FORWARD THINKING
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Opulence and luxury are as coveted as ever – but the focus is more on fine craftsmanship and innovative materials
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Lisa White, head of lifestyle and interiors at WGSN, a trend forecasting agency
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Rather than keeping things rigid and regimented, designers are embracing natural, organic styles and shapes
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Conversely, mesh, laser-cut materials, Neoprene and bright, energising colours are making a comeback due to their high-tech flair
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The natural trend isn't just limited to shapes and colours, but the choice of material, too - think linens and even nettle fibres
"Life is becoming less about what you own and more about how you live," said Lisa White of trend office WGSN during her introductory talk at Heimtextil. "We’re also predicting that the interest in a healthy home will build steadily as home brands and interior designers explore materials for [these] homes."
The biggest international trade show for textiles, Heimtextil – which takes place every January at the Messe Frankfurt exhibition grounds – showcases masterfully curated home and contract textiles alongside insightful talks and workshops, making it a must-visit for designers from around the world. This year’s event saw the introduction of the spectacular Heimtextil Theme Park – a hub of interactive displays, screenings and talks all centred on the top trends that are predicted to permeate the design world and lifestyle industries in general.
The theme of the section’s first iteration, as Lisa explained, was well-being – perhaps unsurprising, considering that it has grown into a US$3 trillion movement. "In Heimtextil, we’re exploring many aspects of well-being that, all together, achieve a perfect balance," said Lisa.
Technology is one of the biggest influences on the concept of well-being and what it means to us today. Advances have resulted in innovative materials and creation techniques, as well as products that integrate technological tools into our textiles – for instance, responsive technology in clothing that can track our blood circulation and oxygen levels. The predominance of technology in our lives, however, has also led to a renewed appreciation for older techniques, from fine craftsmanship to unique natural materials.
在德國法蘭克福家紡展發表介紹詞、來自潮流辦公室WGSN的Lisa White表示：「人生已不在只著重個人，而是關乎你生活的方式。我們預計人們對健康家居的興趣會愈見提高，家居品牌和室內設計師們也正努力為這種家園探索物料。」
作為最大型的國際紡織交易展，法蘭克福家紡展每年一月在法蘭克福展覽有限公司展場舉行，陳列經精心規劃的家用紡織和商用紡織，並舉行行內講座及工作坊，是環球設計師務必到訪的盛事。本年活動隆重介紹法蘭克福家紡展主題公園，是互動陳列、試映和講座的重心，全以各地生活方式業界預測的頂級潮流為題。
活動主題如Lisa解釋：不停圍繞身心健康——這也難怪，保健畢竟已轉化成牽涉3萬億美金的運動。Lisa指：「法蘭克福家紡展上，我們探索健康的多個層面，並再連成起來，達致完美平衡。」
科技是保健概念的一大影響因素，對我們今天來說也意義重大。預測也促使前衛物料和創作技術的達成，還有在紡織應用綜合技術工具的產品——如應用在衣物上的回應式技術，能偵測我們的血液循環和氧氣量水平。生活中應用科技的優勢也教我們回望並欣賞古老技術的美好，從精緻手工藝以至獨一無二的天然物料不等。