Falling for Fabric

Fall for autumn this year with an exciting mix of colours and patterns to warm your home. Velvet stripes, silk damasks, large-scale florals and checks are all tossed together for a warm, inviting look.

“Mixing everything together gives a contemporary take on the traditional,” explains Evelyn Fagundes of Seneca Textiles.

 

Fabric colours are inspired by favourite autumn things – dark copper leaves, hot chocolate, rich purple grapes, mulled wine – and the styles and textures add comfort and interest to the “season of mellow fruitfulness”.

The beauty of autumn is also reflected in the patterns. At James Dunlop Textiles, large botanical leaf prints in deep reds, burnt orange and chocolate brown echo the changing hues of the leaves outside. They have also noted a trend towards heavier, textured fabrics as we strive to make our homes a cosy retreat from cold weather.

“More and more people are liking more tactile fabrics,” says James Dunlop’s Lynette Rayward.
Ralph Lauren’s New Bohemian range, available through Icon Textiles, exemplifies this trend. It mixes velvet stripes and mohair pile flower motifs with the lived-in look of pre-washed paisley velvet. This is tradition without the formality.

It’s a trend that has also been noted at Textilia. “The velvets we’re working with are vintage-look velvets that are more relaxed,” explains Kristine Boyle. The advantage of pre-worn velvet, she says, is that it instantly looks as if it belongs in the living room. “They have a slightly messed-up aged look that isn’t too formal. They look comfortable and welcoming.”

The vintage-inspired look is also seen in linen. Fabric firm Warwick Fabrics have traditional antique-look linen with a tapestry effect for instant old-world charm.

“It looks as if you could have bought it a hundred years ago,” says Warwick’s Bridget Hargreaves.
But textured fabrics don’t have to be aged to be fashionable this autumn. Decortex e Famiglia have rich russet red velvets that have been quilted to add textural interest.

They also have crushed velvets in autumn hues of deep purple, red and green, shot through with copper and rusty red tones to give an autumnal glow to furnishings.

Metallic sheen is still a prominent fabric trend although warmer copper and brass tones are now shining through, with less of the silver shimmer than seen previously. “Copper is huge for us at the moment,” says Bridget Hargreaves.

The revival in shot velvets has also been noted at Mokum Textiles, whose Zimmer & Rohde range of crushed velvets features shades of bronze, orange, red, purple and blue, all shot through with a hint of gold to catch the fading light.

These rich, luxurious colours are being seen in all the new fabrics. “We’re seeing beautiful jewel tones and glam, glam, glam is just huge,” says Seneca’s Evelyn Fagundes.

Seneca’s JAB Anstoez range mixes deep purple paisley and brilliant green velvet with splashes of orange damask to make the living room come alive with colour. 

Florals aren’t forgotten either amid all these classic patterns. Big and bold with simplified flower designs, they flourish over open backgrounds. The impact of a bright stylised flower head on a neutral linen can be the perfect eye-catching contrast.

And for those less keen on the fashionable florals, geometric patterns still abound. Circles, squares, stripes and rectangles can all be found in rich cut velvets. These cut velvets on natural linen backgrounds are some of the biggest sellers in the industry and can be the perfect way of introducing velvet into a neutral decor.

Autumn is a time to come indoors and make our homes as cosy as we can. Rich, tactile fabrics in warm colours that invite you to stay by the fire are just the thing to entice us in. But sometimes just the trimmings are enough to give a home a seasonal lift. Ribbon fringes, silk tassles and stitched beading can all be added to curtains, ottomans and cushions for a spark of something new.

Furnishing specialists Mokum have delicate bead trims with tiny red hearts, crosses and teardrops to add a touch of pretty glamour to furnishings.

Borders are another way of giving new life to older fabric. A classic geometric patterned border will formalise a more relaxed decor while a botanical leaf print border in green, pink or gold will ensure that falling leaves surround you, indoors and out.

So ease gently into autumn this season by remembering all the fine things about being indoors – curling up on couches, getting out the mohair rugs and drawing heavy curtains to keep out the chill. With fabrics as inviting as this season’s offerings, it shouldn’t be hard to come inside.  

 

Stockists:
Decortex e Famiglia (09) 303 3549
French Country Collections (09) 376 6440
Hemptech (09) 379 7773
Icon Textiles (09) 302 1652
James Dunlop Textiles (09) 638 6005
Josie Mudgway (09) 292 4448
Martha’s Furnishing Fabrics (09) 523 3655
Mokum Textiles (09) 300 7900
Seneca Textiles (09) 309 6411
Tesori (09) 630 3890
Textilia (09) 302 3182
Unique Fabrics (09) 306 1580
Warwick Fabrics (09) 479 6466
Westbury Textiles (09) 309 0099