Clariant, a leader in specialty chemicals, has introduced its ColourForward Interiors 2017, the fourth annual trend and colour forecasting guide for the fibre and textile market, at Heimtextil international trade fair for home and contract textiles that took place in Frankfurt last month.

Clariant Designer Judith van Vliet, who works at ColourWorks Europe/IMEA in Merate, Italy, presented before more than 100 interested visitors on the third day of the conference, which ran from 12-15 January at Messe Frankfurt.

“Only a small number of companies are invited to speak at Heimtextil, and so we were very excited and honoured to be able to debut the newest ColourForward Interiors at this prestigious event,” commented Judith van Vliet.

ColourForward Interiors

ColourForward Interiors is an annual colour forecasting guide for producers of textile, yarn and filaments, and designers and manufacturers of textiles, upholstery and carpeting.

It is derived from Clariant’s ColourForward trend-analysis and colour-design tool, which presents four global societal trends that can be expected to influence consumers and then links them to colours that evoke an emotional response related to each trend.

Trend colours

The ColourForward Interiors presentation kit includes twenty basic trend colours, as well as a number of complementary colours. They are presented in the form of pompons made of polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA) fibres, and also wrap cards with polyester fibre samples.

All fibres in ColourForward Interiors 2017 are dope dyed or spin dyed using Clariant masterbatches (colour concentrates) to impart colour to the yarn.

Presentation

Van Vliet’s presentation, entitled Clariant ColourForward 2017 Consumer Colour Directions; Life is a trap!, introduced the four trend themes for 2017.

The colours for 2017 are more muted and earthier than in recent years, van Vliet told the Heimtextil audience. “We believe the mood is becoming a bit more fearful, more introspective and reflecting the disconnectedness that many people seem to be feeling today. There are some exceptions of course, but in general the colours are softer, darker and even ambiguous,” she said.

Different materials

The ColourForward Interiors portfolio uses different materials in order to represent the diversity of regional and industrial segments in the fibres and textile market.

The pompons are made from PP and PA in bulk continuous filaments (BCF) to create a texture that is favored for carpeting made in Europe, the Middle East and North America. The polyester fibres on the wrap cards are produced as air-textured yarn (ATY), which is also commonly known by the old DuPont trademark, Taslan. ATY yarn is used in the automotive industry and also in furniture upholstery and clothing.

“Clariant created ColourForward over a decade ago as a way to engage with designers and marketers in an interactive and creative exchange,” explained Francis Baud, Global Head of Marketing – Fibres for Clariant Masterbatches. “ColourForward Interiors, now in its fourth year, provides that same experience but customized to the interests and needs of the fibres and textiles industry.”

www.clariant.com