Fabric

Staff -- Interior Design, 5/31/2008 12:00:00 AM

AndreaValentini

Textile offerings just got sweeter with honey, the newest colorway in the manufacturer's Sculptural textile collection. This polyethylene-polyurethane-blend is luminescent, lightweight, water repellent, washable, and durable. Offered in panels of 24 by 36 inches. Chocolate bar and silver hive are also available. 401-467-7104; andreavalentini.com. circle 425

Marimekko

From this Finnish design giant come graphic prints with such diverse inspirations as cocoa plantations, fairy tale forests, and the joy of new calves born in the spring. Designer Maija Louekari's Dadel and Nonparelli offer an intriguing cityscape, and the colorful decorations for a birthday cake. Metsanvaki, from Kristina Isola, shows where fairy tale creatures likely live. Erja Hirvi's nature-themed series of cocoa pods, Kaakaopuu, shows the origins of chocolate. The design veers among chipper colors, like pale greens and yellows, calling to mind a child's wallpaper, to the deepest black, evoking a woodcutting. Livestock, realistically sketched in Marjaana Virtu's Kevatjuhla, romp through vivid springtime colors like bright green and glowing orange. All fabrics are silkscreened onto a cotton ground. Textile Arts; 888-343-7285; txtlart.com. circle 426

Le Studio Anthost

Take a walk through the windmills of your mind with the Parallele line. Designer Astrid de Saint Anthost aims to examine the life that our unconscious leads when we're doing other things, so she and fellow designers looked at a strong stripe, then closed their eyes and drew what came to them. The result: Subliminale, an ethereal, swirled pattern whose lines curve into vague flower shapes, and Paves, whose lines are more subtle. The standard 58-inch-wide organzas are offered in custom colors. Paves was the springboard for Anemone, part of the Oikos (Greek for "ecology") collection, which is inspired by, and strives to use, only organic, natural dyes on natural fabrics. Like Paves, Mousse is potato paste applied to linen, which is airbrushed with black dye. After a washing, only the dye remains. Each is available in custom colors. 718-267-8907; lestudioanthost.com. circle 427

Patty Madden Software

This designer is branching into vinyl upholstery with eight patterns—and an electric-blue jolt. The line creates sophistication by kissing the tips of the vinyl's embossing with dichroic inks. Note Riviera's subtle texture, while Martini is downright intoxicating with its netting of gold and black. Pour us another, Patty! 501-748-1113; pattymaddensoftware.com. circle 432

Garrett Leather

The manufacturer has expanded its Steerhides collection of hair-on hides with specialty designs, bringing the total number of products in the line to 21. Some of the playful patterns include a floral called Baby Blue Geranio Lazer and faux animal-skin patterns, channeling zebras and tigers and leopards. Oh my! The average hide size is approximately 35 square feet. 800-342-7738; garrettleather.com. circle 428

J. Ennis Fabrics

Crypton Green II adds to the manufacturer's arsenal of eco-friendly fabrics. Made of recycled polyester, this 54-inch-wide line of twelve botanical-inspired patterns is not just green; it's tough, too, resisting moisture, soil, microbes, and standing up to 50,000 to 100,000 double rubs. 800-663-6647; jennisfabrics.com. circle 431

KnollTextiles

Menswear as muse strikes again. Witness Mini Stitch, a low-key geometric vertical stripe. This eco-intelligent polyester is as tough as it is earth-friendly. It can take more than 100,000 double rubs and is available in eight colorways. 866-565-5858; knoll.com. circle 429

Galbraith & Paul

Spring has sprung in this Philadelphia artisan's shop, with hand-blocked patterns—including Big Paisley, Birds, and Trellis—that sing of the garden. The patterns are available in upholstery linen in a variety of colorways, including apricot, ocean, flax, celadon, and pink. 215-508-0800; galbraithandpaul.com. circle 430

Loop

All design needs a good Foundation. This six-pattern line riffs on the exploration and creativity of the first, or "foundation," year of art school. Note the lines, geometric renderings, and brushstrokes likely to be seen in any first-year sketchbook. These cotton-nylon blend fabrics include the patterns Shibori, Foundation, Litho, and Crosshatch. 866-523-4437; looptextiles.com circle 433

