Creative Leisure News - Scene & Heard

Reports on shows, trends, and more

Quilt Market and Premiere Vision Fall/Winter 2007/2008

Designs, colors, and fabrics that are making their mark this season � and beyond.

by Jean Kievlan and Ellie Joos (November 6, 2006)

The Houston Quilt Market.

It was quite an interesting walk through the Quilt Market in Houston because it's been two years since I attended. Due to schedule conflicts with Quilt Markets, I had been attending the Quilt Festivals, the consumer show held immediately after Quilt Market, the last couple of years.

Attendance at Quilt Market seemed light at 11 am on Saturday when I first arrived, but it was much busier as the afternoon progressed. I talked with several vendors late Saturday who said they were pleased with traffic the first day, and thought the Market would be better than last year. Several of the fabric booths were very busy late Saturday afternoon. Overall, I though the traffic was lighter than I had seen at previous Markets; none of the booths except a few of the fabric vendors were crowded. A couple of vendors did comment that Spring Quilt Market was very good for them, both in orders for staple and new product.

I talked with a couple of retail shop owners at lunch, one from Colorado who said she was doing good business in block of the month, and in quilts with designs with Colorado motifs (columbine, forest, birds, wildlife, etc.). This shop teaches at least three classes a day � quite a busy schedule! The owner attributes part of her success to the fact that she is both a quilt and a needlework shop. This shop also tried the "Make it u" project kits for teens with great success and planned to do more.

Another shop owner commented that wool felting was doing well, as well as beginner classes. She noted she was seeing more interest from younger clientele in beginner classes. If this is a market trend, it's surely very good news for the quilting industry!

Much has changed since my last visit. For instance, the amount of direct selling at the Market. In the past, there were rather strict rules about direct selling; it was confined to quilt-related items, store samples, pattern packets with samples, etc.

Imagine my surprise on the first aisle to find a "quilt pattern" vendor also selling over the counter (at retail) beaded bracelets, necklaces, and rhinestone pins.

There was more bead jewelry-selling all throughout market. There have always been a few "vintage and antique" jewelry sellers at Quilt Market, but not the numbers I saw this time. Seems Quilt Market vendors were using this hot trend to offset expenses of exhibiting, since the direct-sell items had nothing to do with their quilt products.

There were, of course, a good selection of bead vendors, with strands, tubes, and packages of beads. I spotted a number of patterns/techniques using beads, crystals, or sequins on quilts � not heavily, just an accent to add a hint of sparkle.

On the Young Side. Another trend was boutique children's clothing patterns. There were several booths offering delightful, trendy kids' clothing patterns and related home dec items for kids. Of note were both children's and adult boutique patterns from Favorite Things (www.favoritethings.net) and beautiful boutique children's clothing and coordinated home dec items from Suzanne Sievers Designs (www.suzannesieversdesigns.com). Suzanne has made the transition from a traditional quilt pattern designer to children's clothing just this last year. She notes the designs are doing quite well.

I also saw several vendors featuring boutique doll clothing patterns for fashion dolls and American Girl� dolls, as well as heirloom-smocked baby doll clothing. Could it be that those Baby Boomer grandmas are lovingly creating more than quilts? I think so!

Bright, Young Stuff! I saw bright, trendy fabrics geared for the younger generation in almost all the major fabric houses, but of particular note were fabrics from Lakehouse Dry Goods (www.lakehousedrygoods.com). The web site is still under development, but it shows swatches of the bright, fun prints featured in the booth. Tammy Tadd Designs utilized the fabrics in her colorful quilts � again, geared for a much younger generation than traditional quilt designs (www.tammytadddesigns.com).

Generation Y and More. There were several packaged kits for "Teen/Tween" classes. There is a growing trend to entice younger consumers to the quilt/fabric craft market.

An entire program dedicated to Generation Y customers is Studio miy� (www.makeitu.com). Boasting association with a host of top industry manufacturers ( C & T Publishing, RJR Fabrics, several sewing machine manufacturers, etc.), the Studio miy� (Studio make it you!) is sure to capture the interest of Generation Y consumers with their tag lines "Individuality, Creativity, Unmistakably You" and "Make it, Wear it, Live it." I was very impressed with sales materials, the program itself, and with Shannon Mullen, author of the Sew Hip book and DVD. Belts, bags, pillows, a quilt � it's all there to lure these younger consumers to the sewing genre.

Ethnic Designs. Another bright, interesting booth from 1/4 Inch Publishing (www.quarterinchpublishing.com) featuring Hispanic-inspired quilts, dolls, and more. There were other booths with Western-themed quilts, but this one was really different.

