I'm just back from the enviable task of shopping for the store at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) and have found a ton of exciting new products for the spring/summer season -- many from our favorite old designers and some from new ones too. The big trend is
Everything Old is New Again
. The looksÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ I spotted this season are all rooted in the past.
On the Farm.
Think rustic handmade wood tables and benches, homespun-slubby flax linens, and rusty and weathered metals - chicken wire, galvanized and steel farm tools and devices like pulleys and hooks.
18th Century Maritime. OK, nautical looks have been around forever and of course sell very well at coastal shops, but this look is more than seashells and beach glass. It crosses over to a more urban environment. Think scrimshaw, authentic compasses , etched whale motifs, cut paper silhouettes, antique maps, maritime paintings.
Muted, Soft and Simple. This one's a bit less obvious. Muted: Color trend seems to be inching towards a dirtier and softer palette.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ I saw plenty of tea-stain, gray, ecru, dusty pinks and mauve and the palest aqua in home accessories and in textiles. Soft: Fabrics are leaning towards velvet, mohair, linen, cotton, cowhide, fur and faux fur. Simple: In wood furniture and mirrors the direction is away from Baroque carvings and towards clean ogee mouldings and straight lines. Dec pillows are showing simple constructions -- ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ knife-edge, flap backed or string-tied.
Still holding strong in trendland is anything Recycled, Sustainable, Natural and Fair Trade. I call them "feel good" products. I picked up my share of them too. Here are examples of Haitian-made, fair trade, metal wall sculptures coming in soon.
They are hand-crafted from recycled steel drums.
The fair is twice annually, January and August, and is held at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the west side of Manhattan. Most of the products sold at Atmosphere are first discovered at this show with exceptions being our exclusive vintage lines, custom collections and products from a few lucky designers who have managed to impress me early in their careers.
I say "enviable task" because is sounds like the most awesome experience ever, right? Big budget, 9 miles of ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ international vendors, 6 consecutive days, nothing but SHOPPING!! Well, it can be grueling and challenging as well. Often feels like finding a diamond ring buried in beach sand. Miles of American consumerism crap and then suddenly a sparkling gem. Here are some more gems to look forward to. In store Spring 2012.
Trends to Look For
18th Century Maritime. OK, nautical looks have been around forever and of course sell very well at coastal shops, but this look is more than seashells and beach glass. It crosses over to a more urban environment. Think scrimshaw, authentic compasses , etched whale motifs, cut paper silhouettes, antique maps, maritime paintings.
Muted, Soft and Simple. This one's a bit less obvious. Muted: Color trend seems to be inching towards a dirtier and softer palette.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ I saw plenty of tea-stain, gray, ecru, dusty pinks and mauve and the palest aqua in home accessories and in textiles. Soft: Fabrics are leaning towards velvet, mohair, linen, cotton, cowhide, fur and faux fur. Simple: In wood furniture and mirrors the direction is away from Baroque carvings and towards clean ogee mouldings and straight lines. Dec pillows are showing simple constructions -- ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ knife-edge, flap backed or string-tied.
Still holding strong in trendland is anything Recycled, Sustainable, Natural and Fair Trade. I call them "feel good" products. I picked up my share of them too. Here are examples of Haitian-made, fair trade, metal wall sculptures coming in soon.
They are hand-crafted from recycled steel drums.
The fair is twice annually, January and August, and is held at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the west side of Manhattan. Most of the products sold at Atmosphere are first discovered at this show with exceptions being our exclusive vintage lines, custom collections and products from a few lucky designers who have managed to impress me early in their careers.
I say "enviable task" because is sounds like the most awesome experience ever, right? Big budget, 9 miles of ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ international vendors, 6 consecutive days, nothing but SHOPPING!! Well, it can be grueling and challenging as well. Often feels like finding a diamond ring buried in beach sand. Miles of American consumerism crap and then suddenly a sparkling gem. Here are some more gems to look forward to. In store Spring 2012.
Zina Kao
These scrimshaw bone boxes came in already!!
New wrapping paper below.
French comics inspired beech wood utensils are truly wacky!
New melamine plates from W2.
Rebecka Froberg earrings below.
Our old favorite Pink Peony is coming back too!