Traveling Trends

High Point Market Happenings Day 7- These Sustainable Times! Part One

| Nancy Fire

Style Spotting for the High Point Fall Market was a bit different because of Covid, less attendees and exhibitors but designers and buyers who did attend were positive, upbeat and were serious about committing to product purchases! Exhibitors had more time to spend with customers and it was much easier to navigate market which is comprised of 10 million square feet, roughly 2000 exhibitors (pre-covid) and about 180 buildings! (This market about 70% of the showrooms were open)

The biggest change for me in this market was the presence of sustainable minded products and displays as well as a general focus on products that are more environmentally friendly. With my style spotter focus on sustainability this year I was more than pleased to see this trend more as a lifestyle. Moving forward we are going to see more forward thinking companies do what they can to offer designs that are mindful in their product processes, material choices and transportation footprint from sourcing to selling! Below are a few of my favorite finds that relate to a more sustainable mindset. Part Two will be posted tomorrow as I continue to share more mindful products!

Palecek, IHFC D202 Design Center Floor 2 is a company that is truly inspired by natural materials and has been for years. For them sustainability is not a trend, it’s truly a lifestyle. Pictured here Fritz Rope Side Chair and Bench. Kirk Nix Wisteria Oversized Pendant, Whitewashed. Broderick Dining Table.
Palecek-This oversized pole rattan mirror is hand wrapped in a beautiful gray finish. The texture and dimension of this sustainable piece is beautiful and will sit center stage in any room.
Palecek-Playa Wall Decor is created using cultured saddle oyster shells hand placed in a petal-like design.
Palecek- Lenox desk with rattan accent drawers and metal base, create the perfect work from home interior addition to any room.
Palecek-Live Edge Table.
Kirk Nix Collection By Palecek Bronson Sconce-Each glass globe is hand blown creating an artisan touch to each light fixture.
V Rugs and Home-These raffia accent pillows are a perfect way to bring natural accents into your home.
V Rugs and Home- Leather and fringe accent ottomans.
Beth Webb for Arterios-Sea Island Pendant in linen and rattan.
Arteriors-Uriah Sconce has a thick, seedy slumped glass in a smoke luster finish which cascades down the front of a clear seedy glass wall! Truly a refined organic vibe to any space.
The Lash Lounge Chair by Kara Mann for the McGuire Collection. Wrapped in leather cording with a loose seat cushion in a soft chenille fabric.
Selamat-These Sea Cliff Chairs combine substrates that create a unique and updated product by mixing rattan with lucite with an added dimensional addition of textured performance fabric.
Phillips Collection-Atlas Console Table made in Chamcha wood with a gray stone finish is one expressive accessory piece for your home! The metal figures act as the base of the console holding up the chamcha wood top.
Titan Rugs-This antique rug has been upcycled by over-dying it and removing some of the pile to recreate the color as well as the finish. The original rug was navy and rust.What a creative way to repurpose rugs and give them another life!
Universal-Seaton King Bed featuring two types of woven materials.

High Point Market Highlights Day 3

| Nancy Fire
This is my sustainable smile because I found so many creative products at the High Point Market with a focus on mindful living and sustainable style!

Had such an aspirational day talking with manufacturers at the High Point Market who are inspired by using natural materials in their product development. Not all pieces are 100 percent sustainable but many companies are coming close while others are realizing the importance of creating sustainable products!

Oyster Shells From Local Restaurants Repurposed To Make Creative Lighting Fixtures at Made Good.
Inspired by Natural Materials, Palecek Hospitality and Residential Are One Of The Go To Companies When It Comes To Sourcing Sustainable Products.
Ro Sham Beaux On Main Street in High Point Always Showcases Sustainable Product Selections.
Love How Selamat Combines Mixed Substates To Create An Updated Vibe To The Sea Cliff Chair.
Another Palecek Sustainable Product,
The Wrapped Pole Rattan Mirror In Grey.
A White Quartz Credenza Front From The Baker Collection
Palecek Sustainable Vignette Highlighting This Credenza, Wall Art And Home Decor.
Kara Mann For The McGuire Collection Plush Chenille Fabric, Leather Cording and Rattan.
Raffia Sideboard From Bernhardt With Chrome And Glass.

High Point Market Highlights Day 2

| Nancy Fire

Texture, Trim and Tucked Up

Mask on with purell in hand [literally] I spent my first day at market ready for combat…creative combat that is…touring showrooms by appointment and getting versed on product details…which were all about texture, trim and tucked up…the art of bringing comfy and comfortable fabrics into your home!

