Back to the past

In a rapidly changing world that offers increasingly fewer orientation points and in which fear of the future is constantly growing, ‘retro’ trends appear to be a logical consequence. A manufacturing company’s return to past concepts is expressed in a trend to the past: The vision of the future is a reflection of the past. And the return to past concepts is also a significant topic this autumn. Homages to classics, the resurrection of past products and the revivification of nostalgic elements on the one hand offer orientation, but on the other hand can distract from a possible lack of ideas and real innovations. Often existing ideas and designs are just going through ‘standard’ variations.

Return of the décors
Décors embellish porcelain, glass and fabrics – whether in opulent designs with baroque and Art Nouveau elements which are reflected in ornaments or in the form of floral patterns, sometimes in the popular punch pattern look. Even leather articles normally characterised by absolute understatement emphasise the perfection of their craftsmanship and their high quality with contrasting seams or coloured linings, thus showing borrowings from the automobile and furniture industries.

Revival of the eighties
The 1980s celebrate their revival particularly in the field of colours: The high-contrast combination of black, white and red sets striking accents everywhere. Clear, austere geometrical forms and smooth shining surfaces dominate this style. Due to the use of gold, which is rather atypical for the eighties, combinations of black and white convey luxury and opulence.
The colours and décors of the 1950s are also coming alive again this autumn: Rippled glass, pastel colours, and bulbous forms mark a return to the product language of the fifties.

Homage to classics
Apart from the return of different past decades the homage to past avant-gardes becomes obvious. In times in which real innovations become more and more rare, many refer to the avant-garde of the past. Alfi celebrates its ball-shaped thermos flask designed by Ole Palsby with a special edition, which contains the designer’s signature as well as the story of the “ball’s discovery”. Alessi also returns to classics. The 9093 kettle by Michael Graves is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Alessi has developed a special edition of the kettle with its bird-shaped whistle and also presents special editions of the other products designed by Graves.

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“Back to the past” picture gallery

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