Interview with Greg Voorhis, Executive Design Director, Glen Raven
For this outdoor furniture-focused issue, Furniture World asked Greg
Voorhis, executive design director at Glen Raven, to review the benefits
consumers expect from fabrics used in their outdoor spaces, keeping in mind
the attributes he and his team build into the fabric they create.
Glen Raven produces fabrics for home and industrial uses, including the
well-known performance fabric, Sunbrella. Introduced in 1961 as a shade
product for awnings, Sunbrella has evolved to incorporate novelty yarns used
for outdoor and indoor home furnishings.
Voorhis explained that not only are performance fabrics an investment in the
look and feel of a space, but they’re also a functional investment in peace
of mind. “Today’s outdoor fabrics must be highly usable to stand up to
everyday life, maintaining both performance and comfort standards without
compromise for years to come,” he said. “These are some of the qualities our
design staff, R&D, sales, marketing and manufacturing teams keep in mind.
For us, performance starts at the fiber level with each fiber of every yarn
saturated to its core with UV-stable pigments. This means the vibrant color
does not fade and the fabrics retain the same look and feel over time even
after continual cleaning and usage.”
Outdoor Color Trends
Moving on to a discussion of fabric trends retailers might look for at the
upcoming Casual Show in Atlanta, Voorhis observed, “We’re seeing a lot of
green right now. Also, an interest in warmer colors that are a little less
gray. While important, these observations don’t mean that grays, blues and
red tones will disappear from the marketplace, because there are so many
nuances to what consumers are looking for.”
Textures
“Texture is critical to indoor and outdoor fabrics today. Consumers are
experimenting with texture and prioritizing pieces that will last from
season to season. Specifically, we’re seeing a greater interest in boucles
that are a little tighter in texture than some of their indoor counterparts.
Multicolor fabrics that incorporate unique and varied textures are very
popular in the outdoor market.
“Consumers are more focused than ever on the comfort of their outdoor
furnishings, including outdoor fabrics. Our new novelty yarn plant has
expanded our capabilities to create these highly textural, soft yarns such
as plush chenilles, nubby slubs and luxurious boucles to ensure we address
this ongoing desire for texture and comfort.
“People want to mix and match using different layers, styles, colors and
patterns. On retail floors, pillows are proliferating with diverse patterns
that stand out against the cushion backdrops. This includes jacquards mixed
with stripes, and heavy textures.”
“Multicolor fabrics that simulate texture and linen looks are very popular
in the outdoor market. Also, boucles that are a little tighter in texture
than some of their indoor cousins.”
Luxury Redefined
“Our team finds inspiration from global influences and cultural
observations. These insights inform our understanding of the innovations and
opportunities impacting the upholstery space,” Voorhis noted. “For example,
the idea of luxury is being redefined to be more inclusive. We’re seeing a
desire from consumers to purchase bespoke pieces and long-lasting,
sustainable designs that feel timeless and luxurious. In addition, a
preference for filtered hues complemented by dynamic forms and jacquards
that are designed for layering to bring depth, richness and materiality to
living spaces.”
Sustainable Design
Another theme Voorhis highlighted is the ongoing discussion of
sustainability and the importance of creating fabrics that support the
circular economy. “Sustainability is not a buzzword at Sunbrella—it’s
something we talk about quite a lot and have prioritized for decades.
Sustainable designs that support the circular economy will become more
important each year, not only for fabrics but also for every aspect of the
furniture industry,” he observed. “We recently launched our latest
collaboration with designer and artist Richard Frinier. Our work with
Richard spans more than 20 years, and during the past five years, it has
focused on developing fabrics with a sustainable appeal, all of which
incorporate post-industrial Sunbrella acrylic through a process that
recycles selvage waste by reverting the waste to fiber before making it into
a yarn that is woven back into fabric. All of these fabrics contain at least
20 percent recycled material and feature some combination of recycled
acrylic, recycled polyester and virgin acrylic yarns.
“Consumers have become increasingly informed about the materials they bring
into their homes.” In practice, this means products made with recycled
materials are becoming an expectation. “As this expectation has grown,”
Voorhis concluded, “it’s accompanied by a recognition of the beauty of
re-purposed or recycled materials.”
“People want to mix and match with different layers, styles, colors and
patterns. On retail floors, pillows are proliferating with diverse patterns
standing out against the cushion backdrops. Included are jacquards mixed
with stripes, and heavy textures.”