We are all living in moving times – the pandemic’s influence is everywhere. Existing structures in our social and economic live are tumbling and this is of course also affecting global trends. People are longing for calm and normalcy which has a strong impact on their private ambience and surroundings. Nature is much more cherished and valued. On the other hand, people try to brave the situation – processes of digitization are pushed and public interest has its focus on high-tech products. Let’s have a look at the developments in the textile, fashion and embroidery industry:

Nature look with a twist – sustainable fabrics, accentuated with a glittery embroidery. Characteristic dark autumn and winter colours are brightened up with off-white and pastel shades.

Design: Paula Zahn, Modefachschule Sigmaringen – Embroidery Thread: POLY STAR by Gunold – sustainable wool and cotton fabrics: Elmer & Zweifel

Reinterprate classic patterns – reddish tones in many different shades will be omnipresent. The picture on the left shows a leaf in shiny iridescent and metallized effects from Gunold’s METY range. Same design on the right, embroidered on the water soluble SOLVY film, using ombré threads from the SULKY colourcard.

Playing with transparency remains a strong theme – in this case it’s Gunold’s ultrathin MONO nylon thread combined with SULKY viscose in ombré dye.

Gunold MONO and SULKY ombré threads on linen fabric. Design: GS UK

Natural, sustainable fabrics and materials are on the rise - in fashion as well as in home textiles and interior design. These three pictures show embroidery on bark (www.barkcloth.com), cork and wood (Sam Fashion Italy), realized by Irene Körting, Reutlingen University. All these designs are having few stitches only - intentionally the designer created special effects by playing with stitch types and directions…

Cross Stitch is celebrating a fresh and contemporary comeback.

Patterns may and can be imperfect, like being incomplete…

Gunold COTTY and METY threads, Design by GS UK

Fascinating 3D structures make a pattern airy and breezy.

3D embroidery. Gunold SULKY. Design: Franco Biraghi

Alienation Effects – to interpret natural designs by using geometric structures or grid like elements are breaking established rigidities.

Using glow-in-the-dark threads surprisingly alienates well-known natural patterns.

Improvisation versus Perfection ! Keywords are coated fabrics, layerings, combinations of natural and artificial materials, upcycling - don’t talk – just do !