Get Organized. I was surprised by how many more sewing furniture vendors there were at the Market this year. Apparently quilting consumers, more than ever, are feeling the need to organize and sew in comfort. Could it be that now that the children of Baby Boomers have left home, mom now has a room to devote to sewing?

Terrific Tools. Clover Needlecraft won hands down in my opinion for the most innovative new tools. Their new Kantan Couture Bead Embroidery Tool uses a fine latch-hook-type tool and clear filament thread to easily attach sequins and beads. Everything needed to create stunning designs is available, The Kantan Couture Tool, Spare Needle, Turntable Hoop, and Clear, Gold , or Silver Thread. This technique tool is sure to become popular, making attachment of beads and sequins to fabric a snap!

Also from Clover: a Quick Yo-Yo Maker Tool, available in two sizes that was a very popular demo/make- it/take-it (www.clover-usa.com).

Embroidered Designs. Everywhere I looked there were digital patterns/designs for machine embroidery. Sewing machines with embroidery features, dedicated embroidery machines, and numerous digital patterns. This segment of the market has increased substantially since I walked the Market a couple of years ago.

Trends. Wool felt and wool felting are still popular with many booths offering designs. Designers Lynne Farris and Vivian Perrits were both demonstrating wool felt/felting projects for different manufacturers. Lynne also has a new book shipping Nov.15, Fast and Fun Needle Felting Projects published by C & T Publishing (www.lynnefarrisdesigns.com). Lynne's book also features designs for teens/tweens.

Punch Needle (aka Needle Punch) still seems to be going strong with numerous booths featuring patterns for bags, pillows, mini quilts, and fashion and home accessories using this technique.

Vintage 40's and 50's inspired fabrics were plentiful, in fabric booths and in designers' booths. Tea towels, table linens, cozies, comforters � you name it -- featuring those fun fruit and kitchen themed floral designs many of us Baby Boomers remember our mothers decorating the home with.

Also, there were many, many soft, vintage floral designs and soft romantic florals.

Block-of-the-month designs/kit offerings were numerous. I spoke with one designer who said her block-of-the-month designs were going gang busters. Seems reasonable to me: less intimidating than trying to make an entire quilt, and a nice opportunity to visit the local quilt shop every month. Bet the consumer leaves the store every month with more than just the block-of-the-month pattern!

Chenille, Chenille & Wearables. Fabric Cafe (www.fabriccafe.com) again had a strong presence with their Chenille by the Inch� patterns and designs. Another product line featuring chenille accents was Chenille-It� with Bloomin Bias� chenille. Their stunning display of boutique clothing and wearables made me want to sew!

Design Themes. The snowman still reigns as king of winter motifs � but wait, he's tropical, too! Snowman designs as holiday, winter, thanksgiving, cowboy, fiesta, tropical, you name it, he's there! There just seems no end to this popular fellow.

Quite a few dog, cat, and pet inspired fabrics and mini quilts, but I didn't see pet accessories in numbers, quite surprising due the popularity of these items in Atlanta Gift Market.

Several fabric companies featured caricature designs of 50's-ish ladies, some cute and fluffy, some grumpy. These designs in block motif, easy to cut apart and feature on bags, wearables, home dec items, and in quilts. Loralie Designs was just one vendor with fun, new designs featuring outrageous female caricatures (www.loraliedesigns.com).

In keeping with the nostalgia prints theme, one manufacturer had vintage game-board fabric, and roses and vintage roses were featured in numerous fabric collections as well a heritage prints with names like Beacon Hill, Lancaster Heritage, and Farmhouse West from Windham Fabrics (www.windhamfabric.com).

Other fabric lines included Asian-inspired designs and fun whimsical designs like the rodeo clown fabrics from Alexander Henry Fabrics (www.ahfabrics.com).

Children's prints were everywhere, bright and colorful with cartoon characters, whimsical critters, and geometrics paired with festive flower designs.

Color Combinations. Quite a palette of color combination! Earthy, traditional primitive colors and bright, festive, young-spirited colors side by side were an optical feast! Lots of yellow/blue and yellow/green combinations on spring themed quilts, and there were numerous blue/green combinations as well as the aforementioned bright pastels.

In the Bag. Boutique bag patterns were everywhere and in every size and shape. Beaded, sequined, patchwork, boutique pieced and embellished designs. Jung Won Corp from Seoul, Korea featured an entire catalogue of bag handles, latches, straps, clasps and frames.

