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Sunbrella launches new heathered look at Showtime

14 Jun '12

4 min read

Heather textures and subtle colors make for a striking combination in the latest collections of Sunbrella fabrics introduced at Showtime in High Point. With design elements that include new heathered yarns and soft textures such as chenille and boucle, the collections - Thistle, Ignite, Cultivate, Cove and Solitude - coordinate with existing Sunbrella fabrics or stand alone for a variety of upholstery options.

"The introduction of new textured yarns results in fabric offerings with an abundance of surface interest and a soft hand," said Gina Wicker, design and creative director for Sunbrella fabrics. "We look forward to seeing these fabrics come to life in our customers showrooms in the coming months."

The new Sunbrella yarn colors reflect a continued interest in sophisticated heathers with an on-trend color palette including a burnished gold and an almost-neutral soft purple. The yarn color Huckleberry is a neutralized plum; Maize is a green-cast gold with texture; Flax is a light linen with a warm, neutral tone; and Granite is a soft gray. The yarns are created by blending other fiber colors resulting in a natural heathered look that resonates throughout the new Showtime collection.

The Thistle Collection is accentuated by the new Huckleberry yarn and includes striking textures such as Synergy Iris, which has a heavy slub yarn, and Chateau Oak, a luxurious and weighty herringbone. The collection leans heavily into the gray color family, including Fortress Dusk, a graphic zipper pattern and Embark Thistle, a globally inspired stripe. Bottega Thistle, a Turkish inspired medallion and the chambray solid Meridian Teak round out the group with slightly warmer hues.

"Grays continue to be a strong color for both interior and exterior décor, serving as a neutral tone that is more updated than beige. Grays combine beautifully with either soft or vibrant hues," Wicker said.

Also leaning heavily into the gray family is the Solitude Collection, which is highlighted by its use of texture. Narita Pebble, inspired by a Japanese Shibori, grounds the group with its sophisticated style. Accompanying this pattern is the dark charcoal in Heritage Granite, which contains 50% recycled content and the soft smoky tone of Chartres Pebble. Parker Slate displays the heathered nature of the Sunbrella recycled yarn in a strong stripe while Poise Fog and the geometric Palma Granite conclude the collection with plush chenille textures.

The Cultivate Collection celebrates earth tones using fall harvest colors centered on the new Sunbrella heathered yarn, Maize. Cleo Cornsilk is a floral jacquard that has the feeling of a hand drawn sketch. The bodycloths Chartres Barley and Apiary Caraway feature luxurious textures while Current Wren, a two-color strie, adds the perfect amount of softness. Embark Straw and Trinket Teak complement the collection with their natural and versatile style, both incorporating a textured boucle yarn.

Cove, a collection rich in indigo blues and turquoise tones, adds contrast with wheat accents. The floral Vagabond Maui features a bohemian flair and is accompanied by Stonehedge Barley, a chenille waffle weave. Embark Peacock is a rich, globally inspired stripe. Chartres Indigo, an elegant dark blue bodycloth and Current Turquoise provide solid accents. Synergy Ash introduces texture in a subtle gray with flecks of blue.

The final new collection, Ignite, breaks away from the other introductions with its fiery red, hot pink and bright orange influence. Using all three colors in concert, Empire Jewel shows a contemporary twist on a classic shape by using an ogee base and giving it the flair of an Ikat. Its textured companions are Mimic Salsa, a luxurious ratine texture, Apiary Berry, a small-scale texture, and Origin Brick, a plain cloth that contains Sunbrella's recycled Renaissance yarn. This collection is completed with a textured stripe, Embark Sangria, and a ditsy pattern, Trinket Papaya.

"The Ignite Collection will appeal to those customers interested in warmer color palettes, but with updated fabric designs that emphasize texture and pattern," Wicker said. "While the five collections have some unifying themes, there are many unique patterns and constructions that will translate beautifully to a variety of furniture frames."

Glen Raven