Cozy Comfort at Nathan Anthony with this Vintage Vibe Fur Infused 70’s Chair
Seventies Inspired Fur Throw and Decorative Pillows Trending in a Beautiful Warm Tone Palette
Updated Fringe Detailing with Braided Interest by V Rugs and Home
Raffia Fringe Pillow Detailing at V Rugs and Home
Bloom Easy Armchair Swivel in Microfiber, with Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer and Steel Available in 8 Trendy Colors by Kenneth Cobonpue.
From Dovetail, Indigenous Baskets with a Focus on Mixed Materials, Chunky Weaves and Artisan Detailing
Handcrafted by Skilled Artisans this Eichholtz Ginkgo Coffee Table is Created in a Vintage Brass Finish with Black and Gold Legs. Love the Organic influence from Nature and the Graphic Interpretation of the Ginkgo Leaf! [Style Spotted by Me]
Merrick Textured Wood Round Dining Table from Dovetail [see next image for detail]

Detail of Merrick Textured Wood Table

Cozy Comfort from The Bold Monkey Furniture Collection of Seventies Inspired Furniture and Accent Pieces.
Sierra Bed with Perf Fabric Headboard with Textured Pillows and Throw from Dovetail.
Jada Cabinet in Amara Ebony Veneered Frame Sycamore Veneered Face with Offset Faceted Design by Theodore Alexander

Looks like I am tucked up from my first day at the High Point Market as a 2020 Style Spotter and look forward to my non-stop day tomorrow with appointments booked from 9am through 6pm. First stop…Global Views…with my mask on and purell in hand, literally!

Color, Chaos & Creativity…India

| Design Works International

I had the pleasure of spending a week in India and my journey was really incredible. I was there on business and between our travels throughout New Delhi and Jaipur I was looking through my lens at this fascinating culture. Feeling blessed to travel for my job but even more blessed that I get to experience a country through color, food and the fabulous people I came in contact with.

Jaipur Market

Jaipur Roadside Flower Market

New Delhi Farmers Market

Photobombed by a Drongo while photographing New Delhi

Street Art New Delhi

Tricked Out Trucks..love all the decorative tassels and pom poms!

In preparation for Karma Chauth..celebrating health and happiness in honor of your spouse by fasting for an entire day.

An artists resides in all of us…Long Live Rembrandt according to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

| Design Works International

Imagine…seeing your art hung at one of the most prestigious museums in the world! I was pleasantly surprised when I visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to see the “Long Live Rembrandt” Show.

Not realizing that the show was a juried exhibition of 575 people who told stories about their relationship to Rembrandt and his art. Each contributor has his or her own view of the great master. Many painters feature Rembrandt as the main character in their narrative while others have shown him with other icons.

More than 8500 people from 95 countries sent in their work of art, young and old, professional and amateur! Side by side, these generations of artists pay tribute to Rembrandt. The youngest artist is three while the oldest artist is in her nineties.

What an awesome way to bring a bit of Rembrandt into all of our lives, the people looking at this unique collection to the 8500 participants that felt compelled to enter their work that was inspired by the greatest Dutch artist of all time.

Below are just a few pieces from the “Long Live Rembrandt” exhibition, showcasing various techniques from painting, torn paper, fabric manipulation, plaster and sculpture.

To quote Pieter Roelofs, chairman of the jury and head of the Rijksmuseum’s painting and sculpture department, “In Long Live Rembrandt we see the master through the eyes of the makers. The exhibition is not only about Rembrandt, but also about ourselves.”

Inspired!!!!!

I am going to get in touch with my Rembrandt in hopes that one day my artwork will inspire others like I was inspired by this creative and collaborative exhibition.

Lots of color, a bit of artistic chaos and a whole lot of creativity.

Leaving Amsterdam and heading to Paris hoping to seek out more creativity in the art world.

Color, Chaos & Creativity Returns👏

| Design Works International

It’s been a while since I posted but since my trip to Oslo has been so inspiring I had this awesome urge to share!

Invited by the Norwegian Consulate to attend the Fushion Show in Oslo (August 28-30) celebrating fashion, art and music by redefining the creative standards through innovative performances revolving around fashion.

Our first stop was at the LMN Gallery showcasing ESP/Morie Fashion paired with innovative artwork and interactive models in motion.

After taking the reins of a 60-year old outerwear factory at Økern in Oslo in 2015, designer and entrepreneur Elisabeth Stray Pedersen established her label ESP. Ever since, the brand continued to develop the factory’s signature style, which was iconic blanket coats in pure wool, besides creating new designs. ESP utilises the finest Norwegian lamb’s wool from freely walking crossbreed sheep in the highlands around Gol in Norway. The wool is Nordic Eco labelled and their fabrics are Woolmark certified.

