Retail Column
Rosenthal
Everything’s coming up roses Fresh from seeing products in real life at trade shows, retailer Michele Trzuskowski is stocking up on all things floral. Here, she talks the trend…
Vietri
Raynaud
Rosenthal
Vietri
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very lushly styled tablescape usually has an equally beautiful and vibrant floral centerpiece. This spring, these tablescapes will go beyond floral centerpieces as they embrace current trends growing among tableware designers and manufacturers… florals. Everywhere I went this past show season, I was met with vibrant, as well as delicate, floral patterns in new dinnerware collections and home décor. Based on what I saw, it’s obvious flowers will be significant in tablescaping. As we all know, there’s nothing like the feeling of being gifted a bouquet of flowers, and we’re seeing floral trends on the catwalks, on home décor fabrics and in bold wall papers, so why not tableware? The biggest colour trends of 2022 seem to be embedded in optimism, warmth, and growth, especially as we head into the third and hopefully last year of Covid, so artistic expression in florals
not only available in dinnerware but also home décor items such as vases, and scented candles. While less dramatic, but still impactful are Rosenthal’s two spring floral patterns: Brillance Fleurs des Alpes mixing fresh blues and yellows, and Brillance Fleurs Sauvages reflecting reds, yellows, and orange hues. These two patterns are less formal and perfect for everyday dinnerware. At the opposite end of the spectrum, we go from fine porcelain to pure fun with Vietri’s new Fiori De Campo dinnerware collection made of white earthenware. The hand-sponged design on these plates depicts sweet bouquets of whimsical wildflowers of Fiori di Campo with a watercolor effect that transports your table to the Italian countryside. Additionally, from Vietri, you have the everpopular Lastra Poppy with its bold red poppy design, as well as Lastra Sunflower, 2021’s flower of the year
The season’s botanical designs range from dramatic bolds and exotics, to more feminine soft and seductive florals only seems natural. The season’s botanical designs range from dramatic bolds and exotics, to more feminine soft and seductive florals, as well as impressionistic and sketched designs. There are so many patterns I could reference but here are a few I love. For example, I’m obsessed with Rosenthal’s dramatic Heritage Turandot pattern with its rich exotic Asian influenced style using a strong color palette of navy with accents in green and gold. This design mixes both flora and fauna in its pattern. It’s 28 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL
with its hand painted bright yellow sunflower in the center of the plate. And let’s not stop there – how about melamine dinnerware… Juliska answered that call with their Field of Flowers which originally was done in ceramic but is now only available in melamine. More recently they introduced the colour chambray blue in Field of Flowers meeting the continued demands for the color of blue. They are so invested in this pattern that they continued the pattern onto the handles of flatware and serving pieces.
About T is for Table T is for Table is a luxury independent boutique, with a focus on tabletop, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Open more than 20 years, it offers an experiential and inspirational space dedicated to helping customers tell stories, create traditions and celebrate life. The boutique offers everything from fine pottery, china, glass, serveware and table accessories, to home décor, jewellery and body products, and delivers a custom service with its custom engraving, home visits and gift registries. www.tisfortable.com
Of course, there are old favourites, that although not newly introduced will see a comeback with trends like this. One of my favourites Mottahedeh’s Tobacco Leaf collection again featuring an interpretation of flora and fauna in a plethora of colours that can be mixed with so many other patterns, like Lace, or even a basic solid plate. Another loved pattern is Harmonia by Raynaud. This pattern is very naturalistic and characteristic of the Chinese golden age. It’s mixture of pomegranate and floral stems in vivid colours adorn the plate. Florals are also present on the table in terms of serveware. Take Bordallo Pinheiro, a master of figural shapes in ceramic. Their collections in geranium, lily, as well as individual pieces like their daisy and dahlia bowls are fabulous. In a multitude of sizes, they are great for serving anything small to large. When I spot trends like this, I always try to make it forefront from a merchandising standpoint for my customers. I pull together florals from dinnerware to table linens, napkins, and napkin rings. This helps guide customers to think about it as a “movement” and not a “moment” Whether old or new, porcelain or stoneware, or depicts this year’s flower, the tulip (2022), let’s hope the optimism and hope that flowers bring to the world will also bring it to our individual tables to enjoy for years to come. In other words, a future in full bloom!