Article Number : 1408 |
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| Date | 10/17/2006 10:30:00 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=1408 |
| Abstract | Bologna, Italy—Tile is certainly a product in demand worldwide as witnessed by Cersaie 2006 which set records for total attendance, foreign attendance and numbers of accredited journalists... |
| Article | Bologna, Italy—Tile is certainly a product in demand worldwide as witnessed by Cersaie 2006 which set records for total attendance, foreign attendance and numbers of accredited journalists. The five-day international exhibition of ceramic tiles for the building industry and bathroom furnishings held last month at the Bologna Exhibition Centre here occupied 1.685 million square feet of the show floor, hosted 1,060 companies from 32 countries, including 531 ceramic tile producers—369 from Italy and 162 from abroad. According to Ceramic Tiles of Italy, Italian companies account for more than 30% of total European output and approximately 50% of the entire U.S. production capacity. This year’s trends were instantly recognized upon entering the trade show, as visitors approached designs of irregular shapes, high-textile styles, damask motifs, shiny metallic hues and 18th century-inspired floral patterns, among others. Taking inspiration from the fashion world, many Italian manufacturers have designed tile patterns that mimic fabrics such as velvet, leather and lace. Following this trend, Ragno, part of the Marazzi Group introduced Arkitessuto, a line the company describes as “the lightness of fabric, with its ethereal texture, applied to ceramics.” Additionally, Tagina Ceramiche d’Arte has developed a Floral Textile line, which was designed and created to decorate and furnish the house with the softness and delicacy of textiles, according to the company. Floral designs reminiscent of 18th Century style was also a prominent theme this year. Drawing inspiration from nature, Sicis’ Flower collection, hich is characterized by decisive chromatisms and combinations, and for its field tiles crossed by large flowers ranging from sunflowers, daffodils, daises, noble roses and water lilies. “In fashion, as well as in the world of furniture and design, flower themes are arrogantly re-emerging after years of occasionally punitive minimalism,” the company reports. Floral damask motifs with metallic hues are another common thread in 2006 introductions as seen through Ceramiche Provenza’s Live collection. While metal looks remain popular, colors have become softer, lighter and warmer. Another common trend leans toward shiny, glossy products in shades such as gold and silver. A classic example can be seen in Florim Group’s Casamood collection, which includes Vetro—a line of shimmering mosaics. Florim reports that with its versatile, eclectic personality, Vetro adapts to changing situations and environments, ranging from soft delicate shades to crystalline dark and light shades to iridescent, ethereal tints of color. Veering away from traditional flat-shaped tiles, many companies have created extruded tiles of irregular, multi-dimensional shapes. Examples of this can be found in Edilcuoghi’s Feeling line and Aspiro’s Constrasti collection, which both offer wavy patterns. Additionally, Monocibec is installing wall tiles in a variety of jutting, 3D patterns through its Fusion line. Combinations of contrasting colors, the mixing of square and rectangular shapes and the variation of finishes such as polished, semi-polished and matte, allow companies to offer more design options. Large-format tiles continue to be a popular trend with sizes becoming even bigger, and more horizontal shapes such as 12 x 18 and 12 x 24 are being offered. Furthermore, tiles incorporating decorative inserts were also popular at Cersaie, and patterns included the use of brass, beads and buttons. Classic damask motifs, including patterns of flowers, fruits and animals are also on the rise. Recycled, environmentally friendly products are becoming more prominent in the U.S. market as “green talk” has become a reoccurring topic among architects and designers. Many manufacturers have taken note and responded with natural, ISO-certified products. For example, Onix now offers a glass mosaic line comprised of 100% recycled material, while Flor Gres has established an eco-friendly line called Ecotech. Many tile manufacturers are now targeting the U.S. market. As a way to further meet demands of the American market, many Italian companies have launched U.S. divisions. In 2000, Florim USA was established in Clarksville, Tenn., to bring advanced tile design and technology to the U.S., as the company felt the American market had—and still has—strong growth potential. “From the beginning, the leadership of the company was focused on blending the Italian heritage, technology and design influence with the needs and demands of the American marketplace,” officials said. Today, Florim USA markets products under two brand names, Esquire and American Florim, and all are carefully developed and crafted to be practical for the U.S. According to the company, “designs originate from Italy, yet are carefully honed in terms of color and look to be sure to appeal to American consumers.” In terms of trends, the company has found Americans have expanded their tile tastes over the last five years, with consumers open to much more dramatic shades and shade variations, larger sizes and are seeking more designer detailing such as mosaics, liners and decos. Due to its extensive range of colorful products, from mosaics to high-tech porcelains to handcrafted wall tiles, Italian tile remains number one in the U.S. market. Next year’s event—the shows 25th anniversary edition —will be held Oct. 2 to 6 2007. |