Texture and pattern has returned with a vengeance for both residential and commercial projects – you will find it in the interior design world, and on the runways. Most importantly, these patterns aren’t new at all, but focused on handcrafted and woven fabrics from all over the world. The hot trends are of course Suzani, Ikat, and Kantha: All handwoven and taken from traditional techniques handed down through generations and generations. Here’s the breakdown of the latest patterns:
Susani (Sometimes spelled ‘suzani”) is the word for “needle” in Farsi, and the large embroidered dowry textiles of Turkic groups are so-named because of the many hundreds of hours of needlework needed to produce them. We are loving these patterns for their large graphics and color on toss pillows and wall hangings that can be framed for a very dramatic look.
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Kantha textiles from India and the surrounding countries are renowned for their vibrant colors, patterns and stitching. Kantha, a type of stitchery popular among rural women there, is also the name given to lightweight throws and blankets made of old saris and other pieces of cloth that feature this type of needlework. These fabrics offer a dazzling collection of hand-sewn, one-of-a-kind pieces.
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Ikat patterned textiles can be found from South East Asia, Central or South America, as well as Japan. They are as popular as ever for upholstery as well as fashion. Ikat ( or “Ikkat“), is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles that employs a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or wetfibres.
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S0 – Let’s go big, bold, and beautiful for 2011/2012! Go global and find ways to embrace these traditional patterned textiles and make them your own.