Maker Creator Series: Saana Baker

the Textile EYE

Saana Baker

The Longview of Global Influences in Home Decor

Where do home decor and color trends begin, and what colors are next?

As we saw in 2020, and for 2021, home decor color and texture trends are being shaped from our global views, as well as our local environments, adding to that, everything in between.

Saana is a seasoned veteran of home decor, and brings her eye as a designer, and advisor to the likes of Schumacher, Barbara Barry, David Phoenix, and many more prominent designers and textile firms. She is also a frequent “ghost” designer on more than a few licensed lines for other name designers!

She also provides insights and views from world market events such as Maison&Objet and Déco Off, bringing you important information and inspiration from the show floor and her creative view.

While the term “global influences” is the most prominent term trending in home decor what does it all mean for your home?

I’m not talking about your travel vacation trinkets, this is not ethnic. It’s much deeper. Global influences are principles and an appreciation for craftsmen and the handmade world overall, a blend of what is gaining momentum in our world

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: SPOTLIGHT “THE TEXTILE EYE”

The Maker Creator Series is my monthly series where I celebrate the makers, artists, interior designers, and creators I admire. Many times we get to see a fresh perspective to a craft or the design business. From furniture design to color forecasting, I hope these pieces will spark some joy.

Meet Our Maker: Saana Baker

An avid globetrotter, and creative strategist at The Textile Eye, Saana Baker calls San Francisco home but always keeps her finger on the pulse of global trends through her design and trends company, THE TEXTILE EYE. In addition to her ONE ON ONE consulting services to textile brands when developing new fabrics, she recently launched her latest endeavor, THE TEXTILE EYE, to offer her creative and strategic services to brands in the industry.

Discover design trends for 2021 and beyond. The Textile Eye is a start-up quarterly trend report for the design enthusiast. Saana brings a seasoned, discerning, and playful eye to the luxury home goods industry, featuring the newest curiosities from shows and selected exhibitions around the world. After having perused an abundance of trade events in Europe and America Saana captured the season’s upcoming colors, textures, and style forecasts for 2021.

This is so much more than House Beautiful.

Stay On Top Of Design Trends With “The Textile Eye”

Who better to talk to than Saana Baker about the influences that will affect color and pattern choices in the approaching years. Interior designers and textile houses seek out Saana‘s expertise and advice for understanding the complex influences in the world and how they are influencing color design for our homes.

Saana inspires and informs a broad audience of textile designers, interior designers and decorators, and fine artists.

As a designer, I look for inspiration everywhere, and having a global view is important, but it takes work. This is where Saana Baker through her textile report helps me navigate the world and steer clear of trendy cliches. She is a valuable guide and influencer for everything from texture to color, and she inspires her audience so they can grow beyond their local view. She has a unique talent for marrying design with commerce, and with interiors that will be fresh and interesting, not become dated or look trendy. 

So what are the color trends for 2021? What are interior design and decorating trends for 2022 and how are color forecasts made?

Saana is recognized for her natural ability to connect her passion for color and design with a keen understanding of the changes and developments in lifestyle trends. She helps brands to not only adapt but capitalize on an ever-changing market. 

With the Spring and Fall Markets over, (or canceled) I was excited to talk with Saana and discuss the new-look of how we decorate and live in our homes, and what the new looks are as presented digitally. Saana sees a return to physical events, but she also realizes the digital offerings of global events will remain.

An internationally renowned textile adviser on color and texture, Saana presents a layered perspective on the use and significance of color in design and culture quarterly in this spectacular subscription service with full-color images and collected looks.

The Textile Eye, a stunning insight that offers immersive, and engaging views and travels of the world of color as it applies to culture, design, mood, and memory. Color connections, from its place in religion, pop culture, and commerce to the impact it has upon our decision making, our moods, and our tastes. The report includes design pointers that provide in-depth insight to working with color and to decorating with each palette throughout the home, from wall treatments to accessories.

Q+A with Sanna Baker:

What is a favorite design trend you are feeling at the moment?

SB: The macro movements in society right now are the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. I think both will have lasting impacts on the design industry, though it is still a question of what those changes will be and how they will trickle down to choices about a pattern, material, and color. As far as BLM goes, I have been doing much soul-searching (examining everything from my euro-centric viewpoint on textiles to my ideas about using design inspiration from other cultures). I think the call for greater awareness about Black designers will be heeded by our industry and will result in a better and stronger industry, both from a humanistic standpoint and also from a pure design standpoint. Personally, I have started to pay more attention to the work of designers and artists of color, and to endeavor to listen better to their experiences and viewpoints. While it can be a painful process I think it will be enriching in the long run and will create more appreciation for authenticity. DVD: I have to say, as a designer, I have been seeing some beautiful and inspiring work that may have been off my radar previously.

