a report from the scottish interiors showcase 2022 (with good news on sustainability!)

first of all, please accept my sincere apologies for reporting on this event so late - as i promised about a month ago, i did indeed visit the scottish interiors showcase in late february and i was really looking forward to telling you all about it! but then, after managing to avoid it for nearly two years, i caught covid, and although luckily i escaped with mild symptoms, it was hard to concentrate in front of a screen for too long. isolating at home with little energy for anything whilst a horrific war breaks out in europe in a place close to my heart really annulled my motivation levels. i’m really sorry that blogging and posting has been a bit neglected.

however, life, and the love of beautiful things must, and will win under any circumstances, i really believe in that. so i’m trying to get back in shape and i’m finally ready to bring you what i promised, with highlights of what i found the most interesting developments from the world of interior design in scotland.

1 - SUSTAINABLE FAVOURITES

so, you know me by now, and as you’d have guessed, the one thing i kept asking every single sales rep that would talk to me was, “how much of this is sustainable?” the replies i got varied, but there was a growing interest and efforts by almost all brands and they mentioned that it’s a question that keeps getting asked. my first focus is on this angle, and here’s my top 3 that delivered:

1.1 william yeoward

the british household name had, as expected, some fabulous products on display. but the best news to report is the launch of a brand new rug collection, from 100% recycled PET. it didn’t look or feel synthetic at all, and the colourways are simply gorgeous. (link to visit)

1.2 designs of the time

i’d say the linen offerings of yvan puylaert’s company was an absolute highlight of the show to me and the tactile qualities of their linens were just a joy to look at. everything is 100% natural and mostly linen. the rep mentioned that they have a hemp line too, but it wasn’t on display as “it’s not popular in the uk - much more so on continental europe”. who’s with me to change that and try to get that here? who’d love more hemp (and of course, jute!) in british interiors?! (link to visit)

1.3 casadeco

the french group has always been one of my favourite supplier at these events, as i do love their geometric pattern designs. their happy surface patterns were no exception this year either. their newest launch is their cushion line, but their wallpapers were also very popular - for good reason too. however, i’m pleased to report on their wide range of plain, natural and recycled fabrics. (link to visit)

2 - SURFACE PATTERN DESIGN FAVOURITES

perhaps unlike other material expos, this particular event tends to be quite fabric-heavy and the vast majority of the exhibits were an eye-popping display of colour and patterns. i really recommend visiting as it really is a total surface pattern feast! for this reason, the next top 3 is selected from this angle, although it was quite a challenge!

2.1 ohpopsi

i have never heard of this company before, but their stand was beautifully arranged and proved to be very popular visitors. they also sent the friendliest reps to the fair, who were very keen on sharing some background info as well on their manchester-based company. they offer a wide range of wallcoverings, not only repeat patterns but also mural-style, non-repeating too, with really impactful effect on interiors. i did like some of the brutalist geometries but they do have some amazingly colourful patterns. (link to visit)

2.2 ian sanderson

now, if you are a regular reader, and you know the kind of homewares zitozza has, you know that it’s not a botanical type of brand at all. however, traditional, rich, heritage-based designs dominate this fair quite heavily, so it wouldn’t be fair not to mention at least one of these brands. i’m picking ian sanderson because they have everything you want, from the meticulous reworking of original block prints, through fabulous wovens and a collection of a versatile, cute range of coordinators that are made in the UK. (link to visit)

2.3 prestigious textiles

the pattern powerhouse delivers again, need i say more? i’ve been to a few fairs before and, as a lover of pattern, colour and texture, the pt display is always my favourite. in line with zitozza’s own aesthetics, i was looking for happy geometries and i wasn’t disappointed. the colourways are inspiring me to try some schemes that could work well with these! (link to visit)

3 - MATERIAL FAVOURITES

i keep mentioning that this is a very textile-heavy show usually, however, i want to mention a top three of flooring and hard finishes, because they are an important part of home interior styling. i enjoy looking at interesting surfaces and i can certainly get obsessive with where i want to lay my jute rugs.

