Trends and Color Forecasting

1. Trends and Color Forecasting How trends and color forecasting are used to develop new textile products Written by: Deborah Craft Georgia CTAE Resource Network 2010

2. Trends • What is a trend? • A trend is what is currently popular. • Trends typically last for a short period of time. • Trends are sought after by many people.

3. What Influences Trends? Trends can be influenced by other factors happening in the world. Some areas that can impact trends include: • Politics • Religion • New inventions and discoveries • The economy • Climate and geography • Available materials

4. Origins of Trends • Trends are often re-occurring. They can be adaptations of classical styles that use new color combinations, or modifications of furniture and accessories popular during an earlier historical period.

5. History of Trends • Some popular periods that have influenced trends include: • Ancient (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Asian) • Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque • Middle Ages and Gothic • Renaissance • Baroque • Rococo • Neoclassical • Victorian • Arts and Crafts • Art Deco • Modern • Contemporary

6. How Markets Influence Trends • International markets introduce the latest designs in clothing, home furnishings, and textile colors, patterns, and weaves. • The latest designs in clothing are shown in Paris and Milan. • New home furnishings designs are showcased in Germany, Milan, Chicago, and North Carolina. • New textile designs are introduced at an annual show in Germany called Heimtextil.

7. How Markets Influence Trends • After each market, the styles are then shown in larger US cities, such as New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. • The styles that are most popular in these markets usually become a hot trend throughout the rest of the US.

8. Color Forecasting • Clothing lines introduce new styles and designs about four times a year. • Home furnishings, accessories, and décor items debut about twice a year. • Automobile models are introduced once a year. • Designers and manufacturers need to know what the “in” colors are going to be before their products can be developed.

9. Color Forecasting – Color Marketing Group • The Color Marketing Group, which was founded in 1962, is a non-profit international association which forecasts color trends nineteen months or more in advance. • Its members are color designers. • They exchange non-competitive information relating to all phases of color marketing.

10. Color Forecasting – Color Marketing Group • The Color Marketing Group’s primary purpose is to identify the direction of color and design trends. • They hold two semi-annual conferences for the development of Consumer and Contract Color Forecasts.

11. Color Forecasting - Pantone • Pantone was established almost 50 years ago and has become the leader in standardized color matching systems that are used worldwide.

12. Color Forecasting - Pantone • Pantone’s fan deck of matching system colors allows designers to specify a color that can be exactly matched anywhere in the world. • The colors are universally consistent so that the shade, tint, and tones are exact. • Pantone is most known for its use in specifying ink for printing and dyes for textiles.