Week 6, Textiles

This week our class spent our time at the DC Design Center exploring the wonderful world of textiles.  We visited 3 textile distributors in the design center as a class, Arc Com Fabrics, Edelman Leather, and Holly Hunt.  After our class time expired I spent the next three hours prowling the Design Center in search of unique textiles and applications of those textiles to add to this blog.  Here is what I found...

 Samples of different color options of leather available at Edelman leather, I loved that they had such a large variety in each color palate.  This place would put most handbag companies to shame. 

 Again what a large variety of colors.  Huge neutral choice color palate available here.  If I wanted a beige leather couch I would have about 40 beige tones to choose between.

 These were a really unique application of cow hide with fur.  They were pieced together in a pattern, and would make great rugs.  I am not in love with the colors shown here, but the patterns give a good idea of what can be made with the fur hide.

 This Herring bone pattern was my favorite, I would love a white or cream version of this pattern as a large area rug. 

 Here is just the Herringbone pattern again, but in dark navy blue.  I like the variation in color from one square to the next, it has a more natural look than just a uniform man made product.

 Edelman's new leather collection, full grain leather is stamped and then died to look like crocodile.  It is also covering the table underneath the samples. 

 This shows a unique variety of patterns, furs, leathers, and even what seemed to be painted leathers.  The metallic leathers were especially interesting, because they still retained a softness similar to the other leathers. 

 This snake skin leather looked and felt so real it freaked me out to touch it.  It turns out that they stamped a piece of suede for this snake skin appearance and texture, and then triple dyed the material for the snake-like color.

 Edelman treats their leather with a water wicking treatment, so your suede doesn't die when you spill on it.  Very practical and techno of them. 

 Not only neutrals, but every color of the rainbow.  I really cannot imagine what I would use bright purple leather, neon green, or pepto-pink, but just in case they have it available.  Or maybe the apt wording would be just because you might need it, they have leather in that color.

 Water-wicking on not only suede but also leather.

 Braided leather ottoman.

 Some custom furniture options. Ottoman and desk behind.  These both are Edelman furniture pieces that can be covered with any of their available leathers, so if I wanted I could have pepto-pink leather furniture!

 Leather floor tiles in herringbone pattern.  This floor is 5 plus years old and still looks crisp and new.

 Another option of leather floor tiles, just in case you don't like leather floor tiles. 

 Real patent leather.  I have only seen plastic, synthetic versions of this stuff.  The real thing somehow looks shinier and more fake than the synthetic alternatives.