3.1 crucial trading

this company had a lovely display of sisal floor coverings in all possible textures and colours. sisal is a natural, sustainable fibre that is even more durable than jute. the gold colour is similar and i got really attracted to this abundance of tactile samples. (link to visit)

3.2 miller’s 1893

i’m currently on a mission for hardwood floors in my own house (also home to the zitozza studio) so i was very happy to find this company. my favourite of their offerings were these antiqued hardwood floors that although they looked like they were reclaimed, they are entirely purpose-made for this somewhat industrial look. really, really fell for these. (link to visit)

3.3 la fabbrica

there weren’t many suppliers of stone or ceramics present, so i feel obliged to mention the la fabbrica range that put lovely, lovely slabs on display of some very interesting surfaces, which i’m sure that fellow fans of brutalism would also appreciate. (link to visit)

4 - OTHER INTERESTING FINDS

overall, it was a great experience to visit, and it’s great to see what some of the best of british and international interior design brands are up to, without having to travel too far, so i do recommend visiting again next year. we’re nearly at the end of this roundup, but i want to mention a few more observations.

4.1 nautical is in!

this one took me by surprise (a very pleasant one, may i add), as i do have my own range of nautical homewares. i do it because it matches the golden, raw jute materials i’m working with, but it was nice to see that quite a few brands, such as fryett’s (on left) and mulberry (middle and right) also offers interior fabrics and wallpapers to complete such looks. you love to see it!

4.2 ikat & travel inspired patterns

as i’ve written about before in my previous trend-forecasting post, travel inspired decor nand boho chic are going to dominate interior trends for a while. this can take a few interpretations, my personal favourites were from iliv fabrics (left), whose newly launched collection ‘kasbah’ has been evoking the ikat patterns (they also have a sustainable plains range!). for smaller accessories in travel-inspired style, glasgow-based premier housewares (right) had a room full!

4.3 happy geometries

i already touched on a little bit how i was hunting for geometric surfaces in this jungle of floral and heritage-inspired prints, and i think there is a genuine desire for clear-cut shapes and abstract angles. i’m showing you my two favourites here. this wool sample by moon (on left) really made me think of bernat klein, and the geometry reminded me of the architecture of peter womersley. love this pattern and they also released it on throws! the second image is of a print by studio g of the sanderson group (on right) who were present with many collections. it’s the slight handmade, block printed effect on this particular collection that i really picked up on and i hope this proves to be popular!

well that’s it for this year’s roundup! i hope you enjoyed this visit with me, it certainly was a great experience and it’s always a pleasure to take a dip in a pool of pattern, print and lovely interiors.

to keep this already long post slightly more concise, there is no separate section for the links, but you’ll find them all in the text. for further questions, please don’t be afraid to get in touch and for future posts, feel free to subscribe below!

the 5 must-watch colour & material trends in 2022 for interiors - and sustainable home decor is here to stay!

first of all, i apologise for the late post on interior trends, since we’re well into february already. to keep this post concise and focused, i’m going to concentrate specifically on colour and material trends that you might find easy enough to implement in your home (maybe with some zitozza stuff!) and i will expand on the current round-up suppliers and designers offer with a further post after having visited the scottish interiors showcase in a few weeks time. i’m really excited to visit (it’s been two years without trade fairs!), and i thought i’d share a little bit of research of the colour and material trends i expect to see.

1. RECYCLED & RECLAIMED

okay, sustainable design choices are not so much a “must-have-trend” but a pressing, urgent and permanent imperative change, so i shouldn’t really include this in the list but i do because it is getting embraced by more and more, and it may give some ideas to look further and think about what useless old thing you can turn into something cool. for us, it means, patchwork rugs and zero-waste, for others, this could be reclaimed wood, a bit of DIY upcycling, granny’s old nightstand-turned-houseplant shelf? all good and here to stay!

2. EARTH TONES

you may have observed that terracotta was kind of a big deal in 2021 - i hope you liked it, because it looks like it’s going nowhere, just growing and growing with many shades of earthy browns. expect to see plenty of fabulous, warm schemes usually paired with tactile surfaces and interesting shapes and textures, for a cosiness and warmth. it’s all about keeping it natural and down-to-earth - and it can result in a very serene, calming, loving home.