Founded by Creative Director Charlotte Fische and Head of Design Linn Sannes Brevik-Ribeiro in 2016, Moiré is the offspring of Oslo based Moiré Fashion Agency.

The brand speaks to the modern minimalist who wants to embrace their inner maximalist – with a strong focus on keeping it elegantly feminine. Totally opposed to the use-and-discard mentality, the brand is built upon a mutual wish for more tailored clothing, one-of-a-kind details and high-quality textiles. 

Moiré loves storytelling and the design process is a significant part of the small but highly curated collections. Every season is a result of a creative development that often involves a range of different designers and artists.

Tonje Plur is a womenswear designer and artisan based in Oslo/Norway. She combines social and geographical references with a variety of craft work and designs, making her collections a visual reaction to the present time.

Avenue is a woman’s and menswear brand founded in Oslo, Norway by Ingvild Abrahamsen, Gustaf Gyllenhammar and Espen Follestad. They showed their first collection in 2015 for Autumn-Winter.  With a long background in music, design and textile production, they are creating clothes highly influenced by their music references. They specialise in high quality garments with natural fibres and make distinct design suitable for everyday comfort.

Established in 1997, Cathrine Hammel is an Oslo-based fashion brand, producing new collections based on a variety of themes each season. The team consists of designers, a garment specialist, tailors, a production manager and a creative director working closely together to create elegant clothes that are meant to be worn in the real world. The clothes are laboriously altered to fit a progressive lifestyle, whereas the boundaries between work and pleasure collide into one single entity. Each garment reflects a Scandinavian way of living and its democratic ideals: Gender equality, a sustainable approach to the environment, social cohesion and a balance between life and work. Cathrine Hammel is a modern wearable fashion brand, catering to open-minded people, who recognize quality and durability as the most sustainable approach to fashion.

The Balance Of Black and White in Interiors-Paris

| Design Works International

As we see certain trends in color this season we are also experiencing graphic great trends in black and white that have been consistent with previous years statistics. This classic and sophisticated style adds dimension and drama to any interior space.

A favorite find at Pinto Paris today is this white chair accented with black piping and black metal arm detailing with accents of cork.Black based cocktail tables with marble tops by Sarah Lavoine Interiors. Importance here is the varied heights in the collection of tables that work as one style statement.

Textural black and white textiles at LE BVH in the Marais. It’s truly about the dimensional aspect of the weave this season in creating these updated graphic patterns.

Terrazzo Containers at LE BVH [trend watch 2018-19 products made with terrazzo]

Textured bathroom tile slabs in an updated chevron pattern in black, white , gray and taupe.

Retail Redo Overseas in Paris and London

| Design Works International

Why is it that you can go into any store anywhere in the world and find duplication in products. What happened to originality, newness and craftsmanship justifying an original idea at retail. Lifestyle trends translate down from macro trends so interpretation should be varied and unique, right? Well that theory was lost along the way and in order for brick and mortar to survive at any level, we need to bring back the newness which is lacking! We all need to take the blame, move on and make it right again.

Just returning from overseas this week I unfortunately had the same experience..do not get me wrong, walking the streets of Paris and London were awesome and the food incredible, that might be why many of my photos were food or street trends because they were inspiring in color, texture and dimension.

Walking into Conran’s both in Paris and London as well as Harvey Nichols, Miss Selfridges and sadly John Lewis…it was a wall of sameness.

Plant Wall ✅

Global Artisan Baskets ✅

Cute Cafe✅

Appliances in red, white and blank✅

Enlarged Candle Areas✅

Smaller Furniture Space✅

Growing up in a retail centric family, my parents were both retailers, stores looked unique. Produce space was allocated more towards the personality of the store, window displays were original and technology was pretty much non-existent…which is why I feel products had personality. No one needed to compare every little detail and stores were not all things to all people…I do not remember walking into a department store to buy ketchup?

Hoping we will see change in the coming year in retail, both on-line and at brick and mortar stores.

Take Merci in Paris, I know, I know it’s a “weird concept store”, my favorite for that very reason because it allows you to look at products in a more creative and non-conforming way! Yeah!! Oh and did I mention the line to buy items was literally out the door…guess you get my point…originally needs to return to retail!

Sharing some images that were unique in some form, either color, retail setting or just plain FUN!

Merci, Paris

Food Fav’s

Bold Color And Product Finishes.

I took 2K pictures last week so I will be posting many of them throughout the month of February. Published articles can be found at http://www.designworksintl.com under press or on my personal website http://www.nancyfire.com