Staying Power: Report 10’s Iconic American Pattern Design Styles of Today and Tomorrow
In the Fall 2021 - Staying Power edition we ask: What defines iconic American design, and what will define it tomorrow? The pandemic’s new way of life has ignited nostalgic interest in tried-and-true favorites, dovetailed with fresh interpretations.
Staying Power covers nine core styles in American surface design that stand the test of time and continue to shape the tastes of consumers and designers. Juxtaposing historical companies established during the gilded age with mid-century masters and cutting-edge designers, Report 10 takes you on an informative and beautiful journey across the wide-ranging landscape of American pattern design, keying you in to the styles and colors consumers have wanted and continue to want.
Theme 1
the Crisp Classicists
Tailored and refined, the classic designs shown here have an unmistakable iconic appeal: the blue and white patterns inspired by Ming porcelain, the beautifully rendered and clean botanical prints set atop fine taffetas and chintzes, the delicately embroidered tapes. Brightly colored, French-influenced designs so popular with the late 19th-century Carriage Trade are still beloved today and are interpreted through a preppy American lens.
Plus profiles on Schumacher and Brunschwig & Fils, and interview with Rose Cumming’s new owner Lauren Hudson.
Looks
Trellises & boxwood hedges
Cabbage roses & other realistic blossoms
Fresh green foliage
+ more details in the report!
Theme 2
the Storytellers
The cave paintings at Lascaux were arguably the first wallcovering designs, and humans have been adorning their walls and surroundings with soulful pictures of what they see around them ever since. The stories these imaginative designs tell evoke memories of happy times or fantasies about how we want to live.
Plus a profile on Clarence House and Kazumi Yoshida, and interviews with Scalamandre’s design director Sumitra Mattai and Schumacher’s design director Cristina Buckley on her eponymous line.
Looks
Carefully spaced motifs of silhouetted animals
Contemporary, tongue-in-cheek toiles
Landscape & cityscape patterns
+ more details in the report!
Theme 3
the Harbingers
Deep changes are afoot in our society, and the social justice movement that exploded in 2020 is being felt in the design industry. There is a rising awareness around inclusion and the need to listen to different voices. A futuristic look at adornment and pattern is presented here: some designers honor their own heritage; others uncover inventive ways to work with indigenous communities and designers to create unique products or artworks; others are inspired by feelings or moods and create visionary design from that place.
Plus a profile on Breuwen, and an interview with Bradley L. Bowers on his new eponymous line.
Looks
Luxurious elements including appliqué, epinglé & embroidery
Graphics based on indigenous flora & fauna
Replacing literal and Euro-centric references
+ more details in the report!
