The end of plain basics. Why does neutral fabric have to do more these days?
Not every fabric needs to take centre stage. Sometimes, the greatest value for a furniture manufacturer lies in a material that doesn’t dominate the piece, but instead lends it a subtle depth, softness and a sense of refinement. This is precisely where ZIVA, MONELLI and HOLMS come together — three textural collections from FABB, designed for furniture that looks good, performs well and doesn’t go out of fashion after just one season.
For years, a ‘safe’ fabric meant a muted colour, no pattern, and the ability to blend in with most interiors. For furniture manufacturers, this was a sensible choice. For customers, it was a safe option, though increasingly too predictable. Contemporary interiors are less and less content to be merely correct. Even if they remain neutral, they need layers, light, softness and materials that bring something more than just colour.
It’s not that neutral fabrics are losing their appeal. Quite the opposite. They still make up the majority of sofas, corner sofas, beds and armchairs that end up in real homes. However, expectations regarding neutrality are changing. Customers no longer want a flat surface that blends into the background. They want a fabric with a melange effect, a delicate three-dimensional quality, a soft texture or a subtle sheen in the weave.
This shift is clearly evident in current trends. Vogue writes about interiors that are more lived-in, organic and less stylised, whilst AD PRO highlights the return of layering, craftsmanship, colour and detail as elements that give a space personality. ELLE Decor, for its part, emphasises quiet luxury, natural materials, warmth and texture in a more conscious, long-lasting form.
It is precisely in this context that ZIVA, MONELLI and HOLMS cease to be merely three understated collections and begin to function as a spectrum of textures. And it is in this arrangement that ZIVA, MONELLI and HOLMS are at their most valuable. ZIVA is the most visually understated. MONELLI offers a more substantial, chenille-like effect and a stronger sense of softness. HOLMS introduces a more distinct weave pattern, yet still remains on the side of understated elegance.
For a furniture manufacturer, this is a very practical approach. One sofa might require a simple, understated base. Another might need more softness. A third might need a design that doesn’t stand out from a distance, but reveals its quality up close. ZIVA, MONELLI and HOLMS allow you to maintain a consistent aesthetic across the collection, simply by varying the visibility of the weave.
This is more important today than it might seem. At a time when many brands offer similar designs, it is often the fabric that determines whether a piece of furniture looks like the most basic catalogue model or a finely crafted product.
ZIVA does this subtly. Its fine texture and delicate nap ensure that the furniture doesn’t look flat, even if the colour is neutral.
MONELLI adds extra softness and a more substantial feel, particularly on the large surfaces of sofas and corner sofas.
HOLMS, on the other hand, with its more prominent weave resembling a fine grid, adds a touch of texture where the form needs more definition.
These fabrics are designed to provide the perfect backdrop for life with children or pets. Fabrics that help shape a space without restricting it.