3. GREENS WITH GREENS

it seems that greens with greens in all possible shades are absolutely go this year. it may come in the form of breakfast room green by farrow and ball as one of their 2022 colour of the year, or a paler, more sagey october mist by benjamin moore. or you may achieve it simply with even more houseplants. or why not do all of them! the more green, the better. pale with deep jungle, dark teal with mint, dark olives with sage. they’re all in, and there is very little to go wrong with green!

4. WORLD PATTERNS

this is a very nice one - lord, how i missed travelling! but we are able to do so again so the travel-inspired details are back, with all the patterns from all the cultures and crafts of the world. of course there are more exotic interpretations of this trend than others, but the idea is to show off the individualities of the handmade, crafted details of traditional techniques. embroidery, print, weave - if inspired by experience and seeing the world, all good!

5. MIX & MATCH

the personal favourite has to be always the one that allows the greatest freedom. if you want to match geometric patterns with organic, modern with heritage, everything with everything, then you’re free to do so! this could mean all-out maximalism, colour blocking with bold, bright colours or perhaps cold, metallic details contrasting warm, earthy tones. or, my personal favourite, layering rugs with more rugs! there aren’t many rules here, it’s all about striking the right balance. it might take some brave choices and a little bit of thinking to pull it off, but it can result in the best looks!

this compilation was put together using the sources below, and the images illustrate zitozza’s interpretations, i hope we can show you that whichever way you wish to implement these trends in your home decor, we’ll be able to offer something useful. happy decorating in 2022!

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link:

2022: our trend predictions in 2022 (farrow and ball, 6th january 2022)

7 interior trends that will dominate in 2022 (house beautiful, by rachel edwards, 5th december 2021)

colour trends 2022 (benjamin moore, no date)

interior design trends 2022: 15 key decorating looks for the year, from materials to moods (livingetc, 10th december 2022 by rohini wahy & rory robertson)

interior design trends to know in 2022 - and what’s on its way out (vogue, 3rd january 2022 by elise taylor)

interior design trends in 2022: styles, decor and color (the nordroom, no date)

the top interior trends for 2022 (sheerluxe, 24th january 2022)

AT THE COP26 HOUSE, GLASGOW (spot the zitozza rug!)

hello! first of all, apologies for not having posted anything for ages, zitozza have been very, very busy in the last few weeks with making stuff and taking them to events… but we haven’t yet shared the best news on the coolest (probably ever!) project - the COP26 house in glasgow. this is a sustainable model house built at the broomielaw for the COP26 climate conference and as an obsessive architecture and sustainability geek, i was eager to learn more about this and with a huge thanks to beyond zero homes i managed to put together a little bit about this.

the house itself is a project of many contributors, designed by peter smith of roderick james architects, developed by members of beyond zero homes - a collaboration between developers, architects, suppliers and industry bodies with the single aim to demonstrate how beautiful, affordable, healthy and comfortable homes can be developed with minimal impact on the environment, throughout their lifecycle.

photo by fourfifteen, with thanks to beyond zero homes

there’s an important thing to mention here before delving into the details here - i’d like to emphasise that this house isn’t some kind of futuristic concept, but designed for the present and built using materials and technologies that we have available today and it is very much a present imperative to use them across our building projects if we take our climate goals seriously. so what exactly are these materials and technologies and what makes a building sustainable?

according to this assessment by daniel doran of circular ecology, the house is an exemplar of embodied carbon. most embodied carbon emissions come from the supply chain of construction products – the extraction of raw materials, processing, transporting and manufacturing and then there’s transporting products to site, installation, repair and replacement during use, and their end-of-life deconstruction and disposal. what makes the house actually carbon negative, beating RIBA’s own carbon target by large, is largely thanks to the material choice of locally grown timber. the uk is one of the largest timber importers in the world which is not only an unnecessary addition of shipping-related carbon, but growing them locally also supports reforestation and capturing carbon.

photo by fourfifteen, with thanks to beyond zero homes

the house is of course eco-conscious in using responsible heat sources and airtight insulation - it is using infrared heating which works by heating the house itself rather than the air in it, so it is much more efficient, comfortable, space saving, and perhaps the biggest benefit in a wet country such as scotland is reduced moisture. of course the insulation is achieved with triple glazing and even the insulation and the cladding is using timber.