Given our current events these days, do you work online with clients? Was this difficult to set up? What tools and apps make this work?

SB: I have a home studio where I usually do the bulk of my client work, so that is pretty much the same as usual, though I have added FaceTime and Zoom to my schedule. The Textile Eye reports, on the other hand, have changed completely: in all of the past issues the photos were all taken by me and Robyn Willson, my right hand, at the shows. This time, we are creating a show report where there was no show! So we have pivoted to reaching out to dozens and dozens of brands and makers—mainly in Italy and Europe—who would have shown at the Milan fairs (Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone). We have collected hundreds of photos for use in the summer issue. So I have gotten to do a virtual tour of the Italian design scene, all without leaving my desk. (I do miss the restaurants!!)

Why would you recommend that designers signup for your subscription? 

The Textile Eye exists to keep designers (textile and interior designers alike) inspired and on top of the latest intros, from large brands down to small artisans. If you go to the shows and follow the brands, it can be overwhelming to keep track of everything, so we put it all together in a beautiful and curated format that is easily referenced and shared with team members. And if you don’t go to the shows, The Textile Eye brings the looks to you.

Can you share a few articles that potential subscribers can read to get a feel for your most popular content?

SB: The Spring 2019 report is available --in full-- as a complimentary download when you sign up for a free membership on The Textile Eye. https://www.thetextileeye.com/issue-1

Stay up to date with Quarterly Digital and Printed Reports

Usually, this curated forecasting on trends on colors and styles is only accessible to large corporations like Robert Allen, Scalamandre, or Dedar and large textile design studios. Saana Baker offers a yearly digital subscription for all creatives, to stay ahead of the curve and be on the knowing edge of design movements.

Highlighting sustainability and embracing new twists on both neutrals and pops of color the 2020 “Textile Eye” covers 20 Key Trends for the upcoming seasons. Watch this video for more color and style details from Saana.

GIVEAWAY: WOOHOO!

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We're reminding everyone that facing things alone has its limits, but doing it with the community is limitless. Take a look. QUARTERLY TREND REPORT Available in both digital and printed editions!

Giveaway: 3 beautifully Printed Report Catalogs for your library and reference from the TEXTILE EYE to (3) lucky creative readers.

“The Textile EYE” is such a great resource for any textile or interior designer. Enter Our Reader Appreciation *Giveaway*! This is the EASIEST giveaway you’ll ever enter! One winner will receive (1)Subscription to the Textile Eye by Saana Baker. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOT SPONSORED. It’s our way of thanking you, my reader. I want to wish you GOOD LUCK because I love ya tons!!

( 3 Free) printed catalogs from the Textile EYE 2020 series: Saana Baker, Trend reporter, and Color Guru.

(1) each per winner.

NOTE: The winner will be contacted by email. If a winner does not respond within three days of being contacted, another winner will be selected. 

What color/pattern/texture/style are you currently obsessed with?

I am a long-time devotee of natural fibers and textured weaves. The look I love the most at the moment is called Texture - 70’s Bohemian in our Spring report and has a handwoven vibe with thick, slubby yarns creating a ton of dimension. Lots of the freshest examples employ multi-color treatments, catapulting texture far beyond the world of neutrals. Give me heavy Belgian linen that features multi-color yarns and a drapey, stonewashed finish and I will be a happy woman!

Thank you, Saana for your beautiful catalouges, and for sharing with us your creative path and vision.  

You have truly inspired us and continue to show us the creative mind of an architect and artist.  I am constantly inspired, and I am so pleased to share you with my readers.

xoxo

Deborah

Shop Fall Design Trends

Heavy textured fabrics and weaves, boucles and slubby linens, and cotton. Organic forms, lots of curves, and volume in shapes for furniture. Thick cushions, and rounded edges.

Maker Creator Series: Saana Baker the Textile Eye. Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital World: Artist Spotlight The Textile Eye

Join us for a discussion

Thursday Nov. 12 at 12 noon est

live on FB

Saana will take us through a look at her book and talk about the cultural and attitudinal themes driving design and influencing the future of design the world over. With expertise across fashion, interiors, product development, consumer insight, and cultural arts, Saana will share her unique perspective informed by her continued studies and trend research abroad.  

Thursday, Nov. 12th   

at 12 pm - 12:30 pm

Via FB Live

Click here to Register and receive the link to attend

Who Should Attend?

Designer, manufacturer, color specifier, trend spotter, and color enthusiasts. Future thoughts on color and textures for the home. It will be a 1/2 hour of inspiration, conversation, thinking.

Creating inspiration for making decisions.

Highlighting sustainability and embracing new twists on both neutrals and pops of color the 2020 “Textile Eye” covers 20 key trends for the upcoming seasons. Watch this video for more color and style details from Saana.