Bernhardt Textiles

Hit the road with this travel-inspired collection. The ingrained, lined Rails option suggests trains chugging along tracks. Night Lights, meanwhile, graphically depicts high-speed travel, with fixed points of light and colors that stretch into stripes; Vanishing Points evokes the view through haze or mist. All come in six colorways. 877-639-0728; bernhardttextiles.com. circle 434

Aláxi Fabrics

The Parallels collection boasts an array of paired designs; two paths with separate, but complementary, motifs. Mother Nature serves as the inspiration for the line, which features interpretations of landscapes and earth elements—ranging from minerals to water—with metallic accents via silicate materials and metallic ink. 800-453-5777; alaxifabrics.com. circle 435

HBF

Grab your teddy bear! Tucked In, part of the aptly-named Creature Comforts line from color and material consultant Laura Guido-Clark, is a cheerful stripe that reminds us of our favorite blankie. Using a vibrant palette of colorways, including PJ's, Bedtime Story, Warm Milk, and Night Light, Guido-Clark aims to bring humor to corporate environs. Though a softie, this fabric is no pushover. It can take 99,000 double rubs. 828-328-2064; hbf.com. circle 436

Fabricteria Maki

Sen Sen owes its look to designer Maki Yamamoto's background in fashion. She created the pleated silk charmeuse fabric while considering the drapery of a dress. The pleats are hand-sewn to avoid the over-precision of machine sewing. The 54-inchwide fabric is available in eight colors, including yellow and lavender. 212-304-0540; fabricteriamaki.com. circle 440

Twill Textiles

Horsehair steps out of Victorian parlors and into the mainstream. Made of equal parts cotton and linen, this 60-inch-wide product imitates the neat banded effect of real horsehair, sans the low pliability of the real thing. It's softer too, boasting the "hand of linen" and is available in 29 colors, including Lenox Twill. 312-828-0088; twilltextiles.com. circle 437

Of the Young and the Restless

Spring has sprung, but with Thorny Rose, designer Pearce Williams is already anticipating the height of summer; her aim is to capture the rose at its fullest bloom. Hand-printed in the United States on 54-inch-wide linen, the graphic design comes in Honeymoon, or custom colorways. 843-416-2189; oftheyoungandtherestless.com. circle 438

Kravet

The manufacturer is marking a decade of distributing Crypton by offering 60 new Performance Line designs with something for everyone: botanicals, scrolls, stripes, and paisleys in a palette of brown, blue, green, coral, and red. Thanks to the Crypton coating, fabrics will resist anything the hospitality or health-care industries can throw at them, and still withstand 50,000 double rubs. 800-367-9026; kravet.com. circle 439

Architex International

We're ready for our close-up, Mr. DeMille! This avant-garde entry in the Hollywood Glamour line takes its cue from the glitz of 1930's- and 1940's-era Tinseltown. Six velvets make up the collection in bold, sophisticated colors, including cardinal, Astra, marvelous, and ultramarine. 800-621-0827; architex-ljh.com. circle 441

Newcastle Fabrics

Get that touch of old-world class with Faux Horsehair. The non-PVC polypropylene is 54 inches wide and comes in 18 colors, including natural, eggshell, pebble, champagne, shadow, and lemon. It can take 40,000 double-rubs. 718-782-5560; newcastlefabrics.com. circle 445

Robert Allen

Check out the latest Velvet Trends. The line displays the look and feel of cut velvet but adds strength. The 50 graphic patterns include Cass, Migg Velvet, Charm City, and Begin Again. These sturdy polyester-viscose-linen blends can withstand more than 100,000 double rubs. 800-333-3777; robertallendesign.com. circle 442

F. Schumacher & Co.

Matthew Patrick Smyth's new line of wovens and prints mixes his sensibility with traditional motifs from his collection of period textiles. Gabrielle Embroidery is a silk with viscose embroidery emulating a string of pearls, all inspired by details on a vintage couture gown. It is offered in six colors. 800-523-1200; fschumacher.com. circle 443

