Clariant Presents ColorForward® Interiors 2017 at Heimtextil Trade Fair

Muttenz, February 1, 2016 – Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, chose Heimtextil 2016, the international trade fair for home and contract textiles, as the venue for introducing ColorForward® Interiors 2017, the fourth annual trend and color forecasting guide for the fiber and textile market. Clariant Designer Judith van Vliet, who works at ColorWorks® Europe/IMEA in Merate, Italy, made the presentation before more than 100 interested visitors on the third day of the conference, which ran January 12 – 15 at Messe Frankfurt.

ColorForward Interiors is an annual color forecasting guide for producers of textile, yarn and filaments, and designers and manufacturers of textiles, upholstery and carpeting. It is derived from Clariant’s groundbreaking ColorForward trend-analysis and color-design tool, which presents four global societal trends that can be expected to influence consumers and then links them to colors that evoke an emotional response related to each trend. The ColorForward Interiors presentation kit includes not only twenty basic trend colors, but also a like number of complementary colors. They are presented in the form of pompons made of polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA) fibers, and also “wrap cards” with polyester fiber samples. All fibers in ColorForward Interiors 2017 are dope dyed or spin dyed using Clariant masterbatches (color concentrates) to impart color to the yarn.

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

Van Vliet’s presentation – entitled “Clariant ColorForward 2017 Consumer Color Directions; Life is a trap!” – introduced the four trend themes for 2017. The colors for 2017 are more muted and earthier than in recent years, she 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 colors are softer, darker and even ambiguous.”

The ColorForward Interiors portfolio uses different materials in order to represent the diversity of regional and industrial segments in the fibers 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 fibers 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 ColorForward over a decade ago as a way to engage with designers and marketers in an interactive and creative exchange,” explains Francis Baud, Global Head of Marketing – Fibers for Clariant Masterbatches. “ColorForward Interiors, now in its fourth year, provides that same experience but customized to the interests and needs of the fibers and textiles industry. We’re not trying to tell our customers what colors to choose. Instead, we want to help them discover that for themselves by stimulating their imagination.”

Judith van Vliet will next present the ColorForward 2017 story at the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, scheduled for February 3 -13 at the Stockholmsmässan Centre.