IH+HS Chicago

Trade Show Report

March 2016
International Home and Housewares
This month Senior Trend Analysts, Naomi Shedden and Helen Jamieson, travelled to Chicago for the International Home and
Housewares Show 2016. With more than 62,000 attendees and over 2,100 exhibitors, the week-long show is truly one of the
largest shows for housewares.

One topic which has growing importance for this market in the coming years is the Internet of Things. The concept of the
connected home is starting to gain real traction amongst appliance manufacturers in the USA, with the launch of both Echo
and Alexa devices giving consumers the means to communicate verbally with technology. This year at IH+HS we noticed
much more targeted innovation. With consumers still sitting on the fence about the smart home, the task for designers is not
only to create innovative products, but to discover what consumers really want their technology to do, where in the home they
want it to be and how they want it to behave.

Health was also an obvious influence, with a focus on water tracking and infusion as manufacturers and retailers respond to
demand for accessories that make water more interesting. Bottle manufacturers, Zak Designs, proposed a simple, low-tech
but fun solution to tracking water intake using colourful elastic bands that can be rolled up and down, tracking the number of
times the bottle has been refilled in a day.

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Highlights
IH+HS Chicago 2016

1. Glass and ceramics replaced plastics for food storage

and water bottles as consumers continue to raise concerns
about the safety and ecological impact of plastic materials.
We also continue to see influence from eco friendly
bioplastics based on recycled bamboo and sugarcane.

2. Personal technology strongly influenced design at

this year’s show. This ‘iPhone effect’ was evident in food
storage, housewares and in particular personal items such
as water bottles and coffee cups. Featuring warm metals,
leather and rounded corners as well as the return of white
gloss, products are able to sit comfortably alongside other
fashion and technology items.

3. Grey tinged colour was a key direction across all

products including plastics, leading to a cooler and more
sophisticated palette.

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

IH+HS Chicago 2016
Trend Tracking

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Trend Tracking - Weathered
SS 2016
Weathered

Trend tracking is an important tool we use to not only

evidence our forecasts but also to see how these trends are
translated and filtered through to mass market level.

We forecast Weathered almost 2 years ago and have been

tracking its progress ever since. Weathered is inspired by an
increasing awareness of the effects of nature and how the
weather shapes our world over time. Surfaces are softened by
sprays of salt air and reveal visible signs of rust, sun bleaching
and water damage.

This trend was most noticeable in tableware. We saw ink wash

patterns and marbled effects as well as imperfect and organic
shapes for plates. Our weathered colour palette was strongly
SPRING SUMMER 2016 visible across the show too, charting a move towards grey-
tinged colours.

1 2 3

6 7 8

1. TarHong 2. Market Street New York 3. Creative Co-op 4. TarHong 5. Basketville 6. Robert Gordon 7. Rosti Mepal 8. Shiraleah

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Trend Tracking - Energise
SS 2016
Energise

As the Rio Olympic games spark a global flurry of energy and

celebration, we begin to see this vibrancy influencing colour
and design for homewares.

Our Energise trend for 2016 picked up on spirited

celebrations, street food and Brazilian art in a vibrant,
optimistic trend. Brightly painted ceramics and bold up-scaled
geometric prints liven up the home and capture the spirit of
a Brazilian carnival. Social gatherings and group experiences
have an energetic and celebratory atmosphere.

At IH+HS we saw bright tropical shades emerging in kitchen

appliances, ceramics and plastics. Colour blocking, expressive
brushmarks and confetti style prints add to the playful nature
SPRING SUMMER 2016 of this trend.

2 3

1
5 6 7

1. Zak! Designs 2. Kitchen Aid 3. Design Ideas 4. Signature Housewares 5. Crow Canyon Home 6. Formation Brands 7. Formation Brands

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Trend Tracking - Tribal Gathering
SS 2017
Tribal Gathering

Our Tribal Gathering trend for Spring Summer 2017 is already

beginning to emerge in housewares. Taking inspiration from
primitive cultures all over the world, Tribal Gathering captures
a sense of global tribalism.

