Market Research Report Plan

Editors Letter/Introduction:

• Introduce what you will discuss
• Process of ikat weaving and the impact it has made on contemporary interiors
• Overview of what you will discuss
• What you’re going to do
• Talk about Designers that use it today and how they have adjusted it in comparison to traditional weavers who maintain the same technique as it originally was
• Description of subject
•  Where it originated, describe the process of it and briefly mention how it has changed/maintained over time
• Introduce issues you will cover
• Its place within contemporary interiors, especially the process involved

Materials focus

• Describe the materials that the designers are using
• Light, cotton, synthetics, synthetic dyes
• Key materials to the characteristics of the design/topic
• Traditionally vegetable dyes
• Cotton, silk

Colour Focus

• Describe the colours that the designers are using
• Bright colours
• Maintain the use of the “blurred” effect achieved in ikat as a way of associating it with the originally technique
• Colours fall within the standard palette used in Spring/Summer collections
• Key colours to the characteristics of the design/topic
• The meaning of colours used in ikat for religious/spiritual reasons
• Richer colours to demonstrate wealth

Techniques and Processes focus:

• Describe the techniques and processes that designers are using
• Print
• embroidery
• Hand-dyeing and weaving – like the original method
• Weaving with new technology, a modern take on a traditional method – fibre optics
• Key techniques and processes to the characteristics of the design/topic
• Binding, hand-dyeing, hand weaving, altering design and warp/weft as the weave progresses, finishing process, double ikat
• How modern designers make shortcuts to achieve the same effect using modern technology e.g. printing
• The process means that the making is very time consuming in a throw away society – why designers make shortcuts – and if the process is followed it is applied to a bespoke, elite market – means that the outcome is worth more, customers can have more control of what they’re paying for, the result is completely unique to them

Market analysis:

• Market for designers/subject
• Interiors
• Fashion
• Contemporary examples of a traditional technique or process
• Designers use process as a basis but apply a modern twist, such as weaving in fibre optics
• Bespoke/commissioned or mass produced?
• The traditional method is time consuming so would typically appeal to a bespoke market, which gives the customer more control over colours, weave, texture etc
• The adaptation of the ikat process made by printing it, means that it can be mass produced, using the typical designs and patterns to create the impression of ikat, in products like wallpaper, fabric, furniture, upholstery
• Handmade or machine manufactured?
• Traditional method is usually handmade by skills craftsmen, possibly from regions where the process originated, who each are skilled in a particular stage of the process
• Where does it sell or show?
• Products advertised in journals like Elle Decoration, World of Interiors, fashion influences in journals like View, Textile Report
• Usually priced highly, aimed at a wealthier audience, shows the extent of the quality of the outcome, as well as the craftsmanship gone into making it and time taken

Observer/conclusion:

• Description of the designer/subject
• Views/opinions of the subject
• Origins of it
• Influences of it
• How you might use it/be inspired by your designers/subject?
• The concept of using resist to create imagery and patterns
• Putting modern twists on a traditional technique