DRAPE DESIGNS

BASFORD BRANDS
General Manager Michelle West confirms 2019 has kicked off with a number of new products released across the company’s brands.

“The mix of product released to the market in January and February was quite diverse, from very decorative printed sheers in 100% linen, to silicon coated colour linings,” says West. “With 2018 definitely the year for sheers and coloured lining, it was reassuring to see the best growth across our brands was in the Sekers brand; as the brand continues to develop it’s actually the diversity of product that retailers are embracing.”

New releases for Maurice Kain saw product launches across three sectors. The Austrian Collection is a three way co-ordinated range with two textured plains and an all over flowing jacquard woven in a cotton polyester blend and coated locally in Australia. West confirms a new formulation has been developed with the coating mill to produce what she describes as “our softest coated product yet.”

“Two new Printed sheers Kasuri and Louisiana hit the market in February. Following the shibori trend, Kasuri is printed on a linen look ground in three striking colours. The base cloth we used for Louisiana has a very open gauze-like effect giving the design a dimensional appearance.”

Maya Vivien, Textile Designer for Sekers, confirms that as the market moves to using more wide width product, the latest release from Sekers combine 300 cm continuous and an on design trend tropical print. Aptly named Tropics, the design incorporates a silhouette of black and white with a splash of colour.

“The market’s appetite for 100% linens continues. Our new Salvador is a yarn dyed stripe running as a continuous sheer. It’s been developed with an Aero finish, which involves the fabric being exposed to very high steam and air pressure to achieve a superior softness, and allows the reduction and total avoidance of chemical products that would normally be used. The benefits of this type of finish are:

• increased body and volume
• softer drape
• greater dimensional stability
• reduction of excess humidity
• improved resilience and crease resistance

Commenting on the Filigree range, Basford Brands Managing Director Wayne Leslie confirms coloured linings with sheers continue to dominate the market with a high percentage being hung with wave fold tracking systems. “The ability to utilise a light weight drapeable coloured lining is essential,” he says.

“Filigree’s latest release for this section of the market is our best yet. ‘Simplicity’ has a super soft handle to ensure the best drape possible – coated as a three pass blockout with a Silicon finish. Having a Silicon finish gives the product many benefits; the ability to machine wash the drapes, mould resistance, easy spot cleaning – simply wipe the fabric – and a water repellent finish; it’s also UPF tested to a 50 rating.” Simplicity is available in 11 ontrend colours 300 cm either as a wide width or run continuously for the seam free finish.

WARWICK FABRICS
Warwick Fabrics has identified two main directions in the drapery market. “There will always be a market for decorative driven product including jacquard weaves, prints, and embroidery. This is the area where we see designs take centre stage, with flowing geometrics and large scale florals predominately used as the main motifs as shown by the Avesta, Jessica, Phoebe fabrics.

“However, the area in which we see a lot of growth is wide width products including textured sheers, plains, and dim outs and block outs. As the market demands wider width drops for large scale architectural windows, our challenge is finding mills and machines that will weave the textures and qualities that we wish to offer, in wide width product.”

Natural fibre product is also in high demand. “It is important for us to inform the consumer that natural fibre drapes can move over time, so creating a drape that is pooled on the floor is an effective yet beautiful way to counteract possible shrinkage.”

Looking at key market trends, in terms of colour Warwick Fabric identifies “a return to soft, muted tones that complement the bolder colours we currently see trending in upholstery,” as demonstrated by examples such as Phoebe. And while lightweight sheers are still popular, contrary to this, chunky textures and velvet drapery have also made a return into interiors.

JAMES DUNLOP TEXTILES
Zepel
Zepel product designer Jannah Stevens confirms the brand is releasing a new selection of solid and sheer drapery products curated for both commercial and residential customers. “With these new ranges we focus on technology and performance for the Australian market. Our most recent ranges feature robust quality, wide width fabrics with high UV tolerances that are designed to suit our often harsh climate and conditions whilst also being aesthetically pleasing. We are also just about to launch our very first wide width, silicone backed coloured linings collection called Blackout Basics this April. Some unique and highly appealing features of this product are that it makes up seamlessly, blocks out 100% of penetrating light and won’t gather dust as other similar products currently on the market do.”

