Photography provided by Pierre Frey
The luxury textile industry celebrates innovation annually at Paris Déco Off. Attracting world-renowned talent, the weeklong event takes place across the city’s design districts, easily distinguished by the trail of textile-adorned lampshades dotting the streets.
Inspirational window displays preface collection themes, and showroom doors open to showcase designers busy at work. It is worth mentioning that Déco Off is often the first appearance of collections that have been many months in the making. The colors, patterns and textures introduced at the event will influence the year’s interior-design trends and end up in homes across the world.
A step inside each Parisian showroom is full of excitement. At collection presentations, guests enjoy a glass of Champagne before promptly finding the best viewing seat. Owners and creative directors brief collection aesthetic and direction then commence their showing, waving yard after yard of each finely tuned design. These presentations are relatively quick in comparison to the meticulous planning and extensive work done in preparation for this moment.
The development process that brings luxury textiles from conceptualization to completion is often oversimplified. First, designers source unparalleled materials like wool, alpaca prima and hand-spun silk. Once contents have been chosen, materials are then sent to some of the oldest mills in the world, where weavers born into this tradition adeptly hand loom, embroider and ultimately construct each fabric. Textile designers work closely with these artisans, determining every aspect, from dye to pattern to weave. Some of these techniques take 10 to 16 weeks’ production time, but the final result is every bit worth the wait.
EN VOGUE
The top five trends from Déco Off.
Artful Takes. Companies are pairing up with renowned artists to create cross-disciplinary designs. Holly Hunt has collaborated extensively with French artist Christian Astuguevieille, while Jim Thompson recently paired up with architectural extraordinaire Gert Voorjans. Pierre Frey works with acclaimed artists, such as French illustrator Ugo Gattoni, as well as students from Paris’s National School of Decorative Arts.
Outside In. In an effort to craft lasting design, creative directors are bringing outdoor fabrics indoors. The stigma surrounding these easy-to-maintain fabrics has been lifted, and designers have discovered innovative techniques to incorporate manmade fibers like solution-dyed acrylic and olefin into knits, chenilles and even velvets soft enough for indoor use.
Vibrant Colors and Patterns. There is a push for clever use of space that showcases a balance of geometry, imagination and nature. This is prompting a more adventurous approach to color and pattern, with emphasis on statement pieces such as furniture and window treatments instead of simply accents.
Mesmerizing Murals. An artistic movement is happening in the world of walls. Wallpaper powerhouses Trove, Area Environments and Phillip Jeffries have all elevated their mural collections, combining hand painting, digital techniques and textured paper to yield inspired creations. To top it off, interior designers are also taking advantage of the fifth wall, the ceiling, to establish all-encompassing aesthetics for their clients.
Exaggerated Textures. Designers are applying avant-garde approaches to quality materials, pairing them with distinctive weaving methods, heavy embroidery and unconventional color schemes to create tactile exaggeration and increased visual interest. Natural fibers like alpaca, mohair and sheepskin are sought after for their high pile and soft hand. Many textile companies have become adept at mimicking these qualities to create realistic faux-fur options.
