It feels like we’ve only just begun 2009, but this post is about the colors that experts say we’ll all be wearing and buying next year. The Color Forward Global Color Forecast and Trend Inspiration report for 2010 is a crucial tool that helps brand managers and designers make color choices for next year’s products. Each year an international team of color experts, designers, and brand managers analyze cultural and lifestyle trends from around the globe, along with mass market influences, in an effort to predict “the color directions for future consumer products.”
ColorForward 2010 predicts four major societal trends, which they have dubbed Reinventing Happiness, Tech It Easy, Embracing Gaia, and Age Shock.
The Reinventing Happiness theme refers to the importance of personal satisfaction in an unstable world and the feeling that time is a precious commodity. Tech It Easy reflects our current reliance on technology in our daily lives. The Embracing Gaia theme is based on the green concepts that are prevalent in today’s world. Age Shock refers to today’s grownups as GRUPS, people who defy the process of aging and have a youthful outlook on life.
The twenty color influences predicted for 2010 include several shades of warm brown, turquoise, shades of raspberry and ruby red, and other warm, earthy tones. Be sure to check out the colors in the 2010 report before making your fabric color choices for next year.
Styled Baby Designs Supports Local Moms
Styled Baby Designs is a small boutique in Hillsboro, Oregon just outside Portland that carries “unique gear for the modern mama and child”. The boutique proudly displays wares ranging from bibs and blankets, barrettes and aprons, shoes and diaper cakes. More than 80% of their stock is made by local moms, most of whom live within 20 miles of the shop, but sales are made nationally through their website at StyledBabyDesigns.com.
Delia Coker began sewing tiny onesies while her premature infant was in intensive care, but enjoyed her newfound skills so much that she later started selling her creations at a bazaar. While talking with another vendor there about motherhood and business Coker came up with the idea of creating a place where moms could get together to sell their handmade products.
Since opening the boutique it has turned into more of a community with the addition of story times, a book club and cookie decorating sessions. Groups of moms even get together there for meetings and social time. Even though the economy has kept things slow, word of mouth has been good and the boutique even had to hire part time help, which will definitely come in handy in June when Coker’s second baby is due and her husband is scheduled to be deployed to Iraq.
Read more about Coker’s story in the Washington County News, or visit her website and take a look at all the beautiful things on display.