WHAT I SAW IN PARIS: SPRING TRENDS INCLUDE VIBRANT TEXTILES FROM DECO OFF

Ahhh, Paris in the winter! It was cold and grey but nothing can ever take away from the magic that is Paris. Anytime is a good idea.

I started off 2015 right, with a quick jaunt to Paris to do some trade show trend spotting. Tribal, graphic geometric, black and white, painterly, artisan. Just a few of the emerging and sustained trends spotted at fabric fair Deco Off and Maison et Objet this past January. I went to Paris to host and produce video segments for Editor at Large and dashed around the city to capture the latest the design world had to offer. Nothing inspires like Europe, it sets off the design year's coming trends and always does so with a dash of sophistication and elan.

A freezing sunny day made the fabric-covered lampshades in the design districts look that much more amazing. Each lampshade showcased a fabric from one of the participating Deco Off showrooms in Saint Germain and along Rue Du Mail. Leave it to the Parisians can create a spectacle as creative as this. Most of the showrooms are located in clusters, in and around Place Von Furstenburg in Saint Germain, and many fabric houses relocate to a gallery space to show their latest collections for the fabric fair, designing special pop up installations. Here is a look at the spectacular textiles I took in over a three day dash.

Meep, meep this peacock has somewhere to be! Jim Thompson's window installation at nightfall. 

I started out at Jim Thompson, where I checked out the vibrant new collection, filled with beautiful Thai silks, strong color and geo pattern. Their creative director made the most stunning displays, seen above and below, incorporating the new Forbidden Colors Collection patterns into two-dimensional art pieces.

The new coral and white ikat above from No. 9 was an instant new favorite of mine. They had lots of great blue and white prints too, to satisfy the eternal favorite color combo.

Exquisite little flower arrangements greeted visitors at Jim Thompson. Flowers are just better in France.

I took to the winding, narrow Parisian streets, videographer at my heels. Check out my Deco Off coverage for Editor at Large .  

Pierre Frey has not one but two showrooms in the City of Light. The well-known fabric house always creates show-stopping prints and artistic creations. This season was no different, with strong tribal influences and a good deal of black and white fabrics.

I quickly dashed over to Rue de L'Echaude take a look at the exterior of Gaston Y Daniela, the Spanish fabric house, which was overtaken by a cadre of crickets, made entirely out of new textiles. Hordes gathered to stop and stare, taking in the art piece. While I was there, I checked out their new Madrid collection. It can be seen this spring at Brunschwig and Fils.

Inside, a bar, complete with awning, was created using latest black and white fabrics, provided a perfect perch for a snack.

Another new addition, a black and gold fabric with a mod 1970's vibe

Then it was off to the large African gallery space overtaken by Dedar, the lux Italian brand.  Their introductions included a wide range of new jewel toned velvets, a fashion-y woven boucle story, and tribal-influenced prints, including Tangram, the bold black and white print on silk shown above.

To see more of the new collection, watch my video segment at Dedar, above

I then made my way past Cole and Sons, the British wallpaper company, and they had just been awarded best window design, for their Whimsical Collection Princess and The Pea window.  With a bed made up in wallpaper mattresses and pillows, they launched their first children's collection, influenced by nostalgic nursery rhymes. Find it soon at Lee Jofa.