(Note: Jean Kievlan is VP/Key Account Representative of Kievlan-McGuffee Design Services, Inc., a full-service company providing consultation, promotion, TV presentation, design, and new product development for many leading manufacturers in the creative industries. Contact Jean at 817-797-4707; fax 817-249-4707; or email jeankievlan@mac.com. Jean�s business partner, Julie McGuffee, is host of PBS series, Scrapbook Memories, and can be contacted at: 817-448-8877 or email mcguffee@flash.net.)

Premiere Vision Fall/Winter 2007/2008

Premiere Vision, held twice a year in Paris, is one of the most important fabric shows for the apparel industry. This show is attended by thousands of designers, buyers, editors, and product research professionals from all over the world. It is an enormous show, featuring color stories, fabrics, and fabric trend areas. One hall is entirely devoted to trimmings and design studios, and � new this year � one are was devoted to yarns and fibers. The following is a report for Fall/Winter 2007/2008 that includes Premiere Vision as well as other presentations attended in New York.

Color. It's Most important trend of the decade. Color is in fashion and the home and customers are loving it. Influence is coming from pop culture and show business on the one hand and the need to quiet our lives on the other hand. Housewares and appliances have never been so colorful. Just look at the range of colors mix masters and washers and dryers are now available in (after the kitchen, the laundry room has now become an important room to remodel).

Cause-related marketing, an important trend in marketing, is also affecting colors. A number of houseware manufacturers have introduced pink products to tie in with breast cancer awareness organizations. When we think about brown, one well known color authority thinks it continues to be strong because of the influence of coffee and chocolate. Starbucks has changed the coffee shop of the past, and chocolate, in particular dark chocolate, is now a "health food" with its antioxidant benefits.

Grey runs the gamut from light to dark, influenced by chrome and pewter. Grey heather, slate, charcoal, steel, mist grey, grey flannel � you name it, grey is it!

Brown continues: think chocolate (Estee Lauder has a new lipstick infused with chocolate); chocolate brown is strong in the floral market, with brown tones in flowers. All the offshoots of brown continue and natural shades influenced by nature. American Beauty Red, Yellow, Blues from cobalt to teal and evolving into purples and Greens from olive to spruce (Eco-awareness is an important trend), and neverending black.. Black is back, and a whole palette of blacks which look different from finish to finish, shiny, dull, flat, textured. Blackened colors were very strong at Premiere Vision, a blackened navy, a blackened brown, and dark charcoal, and newest is using these colors together. Romantic shades of rose, lilac, and jewel tones of teal, pine, and port are strong. Accents of metallics, in gold, silver, and copper in fabrics, prints, and accessories are also important.

Fabrics and Patterns. It�s a plaid, plaid world! Classic tartan, re-colored tartans, tartans with novelty yarns, menswear plaid, glen plaids, windowpane. Menswear inspired fashions; career dressing returns. Sweater knits are exploding � oversized cables, Aran, jacquards, cobweb, pointelle, lacey knits, open knits, snowflake and Nordic designs. Jerseys for knit layering, single jersey, Missoni-inspired. sweater coats, dresses, tunics, abound.

The soft touch of velvet, stretch velvet, burnouts, moleskin, and other soft surfaces, fur and fur types, satins and shine. And leather.

Structured fabrics � taffeta, silk dupioni for sculptured shapes in fashion on the one hand and chiffon, crinkled surfaces for light weight layering on the other hand.

Lace has become more dimensional. Frills, ruffles, and flounces balance the menswear looks.

Denim � everything that could be done, has been done to denim, one authority expects it to down trend after 07/08. The only thing new is just that, new looking denim that has not been blasted, washed, distressed, embellished, etc.

Prints. A major story for fall! "Meow" � animal prints continue, florals for fall, tone-on-tone and multi colors, botanicals, oversized, and painterly, geometrics and abstract dots that are deco inspired, Persian rug inspiration

Fancy That. Decoration and embellishment continues, closely related colors for trims used in combinations. Handicraft, military, British school boy of badges and crests, buttons and bows all add the finishing touches.

Silhouettes. Oversized layers, leggings underneath, tunics, cardigans, menswear inspired trousers and jackets, beautiful blouses, jersey dresses, velvet jackets, capelets, fur, real or faux, floral dresses.

Note: Ellie is president of Ellie Joos & Associates, a marketing, pr, and product development firm. To read reports on other industry-related shows, click on the titles in the right-hand column. To contact Ellie, call 908-459-9269 or email eleapple@hotmail.com.

xxx