Nancy Koltes

Quebec is the latest addition to the designer's bedding collection. Giving a nod to the fashion runways, this tweedy background is layered with a feminine floral but still would be at home on Saville Row. This 350-thread-count Egyptian cotton is available in sand and black. 212-995-9050; nancykoltes.com. circle 444

J. Robert Scott

No prizes for guessing where the Golden Collection from the Golden State gets its muse. Sally Sirkin Lewis brings us a line of textiles in warm metallic tones. The shimmering shade is interlaced in an array of natural handwoven silk, silk mohair, wool cashmere, and silk blends. A few faves: Laine Sheer, Rough Textured Silk, Couture, and Klimt. 877-207-5130; jrobertscott.com. circle 450

Joseph Noble

Ooh-la-la. The nubbly texture of New Paris channels the City of Lights. The yarns thicken after the woven fabric is slowly bounced over hot air. The rayon-cotton-blend withstands stains and is available in eight colorways. 214-741-8100; josephnoble.com. circle 449

Cortina Leathers

Chamois Maxi, the latest addition to the manufacturer's Couture collection, is a reversible embossed suede. On the side pressed by the arabesque-patterned plate, recessed parts of the hide present a sharp contrast with the de-bossed surface. On the other side, the effect is more subtle. The aniline-dyed hides come in ten colors, including Asphodel, Token, and Mole. 800-338-6229; cortinaleathers.com. circle 446

Hinson & Company

If you feel the need for tweed, old chap, may we suggest Hargate and Harris? These new velvets riff on elegant menswear. Hargate is a slim, widely-spaced stripe. Harris is a classic herringbone in several old-school color combos. The velvets are blended of cotton, polyester, and acrylic. 212-475-4100. circle 448

Hartmann & Forbes

The window-covering manufacturer's Ertheweave Collection evokes the texture and artistry of old-world fabrics. Time travel is evoked via the handiwork of Indian artisans plying their craft in silk, using skills that are hundreds of years old. The rough-hewn EW46i Indus measures 50 inches. 888-582-8780; hfshades.com. circle 447

Silver State

Need a convincing alternative to leather? Try Torino Polyurethanes. The new line has the "aged" look down pat and will last until it is as old as it looks. It also can withstand 800,000 double rubs. The 54-inch-wide fabric comes in 15 colors. 800-453-5777; silverstatetextiles.com. circle 455

Brentano

Looking for interesting, stitched faux leather? Kismet's nylon is quilted with a diamond pattern and offered in four colorways. City Block, an Asian-flavored embroidered pattern on polyurethane, can take 90,000 double rubs. 800-338-7210; brentanofabrics.com. circle 451

Rodolph

Bella Fleur is an ode to the beauty of gardens, both natural and manmade. This cotton-polyacrylic-blend measures 59½ inches wide and is offered in three colorways: Aqua Delight, Bronze Glow, and Spring Bouquet. 707-935-0316; rodolph.com. circle 454

Bart Halpern

The sumptuous Romance Taffeta collection is flame retardant—good for when hearts catch fire. It's also varied: choose from 40 colors, including Cayenne and Caramel, plus 19 pleat options. A bonus: The popular Tying the Knot pattern also is now available in a Romance Taffeta ground. 212-414-2727; barthalpern.com. circle 452

Studio Diedrich

Sparkle is the order of the day with Nature Ray Charles by this boutique studio. Glowing blossoms are sure to banish the blues. The 53-by-102-inch wall covering is available in such colorways as bronze, raspberry, and green. 46-733-30-7159; diedrich.se. circle 453

Henry Calvin Fabrics

Take a botanical weave, mix in a graphic pattern, leaven with a dash of subtle naturalism, and what do you get? Iceland Poppy. This Austrian import sports pleated weave construction that stays pleated when applied to upholstery. It comes in six colorways. 888-732-1996; henrycalvin.com. circle 460

