Fashion Snoops: Trade Shows

Direction print show showcased key textile studios who showcased their Spring 09 collections to industry attendees. As we look forward to an exciting season ahead in surface design, there are a few essential ideas to keep in mind. Lisa Minardi of Direction says this season’s Spring 09 show was one of the THE best attended shows. That’s because DIRECTION has some of the best studios exhibiting! The majority of visitors were from all over the US, though media from China and Japan were present this year.

What’s hot this season—environment, nature -inspired, flowers with textures that combine hi-tech and natural looks, B & Ws, watercolor floral, ethnic, and craft (embroidery, beads). As Lisa has the Center for Sustainability in the lobby, she believes that sustainability is an emerging trend. She says it began in the 90s but now people are willing to take action on it bt using soy, bamboo fabrics, and organic wool. Among other things, Lisa also agrees with Fashion Snoops in the "Brand me" Lifestyle Trend in which people want personalized items and that technology can help facilitate this trend. Utilizing digital prints will allow for more variety, smaller lots, and localized business. Exclusive runs can become a trend. Lisa states that it will be difficult for larger retailers to keep up with these trends -giving smaller, local business a boost in competitiveness. There is also a thirst for knowledge, as seminar attendance in the last year or two has doubled. She believes people are wary of taking risks, and they are seeking out information to help them make decisions and assist them.

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Garreau Design: From Laguna Beach, CA have been around for about 15 yrs.
They run a truly vertical business having all their artists in-house. With their new prints, they are seeing ethnic/tribal selling well as well as contemporary prints with a hand-drawn and art nouveau looks. Hibiscus always does well in swim.

Grafiq Trafiq: Focusing on the children's market and come from NJ. The theme of BIRDS is new for them and seems to be doing well. Last yr it was frogs and camels are on their way out. As we have seen in furniture and jrs, one associate predicts the cast-iron gate look will be big soon for children.

Printfresh: Coming from the only studio in Philly, just last year, this group of designers collaborate now after meeting at Tom Cody and Milk Print. Truly"fresh as a company, their prints are as the name states. The young individuals have seeing their Gucci-inspired, easy to wear,high contrast B & W optics doing well along with ethnic/ikats. These are new for them this season as wells as some runway florals that they said some consider "old-ladyish, conversationals, and their most abstract, "dreamy" prints in kids.

Esti Studio: Based in NY and around for about 15 yrs. (As I understand it, Esti represents several companies/lines out of the studio) They feel they do an excellent job targeting the customer's desires, creating rewarding ans successful relations. New is their painterly florals, abstracts, ethnic/tribals and all these are doing well. See Robert Vermib also.

Susanna Samson: Based in London, about 15 yrs old. Also have a vintage collection. New designs that are doing relaly well for them include florals- small and large print, abstracts, two tones, ethnics with modern twists, small scale geometrics and "no print" /textured prints . They see trends moving toward traditional/romantic florals and ikats.

ETC Vintage: Existing for about 20 yrs , they are based in NYC. New and doing well are 30s/40s florals and 20s geometrics. They are seeing Southwestern Navaho ikats to be the next trend.

Tom Cody: Based in NYC and London, about 15 yrs old. New are their ethnic, B & W with splash of color, big florals, water color which are all doing well. Also doing well are screenprints/appliqués/untraditional , ikats ad "save the earth" prints.

Catherine B Desins: Based in NYC, around for about 25 yrs. She began telling me her vibrant color, fresh florals are new but then was unable to finish the interview because a of a call.

Owens & Kim: From London, about 10 yrs old. Painty abstracts, ikats, large graphic florals and pretty garden florals are popular.

Robert Vermib: Under Esti Studio, I spoke with Esti herself. She says B & W with splash of color and abtracts are doing hugely well for them now. Clean looking. Also painty, art-driven prints, modern and tradional tribals (Peruvian, African), florals, little bohmian prints are new and doing well.

Milk Print: NYC for about 15 yrs. They have handout sheets for Spring/Summer 2009 trends, 70s and resorty being themes. . They see beachy/tropical florals and animal prints, 70s sportif/graphic, "great escape modern tribals, Native American, over sized florals, artsy painterly prints- bold abstracts, and "earthy yet feminine".

STUDIO CONTACT INFORMATION

Garreau Design
Lista Signelli, studio@garreaudesigns.com

Grafiq Trafiq
Lamont White, lamont@grafiatrafiq.com

Printfresh
Amy Eldon, sales@printfreshstudio.com

Esti
Esti Shafir, estistudio@aol.com

Susanna Samson
susannasamson.com, susannasamson@aol.com

ETC
Micheal McKee, etcvintage@aol.com

Tom Cody
sara@tomcodydesign.com

Catherine B Designs
Catherine Bastide, info@cartherinebdesigns.com

Owens & Kim
Kim Stockton, kim@owensandkim.com

Robert Vermib
Esti Shafir, estistudio@aol.com

Milk Print
Sarah Gordon, mlkprint@mac.com