Craft Focus - Dec/Jan (Issue 70)

it’s a fair game creativeworld.messefrankfurt.com THIS YEAR’S TRENDS Stilbüro bora.herke.palmisano has worked with Messe Frankfurt to identify key trends for the season ahead, drawing on influences from the worlds of product, fashion and textile design. Creativeworld Trends will be on show in a dedicated area in Hall 4.1. “Specialist retailers will find some unexpected juxtapositions of creative materials and techniques in the special exhibition and will thus get plenty of important and stimulating ideas for the businesses,” says Michael Reichhold. “The designers have included the tools and materials used as part of the presentation so that trade visitors will see how individual pieces have been made.” Happy place: bright colours and festive formality This trend showcases paper in a new light. Fresh ideas have been developed for gifts, involving bright, in-your-face colours. There are invitations on high-quality paper, decorated with ribbons, pearls and coloured speckles. There is a suitably decorated table for a birthday celebration with a brightly coloured string of woollen pompoms hanging above it. Individual letters, cut out and stuck together with masking tape, replace traditional place cards. Depending on the target age range, the letters can also be created to imitate graffiti. Paper table cloths are decorated with uncompromising patterns and bold lettering, while stencils make a real impression. The festive ambience is completed with garlands and traditional sayings, pendants, tags and graffiti in vibrant yellow, orange, red or pink. Natural location: simple and unpretentious Tactile materials in rich, dense colours play a major role in this trend, which favours plain and simple touches like linen and pottery, ensuring a stylish country kitchen appeal. This is where visitors will find the traditional festive dinner table, where unglazed edges on uneven pottery pieces are displayed. The ‘handmade’ look provides a unifying thread, with personal touches and playful refinements. Here, decorative patchworks are created on linen and other fabrics using a sashiko technique. Table cloths, runners and place mats can be personalised to suit the individual occasion. Crocheted trivet mats, made from waxed cotton cord on hand-painted linen cloth enhance the natural impact of the country table. Cosy site: snug and convivial Featuring light shades of ecru, natural wood and radiant white, cosy site spreads calm and conviviality. Little vases are half or completely dipped in paint and decorated with grasses and twigs. Thickly applied paint makes it possible to achieve a whole new look. Items include objects found both at the flea market and in nature. Fabrics and thick rope, branches and twigs can be brush-painted to serve as decorative accessories. Textiles bring comfort and warmth to the home and are also a central focus, while tying and knotting, with soft, thick, fluffy wools can enhance the look. Beautiful textures are created using simple macramé. Complex techniques, used to create wall hangings and curtains in wool, yarn, cord or rope, create warm accents that are very much on trend. 52 craft focus