Nomi Fabrics

Pack your bags for Tangier. This interlaced geometric pattern is a standard in classic Moroccan architecture. Made with solution-dyed acrylic, the fabric is available in five colorways: parrot, couscous, celadon, honey, and Savannah. 831-728-1972; nomiinc.com. circle 456

Townsend Leather

These faux-fish have no interest in saving Nemo. The Fierce Fish collection of exotic leathers includes Shark, Stingray, Eel, and Great White. The unique pebbled textures have been embossed onto 55-square-foot cowhides, with a touch of sheen added to evoke the sea. The collection is available in 11 colorways, including Indian Red, Misty Rose, and Bisque. 800-852-0144; townsendleather.com. circle 457

John Robshaw

The designer's globe-trekking ways have inspired an exotic take on the cotton Curtain. Choose from patterns Cherry Blossom, Gold, and Azurite. Or, select the demure Pearl with tiny circular mirrors that catch the light. Also part of the collection are Sierra and Aqua. All measure 96 inches by 50 inches. 212-594-6006; johnrobshaw.com. circle 459

Place Textiles

Italian Gardens, a new collection of three patterns, comes in a total of 27 colors. Rayon and polyester Genoa sports the refined texture of a stucco wall. Corsini Brocade is a polyester-cotton-blend, evok ing Mediterranean gardens. Lucca's cotton-polyester-blend micro-pattern echoes raked gravel paths. 212-255-7978; placetextiles.com. circle 458

Woodnotes Oy

If your mom no longer knits for you, don't feel left out in the cold. Now you can get hand-knit curtains all the way from Finland, just like mom used to make (if you were very lucky). Mesh is a mix of glossy metal and matte paper. Veil uses all paper yarn. Both come in 51-inch finished pieces in an array of colors. Orange Living; 919-942-1608; woodnotes.fi. circle 461

Carnegie

The Bijou collection takes its cues from ornamental and vintage jewelry. Note Gem, a polyester confection of plush, diamond-inspired dots on a smooth surface, all begging to be touched. This 54-inch pattern comes in jacinth, smoky quartz, tiger's eye, onyx, topaz, citrine, sapphire, and amethyst, and can take spills with grace, thanks to its Nanotex finish. 800-727-6770; carnegiefabrics.com. circle 465

Maharam

The Layers collection aims to change its look, depending on the viewer's vantage point.Hella Jongerius uses layers of felt that are embroidered and cut by hand. Garden Double, in earth, chocolate, and coral, is made of wool, polyester, and nylon and ranges in width from 52 to 54 inches. 800-645-3943; maharam.com. circle 462

Arc-Com Fabrics

Get yourself into the Lotus position. Elegant and calming, this silk-like upholstery fabric is tough: The rayon-polyester blend can take up to 150,000 double rubs. Thanks to its Nano-Tex finish, it resists stains, too. It is available in nine colorways. Ommm…. 800-223-5466; arc-com.com. circle 464

Anzea

Go Chi-Chi with this chic line of Italian chenilles, which gives a new twist to the classic chenille rib. For that, you can thank the warp yarns that create a subtle loop pattern. This polyacrylic-polyester blend is soft enough for home but can stand up to heavy-duty contract use. It comes in 21 yummy colors, including tangerine, redstone, nougat, Nuvocado, and seafoam. 877-862-6932; anzea.com. circle 463

Spatial Element

Silk Metallics is the latest dazzling offering from this specialist in sculpted fabrics. The mix of silk and metallic threads creates a shimmering display, perfect for drapes or wall coverings. It is 44 inches wide and comes in blues, greens, and reds, as well as shades of gold, copper, and silver. 917-701-9134; spatialelement.com. circle 470

Kinnasand

Get a Close Up look at this German design house's spring collection. The line is all about sensuality in textiles, in which pastels and naturals rub shoulders with more lush contrasting shades. And the critics are impressed: The metallic textiles group garnered a 2008 Red Dot Product Design Award for design. 49-04-488-5160; kinnasand.com. circle 466

