What’s hot in seasonal gift- and tableware
All consumer trends generally represent society’s need
to act out whatever world events we’re trying to deal with. It’s
actually a coping mechanism that helps us digest and make sense of
issues that are sometimes quite daunting. A real world example of this
would be the tableware, decorating and clothing fashions of the Roaring
Twenties. Think of art deco furniture and flappers with their
headdresses.
These fashions are directly linked to the fact that King Tut’s tomb was discovered during this decade, sending ripples of excitement around the world. Now look at those flapper headdresses – do they remind you of something Cleopatra would wear? As we look at our present-day trends, world events may have changed but consumers still reinterpret these experiences into their fashions. Giftware and tableware are both sectors currently displaying these influences in a big way. Here are a few emerging trends for anyone selling accessories to be aware of.
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The nature-inspired candles wrapped in bark are a hit with consumers. Photo courtesy of Bump Creative
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Tree Hugging
Most trend watchers can’t get over how quickly the environment has leap-frogged over health care and the economy as the number one issue on society’s list of concerns. We’re more aware of Mother Nature than ever before and consumers are constantly looking for ways to bring the outdoors in. Candles are energy efficient so look for a possible surge in sales. Suzanne Simmons, sales manager for Bump Creative of Toronto, sees the candle sector being tied to nature even more literally. “The big trend in candles right now is to wrap them in birch bark,” says Simmons. “Natural fibres are very big right now, especially from eco-friendly sources such as hemp and bamboo.”
Whole Foods has led the way by introducing reusable canvas bags and other retailers are quickly following suit. Florists could easily tap into this trend by procuring a nice line of cloth tea towels, which could be used to wrap the flowers instead of paper or plastic. The consumer walks away with an eco-friendly product and a nice towel to remember the bouquet by. It’s a win/win/win for the environment, the customer and the florist.
 Critters
We’ve seen the era of roosters morph into dragonflies, ladybugs and bumblebees. Critters are still a strong presence on our giftware imagery but with a global twist. This trend is a close cousin to the tree-hugging trend but it’s a bit more specific to the front line issues around global warming. “Penguins and polar bears are key images starting to find their way onto tableware and other gifting items,” confirms Simmons. Al Gore’s movie An Inconvenient Truth and the documentary March of the Penguins have pushed these animals to the forefront of our consciousness. Consumers are obsessed with birds and, as our winters get warmer, more birds are staying here rather than flying the coop. Birdbaths, birdseed and beautiful bird feeders continue to grow in popularity for consumers. Birds are prevalent in our giftware as images on vases and dishware. They’re also big as holiday decorations for wreaths and Christmas trees.
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| In Europe, a big trend is black Christmas trees with sparkling ornaments. |
Black and White
It seems as though our world has become increasingly polarized. You’re left or right politically or spiritually and there’s little room in between. This cultural tendency has manifested itself in fashion and hence home décor. “White porcelain tableware is very chic right now,” says Simmons. “It’s a clean and elegant look without being overdone and it lends itself to any colour of accessory to switch up the décor of the table.”
Black and white weddings are a very strong trend with 40 per cent of these brides adding red as an accent colour. It harks back to the Hollywood glamour of the 1940s and ’50s. Think of Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy black and white dress from the movie Sabrina and you’ve got the idea. Fashion’s current darling is the black and white stripe. Maybe it’s taking cue from the Pirates of the Caribbean craze or from so many celebrities donning stripes behind bars. Either way, it’s showing up in tableware and other accessories for spring 2008.
Bling
Ask any hairdresser and you can bet they’re very happy with their graduation business. The days of modest homemade dresses and a home perm are over – everyone wants their red carpet moment and this translates into glitz, glam and sparkle. The popularity of reality shows suggests that we prefer to make stars out of regular people just like us. So how do we reconcile the trend towards simplicity found in the birch-bark-wrapped candles and white dinner plates with the over-the-top sparkle of this trend? What gives? “It’s about those polar opposites again,” explains Simmons. “Day to day we want simplicity and to be in touch with nature but when it’s time to party we want glam all the way.” Look for bling to be big for celebrations. Christmas, New Year’s, graduations and weddings all qualify as “suburban red carpet moments. “
“One of the biggest holiday trends in Europe right now is to have a black artificial Christmas tree decorated with sparkling decorations,” reports Simmons. “It’s a very dramatic statement and quite unique.”
Colours
Judy Gilliam is the buyer for the retail division of Andrew Peller Limited and she sees a shift in the patio colour stories. “As more people view their backyards as an outdoor room, more entertaining happens there. Acrylic wine glasses and plates in lovely colours continue to be very popular and we’re seeing them begin to sell earlier in the season than ever before. Now it starts to take off in April instead of June. We’re also seeing that colours are starting to become more muted. Acid green shifts to kiwi and lemon yellows become a golden maize shade.”
Suzanne Simmons agrees that colours are starting to soften and earth tones continue to rule. “Green has been with us for a while now and still dominates the palette.”
Arts and Crafts
The original arts and crafts movement occurred in the late 1800s and into the early 1900s. This period was noted for its return to handmade items, craftsmanship and guilds, which were groups dedicated to preserving various arts and crafts. It’s widely accepted that this movement was a reaction to the “soulless” machine-made mass-produced items created by the industrial revolution. Many trend watchers feel we’re currently in the midst of another return to celebrating all things handmade in response to the technology revolution we’re currently experiencing. “Crochet is very very hot right now,” confirms Simmons. Crochet is being used as a trim on lampshades, boots and placemats. “In Europe – we saw knitted tams on the ski slopes sporting pom-poms that were as big as the hat,” Simmons said.
These trends exist because a larger societal shift has happened that requires us to adjust and adapt to a different reality. Trendspotting is straightforward at its core. Simply engage all of our senses – look at what magazines, TV shows and books are popular. All around us are clues, leading us to our consumers’ minds and hearts. Get ahead of the curve – it’ll be a fun ride.
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