i’m not an expert on construction and structure, but it really amazes me how many places in the design uses timber even where we’re not that used to seeing it and it is also designed to dismantle easily - this will be demonstrated live after the conference, when the house will be disassembled and re-built in aviemore to join an affordable housing scheme of 12 of such houses. i’m going to be honest, i was a little bit sceptical about how much of these houses we can build efficiently in a city though - after all, timber is not known to be hugely scaleable, and in a climate-stable future, we want to spare as much land as possible, don’t we? however, talking about RIBA’s operational carbon targets, the architect peter smith said “for larger houses using this same build system, the target is significantly easier to achieve” which leaves me hoping it would work with multiple households too.

photo by fourfifteen, with thanks to beyond zero homes

last, but not least, we should talk a little bit about the decor - the house was styled by roddy clarke who made conscious decisions to continue the use of sustainable and natural materials inside with wood furniture and locally sourced soft furnishings - which is why i’m so proud and pleased to loan one of my jute rugs to the project. (while we cannot grow jute here locally, it is still one of the most sustainable textiles in the world in terms of carbon capture and water footprint.)

it really is a wonderful project and i hope that in the past few weeks, all the important people in the sector has visited and learnt from this model because we need to implement these practices right now if we want to keep our future liveable. it is easy to get into a negativity spiral about climate change, because we are undoubtedly on a depressing course and we are definitely going to feel the effects of our ignorance for a long time. however, it’s not true that we haven’t done anything or that we are unable to. we do have affordable solutions at hand with which we can limit some of this damage and we are able to use them. i do believe we are smart enough and projects such as this house makes me feel hopeful and positive for the future!

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links:

beyond zero homes

roderick james architects

home grown homes

wood for good

roddy clarke designs

zitozza at st james quarter

save the date! it seems that as life is opening up more and more, we’re coming to pop-up at more events and markets - and this time, at a really prestigious boutique location at the newly opened st james quarter in edinburgh!

the pop-up event series lasts altogether for two weeks, from monday 23rd august until sunday 5th september, and is organised by the wonderful people at women’s business station to showcase some amazing makers from all across scotland and it takes place at sook, a pop-up boutique space at the shopping centre. zitozza will take up two days here, on wednesday and thursday 1st & 2nd september, sharing the space with a few other brilliant makers.

no doubt more posts are coming - and do keep an eye on our social media, but i just wanted to let you all know that this date is also coming! keep safe!

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links:

women’s business station

st james quarter

sook spaces

jutefest is coming!

oh hello (limited, face-masked) general public! zitozza are excited and proud to announce to be a founding participant of JUTEFEST dundee! this is a brand new initiative with three makers working with jute differently (that’s - jist jute, knotty but nice, and zitozza) and our aim is to bring this wonderfully versatile and sustainable fabric back to its city where it once came out of in the tons.

the three of us work with jute in different ways - you can read our design conversations with jist jute already - there is a great deal of research and local history in alison’s work and she will also be signing her book “if these wa’s cuid talk” at the event. maite of knotty but nice is a crocheter who uses twine from nutscene to make strong and colourful bags and accessories. so there will be jewellery, fashion accessories - and cushions, rugs and lampshade by zitozza also for sale. but apart from setting up market stalls with our things, we will be making live at the event and demonstrate our crafts as well as preparing some exhibition materials on the history of jute in the city as well as some modern takes on the golden fibre.

there’s certainly a lot of heritage to celebrate in dundee but we also believe in embracing the present and we have our modern-day reasons why we work with it - one of these is of course sustainability, because we recognise our responsibility and we want to promote materials with less of a carbon, chemical, and water footprint. however, there is also a more artistic take on it - jute is a very utilitarian material, and when it was mass produced in dundee, it was fully to serve other industries and agriculture with its sacks and ropes. the three of us don’t use it this way though. we inject it with colour, design and individuality while keeping what’s good about it - the warmth, tactility and environmental qualities. there’s a lot to discover and play with and we want the locals to join us to celebrate that!

zitozza are preparing with a special launch of mini-tapestries as well, an initial 8-piece exhibtion will be set up for visitors - all wall-art will be available to be purchased online soon as well!

so when is this is happening? this is going to be a series of pop-up fairs stretched out between june and september on the first saturdays of each of these months. so that’s 5th june, 3rd july, 7th august, and 4th september.

and where about? at the artantics building (many thanks to scrapantics!), that’s right across from verdant works. the address is unit 2, anchor mill, west henderson’s wynd, dundee, DD1 5BY.

this is going to be a real-life event which is why it’s a big deal to those of us having been confined to our studios and council areas and whatnot. even though we are super happy to be finally free to meet you and celebrate, we still have to be careful and be aware of the spread of coronavirus. we want to be as safe as possible, so please note we will require face masks to be worn and we may still limit the number of people indoors in order to be able to keep a safe distance. thanks for your understanding and see you soon!

