People Create Trends

People often ask Trend Watchers how it is that trends in home and apparel design are dictated to the public. The clear answer is: they are not!

Changing times and changing life around us create trends. Trends are a direct result of what people want and need. This is especially true during times of major economic and political change. No wonder we want to clean out, renew, redecorate, redesign and generally refresh our environments and wardrobes every few months!

This explains the renewed popularity of the Mid-Century Modern movement of the 1950’s which was in itself a reflection of busier lives and the higher income levels of post World War II America. The elegant, useful designs of that movement fit well into our busy lives now.

In fact, Russell and Mary Wright’s popular “Guide to Easier Living” (Simon and Schuster, 1950) espoused practical and simpler living that fit the needs of families as they shifted to life in the suburbs, a massive migration made possible by the rise of the middle class and the thriving economy of that time. Their Guide is being re-written, in a sense, by popular magazines, websites and blogs teaching easier, more open ways to cook, clean, decorate and live, -in general.

This same openness, transparency and directness are hallmarks of our times, as well.