HIGH POINT — In a few weeks, the annual International Casual Furnishings Assn. Casual Market will open in Atlanta, bringing a focus on all things outdoor to AmericasMart and highlighting products designed to create interior ambiance and comfort in exterior spaces.
Sunbrella is one of the exhibitors participating in the 2023 market, which is notably the first to be held in Atlanta, and the company’s executive design director Greg Voorhis said the team is ready to introduce Casual Market Atlanta attendees to some of the textile trends they’re featuring for outdoor.
“The outdoor season is back in full force, and we’re excited to be back at Casual this year for inspiring conversations with our industry partners,” Voorhis said. “Something we’ve always prioritized at Sunbrella is ensuring we have a range of fabrics to appeal to all styles and preferences. Home design is and always will be a uniquely personal experience and it’s important to us to offer products that honor that truth. For example, our current Sunbrella Upholstery Stock Collection is comprehensive yet ever evolving, with 270 different SKUs for customers and consumers to choose from. We’re constantly innovating with texture and color while experimenting with new styles and constructions to stay ahead of the trends.”
As seen with indoor upholstery, texture is an important fabric trend for outdoor furniture as well, Voorhis said. He added that Sunbrella is focusing on new yarn constructions that “break boundaries” in the performance fabric category.
“People are looking to bring unique and varied textures into their outdoor spaces, and we see this in the new and innovative fabrics they’re choosing, from tighter boucles to plush chenilles,” Voorhis explained. “In addition to texture, we’re also seeing people mix and match colors and patterns in their outdoor spaces. We’re seeing a lot of green right now, but we’re also seeing an interest in warmer colors that are less gray.”
Consumers are also layering their outdoor spaces to make them feel more personal, according to Voorhis, mixing jacquard fabrics with stripes and heavy textures or adding a bright color accent to a luxe boucle. He adds that consumers are looking for products that contribute to the circular economy through the use of repurposed or recycled materials.
“The most exciting products today are those with great sustainability stories,” Voorhis said. “This idea continues to guide our approach to fabric design and innovation at Sunbrella.”
And while the Sunbrella team has developed a selection of fabric introductions that offer trend stories including sustainability, texture and more, another notable factor to their product strategy is that the last word on what consumers want is not a one-fabric-fits-all-customers story anymore.
“There are no rules,” Voorhis said, referencing the variety of furniture, décor, and fabric options available to outdoor buyers. “We’re excited for what’s ahead in outdoor design.”