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links:

jutefest instagram and twitter

jist jute instagram and etsy shop

knotty but nice (instagram)

scrapantics (website)

the 8 interior trends that will define 2021 - and the good news is, eco-conscious design is growing!

first of all, happy new year everyone! i guess we have all agreed not to talk about 2020, so i don’t want to say too much apart from how much i hope you all have an amazing new year with many well deserved, happy moments. for now, it seems as though we are stuck indoors for a little extra time again, and it’s all a bit grim. but here at zitozza indoors is what we’re good at, and with that in mind, you are invited to look through the interior trends of 2021 with our research glasses!

1. ECO CONSCIOUS DESIGN!

i was hesitating whether i should really call this a trend at all, when in fact it should be the standard really, but it’s just a fact that eco-consciousness has not been high on many agendas until recently. from the design industry’s perspective this has been imperatively rising though - and i’m 100% certain that it will be the most important one for decades to come. personally what i’m most excited about is the revolution collection by vondom - the first part of it (called “ibiza” by eugeni quitllet, made of plastic waste in the mediterranean) came out last year - read a little bit on design milk.

and this year we’re expected to see sustainability in many more ways - not just in durability and reusability but also in more innovative material choice such as foresso - the timber terrazzo, this beautiful surface. i love how it looks - texture within texture! made in the uk (birmingham) with bio-resin and timber waste, their sustainability credentials and transparency with their products and traceability are truly exemplary.

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A post shared by Foresso (@_foresso)

image and product design by foresso.

2. EARTH TONES AND TEXTURES

warm is the new cool, and interpreting a luxurious space as a kind, bracing cosiness has been growing and growing in recent years, resulting in a beautiful play with many textures and organic designs. clay, woodwork, boucle, velvets… this is very much about tactile qualities combined with warm colours and round, cocooning forms. coleur locale illustrates a rich, well-travelled take on this - below in the styling of the brilliant cleo scheulderman. it’s the comforting hug of mother earth that we crave!

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A post shared by Cleo Scheulderman (@cleoscheulderman)

photography by Jeroen van der Spek. styling by Cleo Scheulderman, 
client: Coleur Locale.

3. FRESH, OPEN BLUES

remember what free, open spaces used to be like? remember the summer breeze under the bright wide sky? remember the beach, the colour of the ocean? it’s hard to imagine it right now, scooped up inside in the midst of an ugly, grim january but those amazing blue hues are being brought indoors with rather spectacular results. as a fan of this colour i’m really excited about benjamin moore choosing it to be colour of the year. if you’re familiar with nicola harding and co. then you’ll know that she is an expert of using these shades for cool, thoughtful spaces with lots of charm and character. the below snippet is from this project (published in house & garden last year) - can we please take a moment to note the rugs too!

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A post shared by Nicola Harding & Co (@nicolahardingandco)

design by Nicola Harding & Co, photography by Paul Massey

4. ONE ROOM, MANY FUNCTIONS

hands up, who’s surprised at this one? since we have spent pretty much all events of our life at home recently, this trend has risen perhaps out of necessity, but it’s here to stay because it’s immensely practical. while it has really been simple reality for many people, 2020 has certainly brought it to the surface and the market for functional solutions might expand as a result. expect to find space dividers and lots of clever home office furniture - the personal pick is this super smart, modular home office by arnie.m - the brainchild of angela and matt maurer. british made (in manchester), masterfully skilled, fully customisable and it’s sustainable too - made of 100% natural plywood (with beautiful wood pattern on the surface) and none of that awful mdf stuff.

design by Arnie.M, photography by Paul Moffat Photography. 

