Retractable awnings are emerging as a design force for everything from gardens to homes to storefronts. There are exciting trends for commercial awnings, awning frames, and eco-friendly uses, but the big trend for retractable awnings is color.
Trends in Colors and Fabrics
The first thing you see with a retractable awning is the fabric. Historically, US retractable awnings have tacked toward conservative colors. Marco Parravicini, owner of European fabric company Parà, noted that their US awning fabric sales tended to somber colors like grays and blacks. American fabric companies have experienced a similar reserve, with the most popular color choices for Sattler AG and Sunbrella being forest green (and stripes with blends of forest green).
Steven Weiss of Sattler AG sees that changing.
“The awning industry has always been very cut and dried,” Weiss says, “but it’s opening up.”
There are a number of factors that are driving that change and creating a new, colorful future for retractable awnings. Partly, the increasing use of retractable awnings means people are able to find more options. More important, people are approaching design objects (furniture, paints, landscaping) as changeable features rather than permanent fixtures, so they’re willing to take risks to reflect their current mood or season, says the spring 2008 design trends report from Kasmir Fabrics, a Dallas-based fabric wholesaler.
Colors are used to create psychological responses, and these responses are especially evocative when tied to the native, natural environment. Kasmir’s trend report refers to food-influenced colors; Infomat (a fashion design analysis site) focuses on natural settings, such as tropicals and sunsets. For Sattler AG, which specializes in awning fabrics, they worked on cataloging the specific natural environment and creating a line of fabrics centered around it.
Sattler divided the world into six regions and, through local photographers and designers, created a localized color palette based on the landscape, trees, plants, fruit, animals, rocks, sky, and water. The more prominent colors resonate with the people there. “The mood of a color changes things,” Weiss explains, “it triggers things; it tells a story. People relate to those colors; colors affect us psychologically.”
Retractable awning fabric color cycles traditionally run two to four years, the basis for Sattler’s new “Elements Collection.” For the next four years, the colors are going to be taken from different aspects of nature:
• Bright, clear colors which reflect optimism and change.
• Soothing neutrals – especially a one-two combination and black and white – which create a very clean, calming, and chic effect.
• Turquoises, blues, and aquas, which mimic tropical waters.
• True reds, especially combined with yellow, which create a light effect.
• Greens and browns; the most prominent colors in the American landscape (as well as Australia and New Zealand) create the most harmonious environment.
• Stripes in blends of colors; over 70% of residential retractable awnings have striped fabric, and although alternatives (like florals) are emerging, it’s still the most popular pattern.
Even when looking at a common color, consider trying something a little brighter, reflecting the new options coming out this season. Historically, people have been afraid to experiment with dark colors like burgundy or bright ones like yellow. New treatments for UV inhibitors and fungicides make solution-dyed acrylic (an incredibly long-lasting woven fabric) wear beautifully. “People love alternatives,” Weiss says. “If they want to buy blue, they want options for that blue. They want the blue they see in the Pacific. Take European flair and mix it in American taste,” he encourages. “It does play an effect with fabrics. It’s habit forming.”
Commercial Prospects
Retail Traffic Magazine reveals that retail businesses are moving to a much simpler, more clean-lined style. The goal is to make the overall shopping experience seem uncluttered and low-key, while having a contemporary feel. Businesses are also trying to improve their buildings’ function by lowering costs and becoming more energy efficient. On top of all that, any changes have to the building facade have to make bold visual appeal, be easy to implement, and utilize bright colors.
An important part of the exterior design changes is using retractable awnings, which are energy efficient, provide UV and glare control, are inexpensive, immediately change the exterior appearance, have a variety of styles that suit any architectural design, and offer a variety of colors.
Another reason moving to retractable awnings meets businesses’ design goals is that it’s becoming popular again to use exterior awnings for signage, as both a visually arresting and a cost-efficient, dual-use solution. According to SignIndustry.com, the trend has begun shifting from unprinted awnings and lighted signs to printed awnings, sometimes combined with back- and front-lighting. Retractable awnings are becoming more desirable for signage because of recent improvements in awning printing methods which allow higher-quality and longer-lasting text and logos.
An Eye to the Future
Like other goods, retractable awnings are trending green. Retractable awnings are eco-friendly:
• Reduce air conditioning use 25% and lower indoor temperatures by 8-15 degrees
• energy efficiency with relatively low cost and no maintenance
• Focusing on more sustainable manufacturing and materials, like groundwater-safe dyes and chemicals
• Widespread compliance with international safety and environmental codes
Retractable awnings are a low-cost solution for energy efficiency, something that is increasingly important to both homeowners and businesses. With only 2% market saturation in the US, the future for retractable awnings is in providing the green benefits (and style) that consumers need – cost-effectively.
