Designers at High Point Market discuss the future of fabrics

Natural materials and green design took center stage at a panel about textile advancements during the recent High Point Market.

Hosted by LR Home, the panel consisted of Evette Rios, an interior designer and TV host; Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas, principal of Interiors by Design in Maryland; Christa O’Leary, the head of design firm Home in Harmony, as well as a marriage and family therapist and a green living expert. and Susie Novak, principal at Susie Novak Interiors in Oakland, Calif., along with moderator Andrea Lillo, executive editor at Designers Today.

“I have been seeing more natural motifs and textural dimensions,” said Rios. “People are now more interested in the raw materials and origin story of the fabric.”

O’Leary said she believes it’s important to take a look at the environment through a holistic lens and to teach the importance of home wellness and color psychology to homeowners, something she discusses in her Designer’s Toolbox guide.

When it comes to innovation in the industry, Novak said she is amazed at how fabrics made from recycled plastics (PET) are now so soft and are made for both indoor and outdoor use.

“I often use contract grade with my clients since it’s more accessible and offers more durability,” she said. “And, due to the performance qualities in the fabrics, we can now recommend the white sofa without fear.”

The designers all had an opinion about whether bouclé is here to stay and for the most part, there was no consensus – Rios and O’Leary said the trend is over, while Novak said she still loved bouclé. Time will tell.

When it comes to color, O’Leary said she believes there is a shift to looking at warmer tones such as browns and greens. While Rojas, for her part, said customers are playing it safe and sticking with traditional neutrals.

Novak, who is based in California, said her customers are looking for wool and cotton, with less white and more sandy, indigo and russet tones that are richer.

“I really like ombre materials since the gradual color change seems more natural and reflects both the mountains and the sea,” she said.

Sustainability is in the consideration set but it’s not a deciding factor for older clients according to the panelists.

“Boomers might ask about it, but it isn’t a deal breaker,” Rios said. “It’s more of an added feature, while younger people, such as Millennials and Gen Z, do ask about the fabric’s origin story.”

O’Leary said her younger clients are more concerned about health and wellness than sustainability.

When it comes to indoor/outdoor fabrics the panelists all use them everywhere.

“Outdoor prints are now available in an awesome selection,” Novak said. “You can buy outdoor fabrics and then easily reupholster them when they show signs of wear. This is a form of sustainability to reuse the frame and add new fabrics. This way you can keep the product for a long time.”

The panelists also agreed on the end of fast-use fabrics, saying the new performance fabrics are made to be durable and lasting.

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