5. FUNKY ACCENT RUGS

the one i’ve been waiting for! this one is for the pattern lovers out there and it’s just become barefoot-friendly. we have been layering upon layers upon layers for the past few years now, but increasingly we’re doing it to the floors as well and i’m 100% here for it. rugs outside, rugs in the kitchen, rugs on rugs, everything goes with everything. it’s the floor that makes the statement in 2021 so give it the love it deserves. london-based floor story always has some of the brightest and most exciting collaborations to look forward to - a great start to the year with the mediterranean collection by adam furman.

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A post shared by Simon Goff (@floor_story)

image by Floor Story, rug design by Adam Furman. 

6. NORDIC WABI SABI

minimalism has also taken a more inviting, warmer form in recent years. it’s still quite rustic and sparse but with plenty of thought-provoking richness in texture and imperfect, natural form. it still seeks that delicate contentment, and it still finds it in the peaceful serenity of warm, monochrome hues and natural surfaces, worked with the most skilled craftsmanship. but recently, it has all taken a more hugging, cosy, organic form in a somewhat scandinavian manner - or dutch as seen on this take by cleo scheulderman for vtwonen. it’s an artful creation of an unfilled but stimulating space where we want to go to to feel better about everything again.

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A post shared by Cleo Scheulderman (@cleoscheulderman)

photography by Jeroen van der Spek, styling by Cleo Scheulderman, 
assistance by Mette Sophie, client: vtwonen

7. VINTAGE LOVE

classic styles become such because they work, there is nothing new about that. however there are always new and ever more inventive ways to widen the boundaries and take braver, bolder twists on our cherished favourites. and if sustainability is chic, then surely, the glamorous way to do it is to give our vintage treasures the love and attention they deserve. it’s all about expression, maximalism, individuality and all the personal stories each object bears. i chose another take from nicola harding & co to illustrate this - a fabulous, opulent space that feels inviting and familiar at the same time.

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A post shared by Nicola Harding & Co (@nicolahardingandco)

interior design by Nicola Harding & Co, photography by Paul Massey

8. NATURE AND GREEN (and all the other colours)

maybe houseplants are not a “trend” so much, we just collect them because they are great and we love nature. but those of you with gardens and balconies have really hit the jackpot and a new appreciation certainly grew out of last year’s events. outdoor spaces are being increasingly valued as an extension of the living space and they’re now getting their rightfully earned, fully saturated upgrade with appropriate cosy cushions and floor covers. this one by mimi forrest is obviously not an outdoor rug but first of all it’s too beautiful not to be shared here and secondly, the styling might just give you the right idea - it is exactly the type of indoor space we want to see more of in 2021.

i hope you will all have an amazing, productive and successful 2021 with lots of colour and pattern - and more importantly please stay safe and healthy! although the start to the year feels worrying and sad, i’m hoping that it won’t be much longer until we can work more closely again and i’m looking forward to seeing more of your creative projects. happy new year!

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A post shared by Simon Goff (@floor_story)

image by Floor Story, rug design by Mimi Forrest

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further reading

interior design trends 2021 – the 20 top looks for the new year (jennifer ebert, homes & gardens, 01/01/2021)

the biggest interior design trends for 2021 revealed (jacky parker, livingetc, 23/10/2020)

living room trends 2021 - top styling tips and trends to inspire (ruth doherty, ideal home, 09/10/2020)

pinterest predicts 2021’s interior trends: how to add them into your home, according to experts (eva waite-taylor, the independent, 15/12/2020)

interiors trends that will be big in 2021 :how to update your home for the year ahead (prudence ivey, homes & property, 31/12/2020)

how the UK's fire safety regulations make it difficult to bring eco-conscious materials into your home

first things first, i have some excellent news to share. zitozza fabrics can now be treated to domestic & contract upholstery and curtain fire safety standards, meaning it can now be used as upholstery fabric (yes, the heavyweight jute has the rub count too for general upholstery use!)

this is fantastic news and watch this space because some new products are currently planned to launch next year - and in the meantime, please do enquire about any bespoke projects, we’re here and happy to help and print for you!

now, i’m going to write a little bit more about this though because it feels that the issue of fire safety regarding eco-conscious materials is not often discussed - it’s probably because it is not the most exciting of topics, nevertheless it is very important and people in our trade must be aware of all of it anyway.