“Zepel has always produced drapery ranges for the solution focused consumer, but we also understand that contemporary drapery products need to be visually appealing and in line with current aesthetics in this ‘trend driven market, which is why we are focused on producing everyday premium home textiles for practical living. We keep this at the forefront of our minds when developing our new release ranges now more than ever because we know that our customers have come to expect this from our product and the Zepel name.”

Key drapery trends include an ongoing focus on natural tones and textures for drapery products. Customers are also dressing much larger windows, sparking the need for wider width fabrics with continuous texture and/or patterns for a clean, seamless window finish.

“Whilst some drapery designs can be bold and graphically pleasing, the fact remains that the more minimal, neutral and textural drapery products sell in greater volume. Some trending colours and tones in drapery are of course charcoal and soft dove greys, cool creams and natural raffia but, we are also seeing a rise in warmer more retro hues like sable browns, mustards and coral pinks. Metallic, mesh woven sheers are also now in high demand for a more dressed up window feature.”

Mokum
Mokum designer Annie Moir comments: “Our goal with the Mokum brand is to offer European quality and a fashion driven design aesthetic but at a price point that is significantly more competitive than the European stocked brands. Our colour palettes, although we look to International trend for inspiration, is coloured to suit a local sensibility; we often desaturate colours slightly due to the clear, clean light in this part of the world!”

Satori Stonewash: This sumptuous and energetic, wide-width stonewashed linen comes in a comprehensive palette of neutrals and earthen dusty tones. Satori Stonewash is woven in 100% linen, expertly stonewashed, then softly tumbled to create its perfectly dynamic handle. It is suitable for drapery, top of bed, and light duty upholstery with the added benefit of being washable.

Shoji: Mokum’s successful wide width sheer has been reinvigorated with a beautiful new colour palette. Six natural shades have been added alongside four soft decorative colours to provide a sophisticated yet subdued colour line.” Shoji is both pretty and practical; this wide width sheer is 100% polyester, washable and passes local FR standards. Shoji is a gorgeous faux linen, perfect for those seeking the organic aesthetic of linen but the added performance benefits of a synthetic composition.”

Handloom: Mokum’s recent Handloom drapery is an exquisite example of artisanal textile craft. This divine heavy textile is hand woven in India and will be loved by those who appreciate the beauty of its inherent imperfection.

Rhythm: Rhythm is a soft lightweight semi sheer, evoking a sense of balance and rhythmic movement within the home. This wide width drapery offers a calming window treatment in a refined palette of neutral hues. Blending the slubby aesthetic of natural linen with the improved stability of polyester, Rhythm is extra wide at 320cm and washable.

“Wide width drapery is a highly successful, and growing, product category for the Mokum brand. Australasian homes often showcase high ceiling studs and large windows with uninterrupted views. As a result, there is a demand for wider and wider drapery textiles which can be hung continuously, negating the need for unsightly joins. Mokum have wide width drapery products ranging from 280cm – 320cm wide. Of course there are restrictions during product development in regards to some suppliers’ ability to achieve the extra wide widths, i.e. how wide their looms can physically produce certain fabrics and we also experience further restrictions when it comes to printing onto wide width fabrics (especially those with high natural fibre).”

Artisan: Mokum’s recent Artisan collection tributes the traditional Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi, a philosophy whereby beauty is not only found but celebrated in imperfection. The collection supports the Wabi Sabi interior design trend with an earthen colour palette that encourages one to pull away from the digital screens and into the present moment through tactile experiences in the home. Textiles are sumptuous and tactile, often showcasing luxury yarns, specialist weaving structures and artisanal printing and finishing processes to create subtly complex designs. Colour palettes feel both modern and nostalgic

Pure: “Luxury is evolving from what we own to how we live. There is a growing lifestyle and design trend around seeking sanctuary in the home, where more things does not always equate to more happiness. People are encouraged to seek out and appreciate products that are beautiful, timeless, simple and high quality. 2018 saw the release of Mokum’s Pure collection which was distilled in essence, with a focus on simplicity in form and function. This collection provides an antidote to today’s overloaded lifestyle, inspiring serenity through minimalist design, with a focus on layering beautiful plain textures. With a nuanced palette of light and dark neutrals as well as soothing barely tinted pastels, this collection offers pure and refined textiles for both residential and commercial application.”