Monthly Archives: July 2013

CARAMEL-CRUNCH fabric

Pop and colorful fabric loved by followers of “kawaii”(*1) items

We covered CANDY PARTY as the 2nd guest for our “visit artist” column. Marinko is one of the designers for CANDY PARTY as well as the owner of her shop CARAMEL-CRUNCH. Marinko collaborated with the shop’s creator 3no6 for their new collection that we are covering here. Marinko says, “Love loud design! Love pop and colorful items!! Love handmade stuffs!!! This collection is for lovers of gaudy and cute stuff regardless of age, sex, and race!” There are four different designs. The prints of “universe” and “vehicles” with large patterns are great for home décor projects such as curtains and bedclothes, and also work well for big bags. The other fabrics “dots x ladybugs” and “checks x ants” are great for clothing for not only kids but also adults because the photographed image prints give the fabrics more reality and less fancy.

Uchu (universe) H3043-1A  oxford

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Outer space motifs have gotten more popular since last year. “That’s very CARAMEL-CRUNCH!” – You may say so when you see this space motifs’ fabric. “There are jellyfish, Ferris wheels, and spacewalking astronauts in our fabric. By adding items which actually don’t exist in space, we depicted a new universe.” Marinko says with a laugh.

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FOLK MODERN vol.2

Less obtrusive and simple geometric patterns

Continued from the previous article in this column, we are covering Ellen Luckett Baker’s newest collection FOLK MODERN. Here are another three prints with more sedate and geometric patterns in the collection. The folk art motifs arranged in contemporary style by her are modern and stylish as its name suggests. You can enjoy these fabrics for bags, home décor, or any project.

Medallions  JG 41600-1 cotton/linen canvas

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The small medallion print can be used solo as well as an accent for solid fabrics or blending well with all the other designs.

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FOLK MODERN

Inspired by American and Dutch folk arts

We featured STAMPED by Ellen Luckett Baker in this column last May. Here is her brand-new collection FOLK MODERN. “FOLK MODERN is inspired by the folk art motifs of American and Dutch fork art. I used geometric shapes and bright colors to give the collection a modern feel. The cotton/linen blend of FOLK MODERN is incredibly versatile. I’ve made clothes, pillows, quilts and bags with this fabric.” Baker says. There are six prints in this collection. This time we are introducing three of them.

Sawtooth Flowers  JG 41600-3 cotton/linen canvas

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One of the traditional quilt motifs, sawtooth, is featured and geometrically redesigned with bright colors.

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ueda college collection x KOKKA

collaborative project with Ueda College of Fashion

Students of Ueda College of Fashion in Japan who frequent fabric stores are all experts at textiles. KOKKA has created fabrics in collaboration with those young people under the theme of “Things and patterns that I want”. This time we introduce three collections; “unisex style”, “Study Zoo” to be enjoyed by curious kids and parents, and “Charlotte” which is pretty and playful for women who love cute stuff. Two fabrics per collection, a total 6 fabrics, are now ready. Each fabric is filled with fun designs. Make your own things from these fabrics with your creative imagination.

ICHIGO TO ARI(strawberries and ants) unisex style H1620-20 cotton/linen canvas

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This is a cotton/linen canvas, which is a medium-weight fabric. Black-and-white strawberries drawings with ants marching toward selected colored strawberries. The thick fabric is perfect for bags. If this fabric is used as a lining, even a simple designed bag will look classy. A bag with the lining should be fine for men to carry out, too.

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PEANUTS Yoryu fabric

Favorite Snoopy even as an adult

Kokka releases many fabrics with popular characters throughout the year, and today’s favorite features a Snoopy fabric. Snoopy has many fans including adults. The fabric’s material and patterns are selected with the theme of “refreshing coolness” for the coming hot summer. The material is “Yoryu” which is a crepe fabric. Its characteristic crinkly surface has less contact on your skin and keeps you from feeling damp. There is no clammy feel, and it is an excellent fabric with sweat-absorbent and quick-drying features.

Snoopy G3621-1

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The border print with exotic atmosphere comes out on the cool “Yoryu”. The fabric has become adult-like, including silhouetted Snoopy. It must be fun to make not only kid’s clothes but also daddy & mommy’s matching loungewear.

* PEANUTS official website in Japan is www.snoopy.co.jp