it is important, because it is estimated that in the uk, 37000 house fires happen claiming 200 lives every year. textiles in the home no doubt play a huge role in how these fires spread and the UK has one of the strictest regulations in the world in place called the furniture and furnishings (fire) (safety) regulations 1988, to make sure that all parts of furniture, filling materials and covers too should be fire resistant for domestic environments as well as contract ones. there are different standards for different environments and materials, but the bottom line is, all cover fabric, even in domestic environments, must be cigarette and match resistant as well. these are uniquely strict regulations and testing regimes that the rest of the world does not match, perhaps for good reason - the problematic chemicals required to achieve fire proof status. watch this excellent newsnight report on the topic, aired in 2017, soon after the devastating grenfell tower tragedy.

The devastating Grenfell Tower fire has prompted a complete review of fire safety regulations in tall buildings. But how fire-safe is the furniture inside Br...

there are exceptions though in these regulations: for cover fabrics consisting of over 75% natural fibre, it is enough to pass the cigarette test only, if it is used with a fire resistant interliner cloth that passes a more comprehensive fire resistance test (schedule 3.) it is quite common for cotton and linen blends to be used like this, without excessive chemical treatments. the regulations specify what they mean by “over 75% natural fibre content” - that is cotton, flax, viscose, modal, silk, or wool. not a very comprehensive list, is it? and because other natural fibres such as jute and hemp are not specified, those of us working with these fibres must treat it further to pass the more stringent match test too. luckily, zitozza jutes can be treated for these standards. the treatment does not seem to damage the print or the fabric in any way, and we’re happy to supply it for you to even contract standards.

i am however quite disappointed that in the case of jute (and hemp - probably the two most sustainable fabrics in the world), chemical use is the only route to compliance. i don’t know whether the treatment itself can be made more environmentally friendly, but at the moment it certainly does not seem to be health friendly - many of the chemicals used for such treatments have been found to disrupt hormone function and increase cancer risk. while the EU are moving towards banning many of these chemicals, in the UK the presence of chemicals in the dust remains a huge concern (and a particular worry with jute because it’s such a fibrous material.) it is argued that due to the toxicity of the fumes, these chemicals on the fabrics can actually make house fires more dangerous - the very thing they are meant to improve.

of course, i’m aware that jute in particular in its natural state is flammable. it’s a dry, woody fibre and dundee was notorious for fires starting at the jute mills. it was worse in the past because of the batching oils, but the amount used by the industry today is a lot more reduced, and i’d like to think, or at least test it to confirm, whether its behaviour would be any different from flax or certain types of cotton. these are specified in the regulations as exempt from the match test (with a schedule 3 interliner) and it disappoints me that jute and hemp are not. this makes it difficult for such sustainable textiles to enter the UK market, at a time when there is a huge pressure to make the environmental switch.

currently these regulations are so strict that even floor cushions count as furniture, therefore, while small, decorative cushion covers don’t have to be treated, for cushions over 60 x 60 cm the cover fabric must also pass. personally, i think this is overkill and while i fully trust my supplier with the safety of this treatment, i’m still being cautious with this product range because i’m worried it reduces the eco-friendly nature of these products.

it’s been a tough situation for many businesses trying to promote eco-conscious design, although i’m aware that there is a lot of research into better, less toxic treatments and i have no doubt that things will improve. i just wish the pace of these changes to be in line with the urgency of the environmental situation.

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links:

FIRA flammability guides (UK domestic) (UK contract)

furniture and furnishings (fire safety) regulations 1988 (UK government)

testing & standards explained (maureen whitmore, interior designer)

house fire facts (first alert, smoke alarm company)

background briefing - flame retardants (breast cancer uk, charity)

the EU’s quest to ban toxic flame retardants (cool products, ngo)

the use of toxic flame retardants and their effects on health (question for written answer by MEPS to the european commission and their written answer)

britons and their unborn children at risk (the independent, newspaper)

why the uk fire regulations are killing eco-design (e-side, furniture business)

10 reasons why jute is one of the most sustainable textile in the world (including one huge potentiaL)

i have always wanted to write about this, because it is one of the main reasons i got interested in jute at all - apart from the amazing aesthetics, that sort of fibrous, raw, utilitarian, functional, “textile brute” appeal (which is worth another blog post at some other time). but right now, it’s time to talk sustainability because the textile industry is one of the worst offenders in the world when it comes to pollution and the responsibility is ours, designers, to find alternatives that are friendlier to our environment. jute is an amazing choice for this use too, and below i listed the main reasons of its sustainability benefits.

