According to Cotton Incorporated’s latest offering of Home Fashion Selling Ideas, childlike innocence, the natural world, new age tech and individualized luxury are among the key components of the fabric trends forecast for 2001/2002 in “The Next Evolution.”

     Last week we studied the four fabric trends. This week let’s take a look at the five color palettes that comprise “The Next Evolution” which emphasize whimsical to opulent designs, innovative constructions, and colors that range from ethereal pales to saturated hues. The color palette ranges from airy and delicate pastels to rich and saturated hues. The five color trends are ‘Grounded’, ‘Peaceful’, ‘Reflective’, ‘Sensitive’, and ‘Luminous’.

     The hues of ‘Grounded’ lend an earthy quality to this color trend, bringing to mind rainforest canopies, lush jungles and grassy plains. Natural and pure, these tints are freshness and growth personified. The fertile tones of soft Sage, rich Fig, deep Olive and verdant Cane pay homage to all things green.

     Blue-based tones are the foundation for the peaceful palette. These cool colors speak of tranquillity, escape and solitude. Think water and ice, still pools and silent glaciers. Meditative, introspective and reflective, these blues soothe with the hues of pale Horizon, aqua Harbor, teal Salaam, and Wedgwood Tasmin.

     ‘Reflective’ features a pivotal palette that runs from cool to warm colors. A reflection of moods and life cycles, this trend signifies the journey from the past to the future. Ponderous and somber, yet peaceful in nature, the colors of silver Mirror, smoky Tin, delicate Opal and plummy Hologram invite you to look inward.

     The ‘Sensitive’ trend features sensual and passionate pinks and reds that bring warmth and drama to a room. These colors appeal to all five senses, tingling with positive energy and vibrant life force. Dare to be carried away by the vitality of coral Clementine, lush Orchid, glowing Red Earth and daring Tiger Lily.

     The warm yet soft colors of ‘Luminous’ are all about light, both natural and artificial. Serene and quiet, these therapeutic tones are grounded in yellow. Let yourself be illuminated and transformed by the glow of radiant Sunlight, tranquil Lotus, fiery Ochre and spicy Curry.

     Research for “The Next Evolution” 2001/2002 was conducted in Australia, Singapore, Japan, Italy, England, France, Morocco and the United States.

Transforming Tomorrow

It seems there are classic needs rooted in our primitive ancestors that are important even today as we search for a life-long mate. Pierce Howard, PhD, in The Owner’s Manual for the Brain reports: “David Buss, with a group of international collaborators, polled over ten thousand men and women from the United States to Indonesia in an effort to determine what people want in the ideal mate. Buss, who was schooled in the evolutionary biology tradition that sees contemporary behavior as the result of natural selection, found that after intelligence and kindness (which both sexes ranked tops as features of the ideal mate), men preferred women who were physically beautiful and youthful over women with high earning potential, while women preferred good earning capacity and ambition over physical attractiveness.

In a related study, William Tooke of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh found that during courtship, men tend to exaggerate their earning potential and ambition and women tend to exaggerate their youthfulness and beauty, each relaxing into their more natural levels of ambition and appearance after attachment has been secured.”

Published: October 4, 2000

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Kathy Lamancusa is a trend strategis, professional speaker and author who tracks the forces that impact our lives. Over 1.6 million copies of Kathy's books are in print, and she has appeared on numerous television and radio shows including Oprah! She is a public speaker who can offer organizations entertaining and enlightening peeks into what is coming and what is shaping change so that they can better reach their own customer bases.