The latest trends to hit customized products are decorative textiles designed by the customers themselves.
Emsdetten – Mainstream is out: this has been a trend observed by researchers for longer than a year now. Manufacturers from various industries have responded with products which can be shaped and tailored to suit individual taste – from muesli with only your favorite ingredients to a customized pair of sneakers. This is a trend that has also found its way into the home-furnishings sector: photographic wallpaper, specially mixed wall colors or printed carpets are designed to give rooms an individual feel. The latest trends to hit customized products are decorative textiles designed by the customers themselves. The ibis Styles hotel in Arnsberg in Sauerland, Germany, is a prime example. They make use of unique textiles which have been produced to exactly match the design concept of the building.
Even though no ibis Styles hotel is the same, all members of this new branch of the famous ibis family have one thing in common: a high standard of interior design. It should be modern, fresh and colorful – and where possible, individual. Arnsberg is well known as an industrial base and an attractive location for those on business trips, as a result of the frequent medical conferences that are held there. Opened in 2012, the bright green façade of the hotel already offers guests a hint at what they can expect inside: a young, well-thought-out color scheme of green and purple, combined with grey, white and anthracite. Flowing, wave-shaped decorative elements are a central theme throughout the building. Everything appears to match perfectly – from the wall decorations, upholstery and cushion covers, to the curtain fabric. “Decorative textiles the ideal for creating accents in a room, they really bring a space to life. We wanted to set ourselves apart from the competition with our unique style, which meant picking items out of a catalogue simply wasn’t an option”, said hotel director, Benjamin Schulze-Borgmühl.
Personalized fabrics: customers become textile designers
Those wishing to create a stylish interior for a room need look no further than the personalized textiles from the Emsdetten-based specialists, drapilux. In addition to their popular collection of colorful and woven designs, the manufacturer has recently begun to offer their customers the opportunity to express their creative side as a textile designer. As part of the Creative INK line of products, textiles become canvases and can be printed with photos, sketches and drawings, or even corporate designs. Those who don’t want to make their own design, can simply select a pattern from the large drapilux 200° print collection and customize this as they see fit. This was the case in the ibis Styles hotel in Arnsberg: “The opportunity to customize our own fabrics instantly appealed to us. Our guests, primarily young professionals, choose us because we are a hotel that represents what they are looking for. Something different. We wanted to match this aspiration with an appropriate interior design”, Schulze-Borgmühle continued. Luckily the manufacturer already had a suitable design in the making. Product 249 from the 200° theme, summer in småland, features the same wave-shaped elements that can already be seen in the Arnsberg hotel. “We selected a basic model and design and then matched these to the exact tones of our interior color scheme”, said the hotel director of the simple process. The result is a consistent design that brings the entire interior to life. “We have already had an overwhelmingly positive response from our guests”, Schulze-Borgmühle laughed.
Quality not quantity: your own design on just a few metres
With their range of personalized fabrics, drapilux have added an important component to their collection. Unlike woven textiles, printed items can be manufactured in smaller quantities. There is a minimum order size of only 50 meters, and the whole process can be completed in just a short space of time – including consultation, the technical design of the template, creating the pattern and production itself. All Creative INK fabrics are unique and are produced exclusively in Germany.