Earthy textures and rustic surfaces appear hand crafted and

decorated with tribal markings. Green succulents, cacti and
materials like bamboo and raffia introduce a natural contrast
to graphic tribal patterns.

At IH+HS we noticed this trend influencing a more rustic

kind of colour application and use of materials like raffia or
bamboo. Monochrome mark making and ethnic patterns were
spotted across picnic and food storage. For tableware, hand
SPRING SUMMER 2016 carved textures were important.

1 2
1 3 4

6
1 1 7 8
1

1. Bobble 2. Eco Soulife 3. Shiraleah 4. Basketville 5. Revol 6. Shiraleah 7. Gibson Elite 8. Sassafras

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

IH+HS Chicago 2016
Print and Pattern

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Paint Splattered
Expressive brushstrokes and splattered designs gave an artistic look to hard surfaces. Designs were random and abstract
almost like pieces had been sitting in an artist’s studio.

3 4

1 5 1
6

1. Crow Canyon Home 2. Robert Gordon 3. Crow Canyon Home 4. Robert Gordon 5. Crow Canyon Home 6. Robert Gordon

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Inky Watercolour

1 2

3 4 5

6 7 8

1. Robert Gordon 2. Robert Gordon 3. Creative Co-op 4. Creative Co-op 5. Creative Co-op 6. TarHong 7. Tag Ltd 8. Market Street New York

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Textile Inspired
Shibori tie dye, ikat weaves and paisley textile designs all provided rich inspiration for print and pattern on hard goods and
ceramics.

5 6

1. Rock Flower Paper 2. Creative Co-op 3. TarHong 4. TarHong 5. Tag Ltd 6. TarHong

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Tonal Colour

1 2

3 4

5 6

1. Joseph Joseph 2. Rosti Mepal 3. Joseph Joseph 4. Crow Canyon Home 5. Chef Topf 6. Serene House

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Hand Written Script
Playful sentiments were evident in high end glassware and ceramics as well as portable cups and flasks.

1 2

3 4

5 6

1. Formation Brands 2. Creative Co-op 3. Tag Ltd 4. Thirsty Stone 5. Formation Brands 6. Shiraleah

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Artist’s Palette
Colour blocked collections in almost-primary palettes created a colourful pop artist’s palette.

1 2

3 4

6 7

1. Revol 2. Takenaka 3. Revol 4. Vietnam Housewares Co. 5. Signature Housewares 6. Maia Ming 7. In Styler

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Clean and Considered
Simple, graphic designs in monochrome palettes demonstrate a departure from the patterned vintage look we have seen in
housewares in previous years.

3 4

5 6 7

1. Typhoon 2. SPARQ 3. Eva Solo 4. Metalac Cookware 5. KIS 6. Wild and Wolf 7. Astage

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Under the Sea

1 2 3

4 5

7 8 9

1. Lifetime Brands 2. Shiraleah 3. Bob’s Your Uncle 4. Tag Ltd 5. Tiny Footprint 6. Cool Gear 7. Bob’s Your Uncle 8. Shiraleah 9. Maia Ming

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

IH+HS Chicago 2016
Material and Surface

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Gold Foil

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

1. Robert Gordon 2. Formation Brands 3. Shiraleah 4. Ten Strawberry Street 5. Thirstystone 6. Tag Ltd. 7. Thirstystone 8. Thirstystone 9. Basketville

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Cork
Notable this year was very fine cork being used instead of textiles for storage and cup grips. In particular we saw printed corks
with tribal or heritage designs applied in white pigment. Cork was also paired with glass and leather in premium looking items
of kitchenware.

2 3 4

5 6

1. Thirstystone 2. Bodum 3. Full Circle 4. VIVA 5. Inter Design 6. Design Ideas

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Punched Metals

1 2

3
1 4 5

6 7 8

1. Design Ideas 2. Design Ideas 3. Danya B 4. Danya B 5. Yamazaki 6. Better Living 7. Better Living 8. Starfrit

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Rustic Colour Application
Ceramics and glass had a chalky, sanded back or whitewashed finish. There was a focus on imperfect colour application and
hand applied glazes.

