product was created to help farmers reduce the vast amount of unwanted wool and help save the planet.

According to the founders, Wool Pots have been created after they discovered that some 500 million plastic plant pots were reportedly being sent to landfill in the UK every year.  Meanwhile British farmers, in despair, are burning their wool because they have no viable market for their fleeces.  With these two challenges in mind Wool Pots have been created as a viable alternative to plastic pots and a huge benefit to the planet.

"We have friends who farm sheep and it gives us huge pride to continue the British tradition of product innovation and creativity to help them create a new market for their wool, said founder Graham.  "Our Egyptian factory plants two trees for every order under their 'buy one get one tree' re-greening the desert initiative and our Scottish factory reduces transport miles for UK orders and promotes British manufacturing.

For more information about the Wool Month and Campaign for Wool, click HERE.

Photos at Wool Month flagship event © Lucia Carpio 2022