America's heritage inspires Joe Ruggiero Sunbrella collection

Native American, Men's Suiting and Coastal groups add diversity, color

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 9/4/2012 2:42:44 PM

Native from the Native American groupHIGH POINT, N.C. - Drawing inspirations from America's rich cultural heritage, internationally recognized home décor designer Joe Ruggiero will feature broad inspirational themes and deep colorways in his new Sunbrella fabrics to debut during the High Point Market, Oct. 13-18. Three new Sunbrella groups represent one of Ruggiero's most expansive additions to his Sunbrella Collection since it first launched 10 years ago.
"You can trace our nation's history through its textiles and the ways in which fabrics reflect dynamic changes ping through the culture," Ruggiero said. "These inspirations from America's heritage are powerful and timeless, which assures that authentic interpretations will resonate within the home décor marketplace."
Ruggiero's new Sunbrella fabrics are comprised of three groups: Native American, Men's Suiting and Coastal, each with its own unique story. Colorways within these new fabrics are equally diverse, recognizing the consumer's love affair with monochromatic décor that reflects leading color trends.
Native American
"The Native American group was inspired in part by the blankets, rugs and bead work of our country's first inhabitants," Ruggiero said. "Within this group there are also influences from throughout America's early years including fabrics reminiscent of hand-woven textiles."
The lead pattern in the Native American group is called Native and offered in Wren, a warm play of monotone colors. This pattern was inspired by Native American rugs, presented as a modern day interpretation of America's earliest hand-made textiles. A distinctive characteristic of the Native pattern is a rib that runs throughout the fabric, made possible by continuing innovations in Sunbrella fabric formation.
Pebbles from the Men's Suiting groupAnyone familiar with ancient cave drawings will recognize the inspiration for symbols created in Tribal, the second pattern in this group. The look is a pattern within a pattern, which comes alive through colors that include Chili and Pumice.
Rounding out the Native American group is Lagos, which has the look of a native blanket incorporating a series of woven stripes. Deep coloration is achieved with Ruggiero's new color, Chili, providing the pop of a Mexican chili pepper. Also look for Largo Dove.
Men's Suiting
"Fabrics used for men's suiting have always had a profound influence on the American sense of style," Ruggiero said. "As is evident in my fabric collections over the years, I have long admired a classic masculine approach to home interior, which you will see throughout my new Men's Suiting group."
Nothing says men's suiting like pinstripe, which is the look and feel of the pattern Hartley II, evoking the aesthetic and the hand of worsted wood in the color Smoke. The pattern Pebbles is named for its highly textural surface that evokes the ambiance of a man's suiting tweed. Look for colorway Oyster, a warm gray. Another pattern of note within the Men's Suiting group is Squared, a window-pane design that goes a step further with a highly textural surface typically associated with hand-woven fabrics in the color Putty.
Max II from the Coastal groupCoastal
"The California coast where I live is constantly inspiring in colors, textures and natural wonders," Ruggiero said.
Max II is a lead pattern in the Coastal group, featuring alternating stripes that are formed from intricate textural weaving. Colors transition throughout the pattern, offered Dusk, a mix of shades of gray with a hint of lavender. "A most unusual color combination for me," Ruggiero said.
Those who enjoy the look of broad stripes will be drawn to the pattern Uppland, which features eight-inch stripes. The graphic look of this pattern was inspired by Ruggiero's visit to Uppland, Sweden, an historic locale on the east coast of Sweden. Colorways include Parchment and Graphite. The way these bold stripes upholster is especially interesting.
"Our Sunbrella fabrics reflect close collaborations not only with the Glen Raven marketing, design and manufacturing teams but also with the hundreds of professional designers who I meet during my travels throughout the country," Ruggiero said. "It is invaluable for me to network with working professional interior designers through lunch-and-learn presentations and other events that give us an opportunity to share inspirations, aspirations and insights from today's home décor consumers."
Ruggerio's new Sunbrella fabrics can be seen at the Miles Talbott showroom at 1690 English Rd., High Point, N.C.