Forecaster Ket Publishes Hospitality Contract Trend Book
March 25, 2003
NEW YORK – Milou Ket, the Dutch trend forecaster, has released a book of trends for the international hospitality market. Called Lab Innovations, the monolithic book of color pallettes and trends complements her home furnishings forecast books, which she has been assembling yearly since 1992.
Each volume consists of thick pages of collage, piled with textures, images and removable color strips.
It is the first time Ket has assembled a source book devoted to the contract industry.
"Texture has evolved so strongly she felt she had to develop the Innovations book," said Ellen Robinson, of Ellen Robinson Designs who distributes Ket's trend books in the United States and Canada. "There is a lot of color and warmth this year. Last year all the colors were greyed, but that's too cold this year.
''Milou doesn't want to be so far out there that the customer doesn't understand her. Some design books are four and five years ahead – Milou is in reality."
Of the warmer looks in Lab Innovations, Ellen Robinson describes one as "hot chocolate and mahogany. They have a henna'd cast."
The production of the books is a painstaking labor of love for Ket. During Decosit, she said she was sleeping three or four hours a night, trying to finish them. Her ability to anticipate trends and tap into the mentality of customers around the world has made her work relevant to several industries. Her clients include Hunter Douglas, Volvo, Esprit Home, IKEA, Perstorp flooring, The House of Fraser, Sanderson, Swarovski, Royal Copenhagen, Rosenthal Studio, design institutes in Japan, Electrolux in Sweden and textile companies and architect bureaus. "She lists resources. It's purely editorialized: her ideas of what's going to be successful," Robinson said. "She doesn't take ads or accept money to mention companies. She has to love a product or a look, has to believe in it [to include it as a trend.]"
Ket emerged as a children's wear designer and and rapidly developed an understanding of global retail. In 1980, she started her own styling and design company, putting together fabric and print collections, and assisting product development for yarn manufacturers, and sports accessories. Retail and buying groups consulted with her on products for children, women fashion and sports.
Ket also gave trend information to a shoe company for many years, and designed a sock collection in Italy. For a few years she worked for the Dutch Fashion Institute and prepared a trend booth at the Modam, a fashion fair in Amsterdam. After a lecture in London for the National Childrenswear Council she decided to publish styling books to reach clients throughout the world.
She prepares trend information for special projects and frequently gives guest lectures throughout Europe. F&FI
Each volume consists of thick pages of collage, piled with textures, images and removable color strips.
It is the first time Ket has assembled a source book devoted to the contract industry.
"Texture has evolved so strongly she felt she had to develop the Innovations book," said Ellen Robinson, of Ellen Robinson Designs who distributes Ket's trend books in the United States and Canada. "There is a lot of color and warmth this year. Last year all the colors were greyed, but that's too cold this year.
''Milou doesn't want to be so far out there that the customer doesn't understand her. Some design books are four and five years ahead – Milou is in reality."
Of the warmer looks in Lab Innovations, Ellen Robinson describes one as "hot chocolate and mahogany. They have a henna'd cast."
The production of the books is a painstaking labor of love for Ket. During Decosit, she said she was sleeping three or four hours a night, trying to finish them. Her ability to anticipate trends and tap into the mentality of customers around the world has made her work relevant to several industries. Her clients include Hunter Douglas, Volvo, Esprit Home, IKEA, Perstorp flooring, The House of Fraser, Sanderson, Swarovski, Royal Copenhagen, Rosenthal Studio, design institutes in Japan, Electrolux in Sweden and textile companies and architect bureaus. "She lists resources. It's purely editorialized: her ideas of what's going to be successful," Robinson said. "She doesn't take ads or accept money to mention companies. She has to love a product or a look, has to believe in it [to include it as a trend.]"
Ket emerged as a children's wear designer and and rapidly developed an understanding of global retail. In 1980, she started her own styling and design company, putting together fabric and print collections, and assisting product development for yarn manufacturers, and sports accessories. Retail and buying groups consulted with her on products for children, women fashion and sports.
Ket also gave trend information to a shoe company for many years, and designed a sock collection in Italy. For a few years she worked for the Dutch Fashion Institute and prepared a trend booth at the Modam, a fashion fair in Amsterdam. After a lecture in London for the National Childrenswear Council she decided to publish styling books to reach clients throughout the world.
She prepares trend information for special projects and frequently gives guest lectures throughout Europe. F&FI
