The latest in textiles: nature-inspired, durable and sustainable

It’s difficult to name a part of the home that doesn’t feature textiles – from curtains, to cushions, to furniture. There’s also an endless choice of colours, textures and compositions to choose from. So where do you start? 

“Textiles influence the way we experience a room – they can frame a view, add comfort, create atmosphere and delineate space,” says Annie Moir, design director at James Dunlop. 

“With an enormous array of designs, colours and textures available, we frequently urge clients to first consider their window size, the style of their home, the function of the curtain, the position and its vulnerability to UV, the benefits of a lining and their budget before purchasing fabric. However, when selecting the final design and colour, remember it is utterly subjective, so go with what resonates with you and it will always be the right choice.”

Many homeowners are opting for colours that comfort – think warm, earthy hues and those seen in the natural vernacular. 

“Tones of parchment, calico and cream have become popular, as well as a resurgence of brown alongside desert tones of terracotta, burnt orange and blush pink,” says Annie. 

Then there is green, which Annie describes as ‘nature’s neutral’ – a colour associated with feelings of restoration, wellness and revitalisation. 

“Studies show that pulling shades of nature indoors can positively impact wellbeing and supports our current desire to re-emerge anew. Greens in soft shades of willow, eucalyptus and sage, through to dark moss, provide decorative colours that pair effortlessly with layers of neutral tones.”

A fabric that has been a top-seller for over a decade at James Dunlop is Kyoto, their signature 100% linen drapery. Woven in Turkey, Kyoto is yarn-dyed and washable – loved for its quality and elegant, tumbled finish. 

“We’ve launched a reinvigorated colourline of our highly successful Kyoto drapery that includes fresh shades of white, duck egg, blush, pistachio and ink, as well as rich earthen hues of oxide, rust, truffle and walnut to complement the existing range of versatile neutrals,” says Annie. 

James Dunlop’s Alpine and Entwine bouclés also speak to the colour palettes and textures experienced in nature. 

“Revered for their texture and trusted for their durability, Entwine and Alpine are tactile textiles that can be confidently lived with within the family home or commercial space. Their comfort-led palettes capture the colours of our local landscapes with warm shades of sun-baked clay, burnt orange and mineral blues and greens – referencing our abundant Australian coastline.”

These textiles don’t only emulate the beauty of Australia’s natural environment; they’re also designed to live up to Australian weather and our active lifestyles. 

“Collaborating with mills enables us to create new products that not only feel aesthetically relevant to our surrounding landscapes, but are also engineered to withstand our hard environmental conditions,” says Annie. 

“In Australia we have some of the strongest and most damaging UV levels in the world; by collaborating at every step of production – from conception to testing and finishing – we can produce products that are fit for purpose.”

Expertly constructed to mimic the natural appearance of linen but woven with the performance attributes of synthetic fibre, James Dunlop’s Banksia is an accessible option for those that love the look of a heavy linen, but need the practicality and UV-resistance of synthetic fibres. 

“Banksia is wide-width, washable, fire retardant and meets key environmental standards – ticking all the boxes for an accessible and functional drapery solution across residential and commercial projects. It’s a sophisticated foundational plain that offers practicality and durability without sacrificing on style,” says Annie.

Technology advancements are also helping to look after the environment, such as existing PET plastic bottles being recycled and repurposed into yarn. 

“At the recycling facility, post-consumer PET bottles are magnetically sorted by a metal detector and the labels are washed off with water in a revolving cylinder called a Tromel,” explains Annie. “The clean PET bottles are then sorted into types and colours by a near infrared ray and spectrum camera before being shredded into flakes underwater.” 

Separation occurs as the lighter plastics float to the tank’s surface, with the flakes then dried and rinsed numerous times. A resin filament is then made from the plastic and is stretched at different speeds, crimped, dried and cut before being sent to the textile mill where it undergoes similar processes to virgin textile fibres. 

“Kumo Recycled was James Dunlop’s first recycled polyester textile and presents a modern perspective on fibre construction. Expertly constructed to emulate the aesthetic of a dry cotton sheer but woven in recycled polyester, Kumo Recycled is suitable for those seeking a high-performance wide-width sheer that is fire retardant and has a weighted selvedge to elegantly frame the view in any setting.”

Explore more fabric options available from James Dunlop Textiles on ArchiPro.