1. SMALL WATER FOOTPRINT

the jute plant grows in the tropical regions, in countries such as india, bangladesh, pakistan, thailand and southern china and it is also cultivated in many south american countries. it relies on natural rainfall, reducing the need of complicated irrigation systems and require fewer freshwater sources.

2. SMALL LAND FOOTPRINT

the jute plants grow very densely to each-other and crops are produced very efficiently, a decent crop can be cultivated on a smaller piece of land that doesn’t take a lot of space away from natural habitats or other agriculture.

3. REDUCED NEED FOR CHEMICALS

this density by which it grows leaves little space for weeds or other pests, and as such, it’s grown without a huge amount of pesticides. they also don’t need a huge amount of fertilisers either (typically less than 20 kg per hectare is applied)

4. SOIL HEALTH

growing jute plant leaves the soil with more nutrients than before the process. this is because their leaves drop often, creating organic matter that is feeding the soil with nutrients. growing jute can be used in poor quality soils to regenerate waste lands and help with food agriculture in some of the most impoverished regions in the world.

5. CARBON CAPTURE

the jute plant binds carbon dioxide faster than trees and it’s good at releasing oxygen (one hectare of jute plants can consume about 15 tons of CO2 from atmosphere and release about 11 tons of oxygen in the 100 days of the jute-growing season)

6. fast growth

jute plants reach growth in 4-6 months, meaning crops can be harvested a few times a year, this is not only highly economical, but also a sustainable pace and more in line with demand.

7. recyclable and biodegradable

while some of the jute plant is not used at the moment, all production waste is recycled and all of it is biodegradable in its natural form.

8. under-utilised potential for the paper industry

the inside fibres of the jute plants (jute sticks) are still considered waste and are recycled, however, research is ongoing into using it for paper production. it could potentially supply the paper industry with pulp, reducing the need for cutting down trees.

9. production

jute is a utilitarian, industrial fabric, usually woven to lower quality standards requiring less energy-heavy processing and a reduced amount of chemicals. most of the industry uses it in its natural, unbleached form.

10. long life-cycle

jute is a strong and durable fibre, often used for ropes, rugs, heavy duty bags and tarpaulins. it has a long life-cycle before it breaks down (and when it does, it is fully biodegradable and recyclable)

it is clear that jute is a wonderfabric which, if we could accept it being used more widely, could help our living situation on this planet. having said all of that, it is also important that we don’t brush over the inconvenient truths as well - jute is a hard fibre, and to soften it enough to make it spinnable, the industry killed a lot of whales for its oil in the last centuries. this is now replaced with other oils such as paraffin and palm oil which bear their own negative effects, however the industry is continuously working on reducing the necessary amounts of these materials. there is also research that the retting process (also used in flax and hemp production) can also be damaging to aquatic life which is yet to be resolved - unfortunately the textile industry remains an environmentally impactful one.

all in all though, when compared with other materials, jute comes out as one of the best ones. (according to the higgs index of sustainability and impact, natural jute has an overall score of 40, while, for instance, dyed cotton has an impact score 101. jute's water scarcity impact is 10 times less of cotton products.) when it comes to the responsibility of the textile industry, it is absolutely imperative that we use materials that cause the least possible harm to our living environment.

for me, jute and its industrial, raw, functional nature brings also an immense aesthetic value that fits into my design values - i think great parallels can be drawn with the raw concrete as the preferred external material and the functional architecture that is a great source of inspiration of the designs themselves - perhaps it’s worth expanding on that in another blogpost. nevertheless, i hope that in the future, we will see more and more of jute coming into the cosy, warm homes, bringing us the tactile comfort and the environmental benefits - for a more content home, inside and in the wider world too.

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links:

the sustainable fashion collective

better meets reality

down to earth

the higg index

images: adobe stock photos