Proposte, Scoperta glad for small gains
Happy, natural colors dominate shows' palettes
By Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, May 19, 2003
Cernobbio, Italy — Attendance and business were better than expected at both the Proposte show here and the Scoperta fabric show in Chiasso, Switzerland, this month. Both started slow but were up to normal attendance levels or better by the second day.
Not surprisingly considering the Iraq war and the SARS contagion, attendance was down from the Middle East and the Far East, but those areas don't traditionally represent a large percentage of attendees at either of these shows.
Expectations were low, so even though the shows didn't break attendance records, organizers were thrilled.
"We're absolutely delighted that attendance is up slightly," said Bill Davis, managing director of Trade Link, which produces the Scoperta show. "Everyone was expecting a 'challenging' show, but many exhibitors had quite a good show.
"Considering the current global economic climate, this was a thoroughly successful event and should be even more successful in 2004 when we hope world confidence will have returned," he said.
Nevertheless, China was a hot topic in Proposte and Scoperta, just as it was at the Showtime fabric show in High Point. Finding a way to stay competitive with low-cost Chinese mills and protect their intellectual property consumes European mill executives just as it does Americans.
SARS also got a lot of attention in the show halls. One rumor suggested that the microbe responsible for the illness remains viable and contagious on surfaces (like fabric) for longer than previously believed. If the story is true — or if it comes to be widely believed even if untrue — it could seriously affect the textile industry, considering the amount of product imported from the Far East.
Important fabrics at the show included velvets — and plains of all kinds — as well as innovative microfiber constructions that included chenilles and velvets; jute and paper blends; and synthetic leathers.
In general, there was a noticeably smaller pool of florals and prints of all kinds. Classic and contemporary were the strongest design directions in all categories from silk to wool and from paper to polyurethanes.
Colors were happy and natural. Terra cottas and other orange tones were strong throughout both shows, pink was important, blues were often water-inspired aqua shades, and a tangy apple green was a popular part of many multicolor patterns.
Proposte traditionally draws the highest level of American textile editors as well as high-end converters and furniture manufacturers who want choose from the full lines of European mills. As usual, Americans shopping at both shows were pleased with what they found.
Michael Day, vice president of U.S. fabric source Textile Fabric Associates, particularly liked the novel mixes of color he saw at the Italian show. Day noted in particular that pink was a strong trend color "especially used together with orange in fresh combinations."
"These are beautiful fabrics," said Margaret Haarsgaard, design consultant for high-end manufacturer TRS Furniture. "It's well worth the trip to come here and see the best the world has to offer."
European mills' color palettes differ from the American palette in a way that makes it easier to find colors that will set a showroom apart from the crowd, according to Jane Matteson, merchandising director for high-end contemporary upholstery specialist Weiman.
"I like to keep Weiman ahead of the color trend curve," Matteson said, "and I'm finding great things here for the color story I'm planning for the October market."
