Designer Fabrics AW16

The latest annual Homes & Gardens Fabric Awards 2016 has just passed so we thought we would quickly review the winners, runners up and perhaps point you in the direction of a few alternatives. The winners of this year’s Homes & Gardens Fabric Awards were fêted at a glamorous breakfast at the stylish Ham Yard Hotel, owned by Kit Kemp we believe, in central London on Friday 16th September. Not quite the Oscars but if you appreciate fine fabric and design in general not to be snubbed at. Several categories were covered including. Best Printed Fabric Best Woven Fabric Best Embroidered Fabric Best Wallpaper Best Wallpaper Collection Best Wallpaper Collection Best Fabric Collection So who was best? *Drum roll.

WINNERS AND SHORTLISTED DESIGNS IN THE 2016 AWARDS

BEST PRINTED FABRIC -WINNER Kanoko in copper, viscose mix, £75m, Zoffany and their Asian inspired Zoffany Edo fabrics range. Judge’s comment “This has a distinctive confidence that transcends all the different styles. You look at it and just think, ‘That works’.” It does look great on upholstery but we also think so does the likes of Pierre Frey Eventail Velvet fabric seen on these two chairs below, and taken from the their Charleston range earlier this year. As well as Osborne and Little Chrysler Fabric taken from their Art Deco inspired Fantasque fabric range at the start of the year. But what about the RUNNERS-UP, FROM LEFT Fields of Joy, linen mix, £109m, Ottoline. Judge’s comment “This vibrant fabric is full of energy and fun making it stand out from the crowd.” We have no idea Ottoline must look them up, but well done! Gerbera in Red/Pink, 100% linen, £69m, Kate Spade at Kravet. Judge’s comment “This is a great essential, easy to use, with great colours.” We understand Kit Kemp was raving about the recent Kate Spade collection launched in association with Kravet, kind of a unfortunate surname (sorry just saying), but interesting collection of fabrics with her latest New York fabric range. One to watch out for perhaps. BEST WOVEN FABRIC - WINNER Kuba Cay in Driftwood, linen mix, £95m, Zinc Textile. Judge’s comment “A beautifully simple yet complex design that can be used in many different situation.” A surprise winner from Zinc Textiles, part of the Romo Group, and perhaps a winner as it was featured in their first outdoor collection. We took a look at some outdoor fabric collections earlier in the year. (not much use now!) RUNNERS-UP, FROM LEFT [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] Todi, viscose mix, £69m, Nina Campbell at Osborne & Little. Judge’s comment “This has a lovely quality and an interesting weave for what will be a hardwearing fabric.” Vitto in Sunset, cotton mix, £68m, Harlequin. Judge’s comment “Another great weave with really intriguing colour combinations in every colourway.” We suppose when you think about it, they are just more weaves not a lot to say. BEST EMBROIDERED FABRIC - WINNER GP&J Baker Queen’s Sampler in Amber/Emerald, linen mix, £139m. Judge’s comment “The idea of a patchwork design is not new but the mixing of sampler designs has created a dramatic overall design.” A crazy pattern, different of course, but actually, we think they got it the wrong way round, really Mulberry’s Rain Dance fabric is a lot more interesting from our standpoint, but you be the judge. RUNNERS-UP, FROM LEFT [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end]   Mulberry Rain Dance Fabric, linen mix, £139m, Mulberry Home at GP&J Baker, Judge’s comment “Such an original design; absolutely beautiful.” We agree well said. Linen Work in Coral, 100% linen, £366m, Vanderhurd. Judge’s comment “The addition of embroidery has embellished a classic stripe and transformed it.” Never heard of you sorry, but well done! BEST WALLPAPER - WINNER Jacko in Citrine, £58.80m, Lewis & Wood. Judge’s comment “A bold design that is easy to use with a great handblocked effect.” Well we love the Lewis and Wood brand, like Linwood fabrics a delightful company to deal with down to earth, level and grounded so well done Lewis and Wood. However if we were choosing just like the last category we perhaps would have placed Morris and Co Pure Bachelors Button in first and this as a runner up. RUNNERS-UP, FROM LEFT [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] Morris and Co Pure Bachelors Button in Stone/Linen, £66m, Morris & Co. Judge’s comment “The scale is great and it is a good interpretation of a classic design.” From the latest Morris and Co Pure Fabrics collection both the wallpapers and Pure Fabrics are fantastic, we don’t know how many times you can re-invent the wheel but if keeps on looking this good, then keep on turning it. Oh La La in Blue/Ice/Sand/Gold, £119 a roll, Kiki Slaughter at Feathr. Judge’s comment “It almost looks like the planets moving around.” Spaced out for sure, what can we say. BEST WALLPAPER COLLECTION - WINNER Designers Guild Jardin des Plantes, from £59 per roll. Judge’s comment “A comprehensive, exceptionally well considered collection.” Have to fully agree with this one, the fabric range in our opinion could quite as easily won the best fabric collection this year as well. If there was a Best Floral Fabric category then it surely would have won hands down. RUNNERS-UP, FROM LEFT [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] Fable Collection, from £59.90, Linwood. Judge’s comment “A collection of designs that can find their way into any style of home.” Fair enough but not their best in our opinion. A Swinging Collection, £55 per metre, Ottoline. Judge’s comment “A fantastic collection following on from last year, pushing the boundaries but always lively and fun.” Looks a bit candy pop to us, but don’t take our word for it kids. BEST FABRIC COLLECTION - WINNER GP and J Baker Historic Royal Palaces, from £69, GP&J Baker. Judge’s comment “It’s very clever to have put digital prints on heavier weights of linen.” We rambled on about Printed Velvet Fabrics a while ago and this collection has a number of designs on both printed velvets and linens. It is a really nice collection, but the Mulberry Home Festival Fabric range is also up there in our opinion. I suppose Matthew Williamson Durbar range, while not something that is in the tradition and style of Homes & Gardens perhaps we actually think it could be one of his best so far for Osborne and Little. Designers Guild Jarden Des Plantes we have already mentioned is a classic this year, Romo Fabrics Kelso is also nice. Sanderson Waterperry Fabrics proves that brand is going from strength to strength, and with Walker Green Bank just having brought Clarke and Clarke fabrics out for approx. 40 million I imagine the group and their brands will be getting stronger. Certainly Zoffany Phaedra Fabrics shows promise and Morris and Co Pure fabrics is as stated another classic all part of the Walker Green Bank group. RUNNERS-UP, FROM LEFT [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] Curiosities collection, from £35, Kate Spade New York for Kravet. Judge’s comment “A great array of different prints that provide lots of options when working on a scheme.” Yeah it’s ok……. William Yeoward Rufolo Fabrics, price, from £49 per metre, William Yeoward at Designers Guild. Judge’s comment “What can we say? Yet another all-round great collection.” If Rich Azure is really a colour on trend this year, then William Yeowards Rufolo fabrics is a rather aptly timed collection which should do well. William Yeoward is always for ever championing everything blue and in between. Most interesting comment we felt from the Judges on the day was from Celia Rufey and her point about embroideries on linen being more versatile than silk embroideries, which we all know can cause issues when used for window treatments. Loved the video but the backing track should have been a bit of Tina Turner who is….. Surely they should introduce a Best Printed Velvet Fabric next year. In other news briefly….. World Of Interiors The British magazine The World Of Interiors has assigned the Collection of the Year Award to Dedar fabrics Silkbird Jacquard during the Focus 2016 event in London. Well done Dedar. Of course all of these brands are online and available to buy at TM Interiors with additional interior design and made to measure custom curtains and blind services available if required. Details available upon request. See our review back in 2014. Contact us for further details.