Pollack

Get your texture fix from this trio. Eddy, a 121-inch-wide reversible window fabric in sheer polyester, offers a tone-on-tone subtlety with two different, colored filling yarns. And thanks to traditional fancy-twist yarn, Astrakhan evokes its namesake, Persian lamb fur, in look and feel. Flaximum, meanwhile, is a dobby weave linen with a sprightly, visual texture. Each is available in three to eight colorways. 212-627-7766; pollackassociates.com. circle 469

John Hutton

Release your inner Drama Queen! This shimmering blend of viscose, polyester, linen, and cotton expands the appropriately dubbed Bling collection with four iridescent colorways in a heavier texture. Get your sparkle on in white gold, platinum, pewter, or aged copper. 888-787-7827; johnhuttontextiles.com. circle 468

Paul Brayton

We can hear steel drums while gazing at Calypso. This playful sunburst design comes in eight happy colorways. The nylon-rayon blend can take 60,000 double rubs. And thanks to Crypton, it can withstand moisture and microbes, making it perfect for health-care settings. 800-882-4720; paulbraytondesigns.com. circle 467

Yoma Textiles

With its rich texture and saturated palette, Verona beckons you to Italy. But the polyester-rayon-cotton blend is not just an exotic pretty face—it can take 50,000 double rubs and comes in eight colorways: ciel, bamboo, dune, greige, haricot, mer, lacquer, and bittersweet. 212-431-4794; yoma.com. circle 471

Pindler & Pindler

If you could decorate like Doris Duke, why wouldn't you? Turkoman, a washed damask, comes from the line drawn from the heiress' own Newport estate. The tapestry-like rayon blend riffs on Ms. Duke's velvet filigree. Pair it with Amboise, a small repeat chenille. Both are available in Firenze or other colorways. 800-669-6002; pindler.com. circle 472

Designtex

The Palette collection draws inspiration from everyday things, like the lustrous pages of a magazine. Witness Solange, Charlotte, Kanthas, and Glossy, a few of the elegant patterns in the line. The cotton-linen blends come in six to 16 colorways. 800-221-1540; designtex.com. circle 473

Jane Churchill

What's not to love in this group of embroidered florals and sprightly stripes? Somerly, a linen-viscose-silk blend, sports velvet appliqué-stitched flowers and embroidered leaves atop a screen print of scattered foliage; Rossini, a linen-viscose blend, gives an ikat effect with multicolored embroidery; Rosebank's silk-viscose blend uses embroidery stitches in both blooms and leaves; and Granville, an asymmetric stripe, lends a sophisticated note. 212-647-6900; cowtan.com. circle 474

Textus

Rattan is an architect's dream. This textured rectilinear grid is due to a double-beam warp construction. A combination of dense rayon and fine denier black nylon yarn creates small cells that evoke structure and depth. 800-366-6839; memosamples.com. circle 475

Clarence House

When you want to lend a touch of class to a project, call on Antonio. This handsome Italian-woven 55-inch wool challis paisley is based on an original 19th-century Kashmir shawl and would be equally at home in a wood-paneled library or modern sitting room. It comes in three classic colors: antique document, red-green, and brown. 800-221-4704; clarencehouse.com. circle 476

Momentum

The Attaché collection is a grouping of crisp geometric patterns. District is a traditional check pattern jazzed up with intricate segmentation. Dividend and Bento use sharp squares and snappy colors to create a look that's both classic and modern. 800-366-6839; memosamples.com. circle 479

Moore & Giles

You can have the hare; we 're fans of Tortoise. This line begins life as cowhide and metamorphoses into leather embossed with a tortoise-shell pattern; it's then hand-stained and rubbed to create a rich, two-tone effect. The hides are offered in three colors: toffee, white, and pearl. 800-737-0169; mooreandgilesinc.com. circle 477

Chella Textiles

Meander invites the eye on a ramble through its curvilinear vermicelli pattern. But it's not all food, fun, and games. This solution-dyed Polyolefin fabric is doing its bit for Mother Nature, using post-industrial and post-consumer recycled materials. It's also light-fast, machine-washable, mildew- and stain-resistant, and can withstand 51,000 Wyzenbeek rubs. 805-560-8400; chellatextiles.com. circle 478