Trends in Embellishment

Whenever I see interesting embellishments, I immediately return to my bedding roots. After leaving my full time job, eons ago, I did a good deal of freelancing in the the home sector. After every duvet was made, we’d come up with accompanying pillows to round out the package.

When they say that fashion influences home, it’s often true and today’s round up, collected from Bergdorf Goodman‘s Fall Catalog, reveals monochromatic metallic circles, pacman-like mazes and reptilian spots. The hazy 3.1 Phillip Lim spread was shot by the talented duo, Luciana Val and Franco Musso.

September 19, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Red on Red Retailing

Red is the comeback kid this Fall. I’m not sure if you recall seasons past, but it went on a bit of a hiatus, standing behind shades of magenta and plum. It’s interesting in a way, as I vividly remember the conversations we all had at the Color Association round table a while ago, as we discussed the strength and emergence in Chinese and Russian territories and the direct influence it would have on European and American palettes.

The Prada coat is photographed by Jacob Sutton for Bergdorf Goodman’s latest Fall catalog and the chairs were captured by my iphone at ABC Carpet this past weekend. The monochromatic foreground and background combo is rather striking, wouldn’t you say?

September 12, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Marimekko around Helsinki

This photo pretty much sums up my travels in Helsinki. Justin would explore (or wait) while I browsed with my iphone or Canon in hand, asking shop owners about their tchotchkes and the history behind their trinkets. Every once in a while I’d leave with a necklace, light bulb or keychain (or instagram a longing for something like this).

Like I mentioned in the Johanna Gullichsen feature, fabric is often sold on the premises and it’s no different at Marimekko, where the options are graphic and plentiful.

Here are a bunch of photos I took from inside the main store that houses clothing, artwork, books, toys, homewear and playful decor. Coming from America, where the uptown store feels like Marimekko-light, the hometown store is truly special.

From a retail and merchandising perspective, the flow and lighting compliment each other to tell a bright and whimsical story. Various patterns are assigned to different corners, capturing you in a textured atmosphere. I of course gravitated to the black and white sections first, then moved along to the polka dots and flowers.

Who remembers the delightful girls from Gone to Lunch? Doesn’t this wall speak to their dressing room jaunts?

Much like J.Crew and Kate Spade have filled their walls with art and literature, Marimekko’s wall and floor display tell a timeline of Finnish design history, including the company’s own.

As you can see, the brand’s patterns are woven throughout the city- they’re a part of everyday life, no matter where you turn. Here are tablecloths at an outdoor eating area.

I sometimes felt like a madwoman briskly following people with a camera (read: 1 in 5) were dressed in Marimekko patterns. It’s fascinating and exhilarating to see a brand so entirely embraced by the society that’s produced it.

A few more examples: a vintage bookstore incorporates the iconic black and white print as a backdrop for it’s books.

And upon my exit at the Helsinki Airport, the dishes and trays are covered in Marimekko patterns. There’s a true appreciation for design within the fabric of the culture- and aside from the obvious label, it was easy to see why this city was named the Design Capital of the year.

September 4, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Textile Tutorials in Helsinki

If any of you happen to be following along on instagram, you’ll know that I’m traveling at the moment – in the northern european capitals of Helsinki & Tallinn. As a result, Pattern Pulp postings will be a bit light up until Labor Day.

The past two weeks have been somewhat manic, as I’ve been packing up ship (we’re moving to a new apartment next week!), adding finishing touches to several month-long projects and preparing for this textile & trend trip abroad.

So back to the purpose of this post. Helsinki is having quite the year. They’ve been named the Design Capital of 2012 and the essence of the title rings true throughout the city. Everywhere you go, from the local pizza shop to the hardware store to window decals for skis, books & umbrellas, you’ll notice a strong appreciation for graphic and surface design.

One of my first stops was to Johanna Gullichsen‘s Textile Craft & Design shop. While geometric patterns are extremely popular throughout Finland, Gullichsen’s fabrics carry a durable, branded timelessness that’s easily translated to home decor.

The flagship store sells pillows, bags, chair cushions, trays and the original fabric (a somewhat common trait in Helsinki). One of my favorite pieces (that unfortunately won’t be making it through customs) is the upholstered collage chair. Overall the designs swing both masculine or feminine – a respectable and often complicated feat for any pattern and fabric maker.

August 23, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Upholstery Trends at ABC Carpet

Forever a fan of texture and textiles, it’s interesting to see additional brands beyond John Derian and Anthropologie incorporating quilting and batik techniques into their home lines. Take Cisco Brothers, a sustainable company based in LA. Their textiles, pillows, sofas and chairs are extremely inviting and individualistic. This hmong batik is one we’re seeing a lot of in fashion and the translation to home is beautiful.

If you’re not one to commit to bold furniture, consider these exposed-stitch applique pillows. Combining hemp with cotton blends, canvas and distressed linen, these pieces seem like a healthy evolution from the Shabby Chic trend of the past.

August 13, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Pattern Play in Bushwick

I’ve been living in Bushwick for almost 6 years now and one of my favorite things about the neighborhood is its constant artistic evolution. In the spring and summer, its not uncommon for me to take a detour from my daily path to explore the ever changing nooks and crannies of the neighborhood. Thursday afternoon I did just that, and found myself meandering down Grattan Street as I took a phone call.

I slowed when I spotted what appeared to be some sort of laser-cut polkadot design, piquing my curiosity. As I got closer and rounded around to the front, I quickly and giddily realized that the design was much more intricate than just some random series of dots. Naturally, I couldn’t reach fast enough to turn on my iPhone’s camera, snap a photo and Instagram the patterned prize.

Thus far, my internet sleuthing hasn’t led me to figure out what exactly this building holds, though sometimes it can be fun to leave things as a little mystery. And so, this building offering up “free things” exists not unlike a candy-covered gingerbread house for pattern lovers.

Coverage by Emily Gup

August 3, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik