In the last few posts we looked at some of the inspirations behind the latest fashion collections. One thing emerged about the S/S 19 season: most designers in New York and London did not come up with extremely revolutionary ideas and there was a lack of innovative surface elaborations.
Such effects can be rather expensive (and time-consuming when you start experimenting with them...), so that's probably why most designers focused on prints and volumes, or maybe some of them couldn't find an interesting inspiration.
If that's the case, they should turn to interior design since it can be a great source of inspiration, and the good news is that they don't even have to wait for next year's Milan Design Week to see some intriguing ideas as there are events dedicated to design in September in Bologna - Cersaie, the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings (September 24th - 28th) and Bologna Design Week (September 25th - 29th).
Italian De Castelli will take part in both the events to introduce its new products: the company recently developed a series of pieces of metal furniture in collaboration with well-known designers, but the emphasis will be on surface effects made with exclusive materials and precious finishes.
Among them there are "Marea", an effect consisting of overlapping oxidations applied to brass, copper and iron, and "Glow", an aluminium wall with square inserts made in natural black iron and iridescent steel.
There are two effects that may prove interesting for fashion designers, the first one is called "Circle Wall" and it is a covering system by De Castelli R&D characterised by an inspiring overlapping of round modules with various types of oxidation on brass.
With their satin, oxidized and brushed metal shades, they could easily inspire a chromatic palette (from gold to bronze to dark brown) or three-dimensional embellishments.
Designed by Paola Lenti in collaboration with De Castelli as a solution to create screens and wall coverings, "Tela" consists instead in an oxidized copper textile.
The manufacturing, weaving and oxidation process contribute to lend the copper intense shades going from green and brown to purple, red, rosé and gold.
Available in two different versions - open weaving or thick weaving - and in three ranges of colours, "Tela" was first presented at Milan's Fuorisalone in 2017, but was developed this year and it can be used as boiserie.
This is obvioulsy an example of a textile technique - the intrecciato - applied to interior design, but it would be intriguing to see if the material could be reimported into fashion and what kind of products could be developed with it, maybe luxury leather bags à la Bottega Veneta with integrated copper intrecciato inserts?
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