5 6 7

1. Tag Ltd 2. BergHOFF 3. Robely 4. Gibson Elite 5. Shiraleah 6. Ten Strawberry Street 7. Tag Ltd

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

IH+HS Chicago 2016
Shape and Construction

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

The iPhone Effect
We noticed a move towards slick design, inspired by technology. Consumers and designers alike are considering how these
items sit alongside the other items of technology they own; laptop, tablet, smartphone. Apple really have had a profound impact
on design! For food and drink storage this means a significant upgrade in materials and finish. We saw warm metals replacing
stainless steel, leather trims and high gloss coatings as well as rounded shapes and careful detailing.

1 2

3 4 5

6 7 8

1. BergHOFF 2. Simple Human 3. Teforia 4. Rosti Mepal 5. Reo 6. Hailo 7. Umbra 8. Coway

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Wire
Wire structures were important for storage as well as more decorative elements alongside glass.

1 2

3 4 5

6 7

1. Basketville 2. Design Ideas 3. Tag Ltd 4. Design Ideas 5. Tag Ltd 6. Umbra 7. Vietnam Housewares Co.

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Geometry

1 2

5
1 6 7
1

1. Household Essentials 2. Danya B 3. Vietnam Housewares Co. 4. Epicurean 5. Umbra 6. Finex 7. Danya B

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Sense of Place

1 2

5 6 7

1. SPARQ 2. American Skillet Co. 3. American Skillet Co. 4. SPARQ 5. SPARQ 6. United States of Bamboo 7. Epicurean

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

IH+HS Chicago 2016
Colour

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Pale Green
Pale green shades seem to be replacing duck egg blues as the go-to shade for kitchenware.

1 5 1 1
6

1. BergHOFF 2. Robert Gordon 3. Joseph Joseph 4. DoveWare 5. BergHOFF 6. Yamazaki

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Grey Tinged Colour
The influence of the grey trend extends into colour palettes this year. Blues and greens and even pinks have hints of grey
through them, resulting in more subtle, knocked back shades.

3 4

5 6

1. VIVA 2. Russbe 3. ILAG 4. Robert Gordon 5. Eva Solo 6. Kamenstein

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Matt Black
The matt black trend is reaching the mainstream, evident in appliances and home accessories at the show. The new
KitchenAid mixer has a textured matt surface which fits the trend for more industrial materials like cast iron.

1 2

3 4

15 6 7

1. Kitchen Aid 2. Turkish Trade Association 3. Creative Co-op 4. Robert Gordon 5. Coway 6. Ten Strawberry Street 7. Epicurean

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Retro Yellow

1 2

5 6 7

1. Signature Housewares 2. David Rasmussen 3. Bob’s Your Uncle 4. Eva Solo 5. Pyrex 6. Typhoon 7. Kitchen Aid

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Tomato Red

1 2

4 5

6 7 8 9

1. Hailo 2. Caso Germany 3. SilverStone 4. Kitchen Aid 5. Dansk 6. Koziol 7. The French Chefs 8. Creative Co-op 9. Starplast

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Cobalt Blue

1 2 3

5 6

1. Dansk 2. Shiraleah 3. Attik 4. Design Ideas 5. Shiraleah 6. Shiraleah

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Pale Pink
We’ve been tracking the emergence of pink shades in homeware for several seasons now and this was a huge colour trend at
IH+HS this year. Most notable were clean baby pinks in cookware and peachy shades in silicones and plastics.

1 2

3 4

5 6 7

1. Design Ideas 2. Turkish Pavillion 3. Le Creuset 4. Glasslock 5. Robert Gordon 6. Kitchen Aid 7. Glasslock

IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

Future Reports
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IH+HS Chicago 2016 Trade Show Report © Trend Bible 2016

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