Legendary Australian textiles house Warwick Fabrics is returning to Decor + Design & the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF), 14 – 17 July at Melbourne Exhibition Centre; and we couldn’t be more excited! We spoke to Cam Warwick to find out what the team have been up to lately…which just happens to include a hand in Baz Luhrman’s new Elvis movie!

We also got they scoop on what visitors can expect to see at the Warwick Fabrics stand at Australia’s premier networking and buying event for the furniture and design industry.

Cam, what’s been happening for Warwick Fabrics in the first half of 2022?

As always, we have had a busy start to the year, full of fresh products and exciting challenges!

We have been gearing up to launch our newest product category, WEAVE Bedding, which we are excited to show for the first time to the market at D+D! We are really pleased to be able to offer our new 100% linen bedding range which will complement our existing WEAVE range effortlessly.

In fabric design trends, the print resurgence is still strong as we enter a new post-lockdown era and people are looking to inject colour and excitement back into all aspects of their lives. This is seen across both indoor and outdoor styling, and so we have extended our outdoor fabric offering to introduce fun, tropical inspired patterns.

Our LINIA range has also expanded and now includes sheer drapery, completing the LINIA selection of soft, natural fibres for exquisite style.

The theme for Decor + Design this year is ‘Aurora Australis’, which reflects the breaking dawn for the Australian design industry as we emerge from the pandemic. Warwick Fabrics has international operations – how does being an Australian company inform your approach and aesthetic?

Over the past two years we have been restricted in that we couldn’t travel globally for inspiration as we have done in the past and have instead looked to our overseas offices to gauge international trends.

That said, the world is really looking to Australia more than ever, as we offer such a unique way of life. Our island nation is somewhat of a sanctuary, offering such diversity from country, coastal and city life. It is only natural that it is a constant source of inspiration to us.

The Australian landscape has a strong influence on our colour palettes, especially as we look to further incorporate the natural world into our homes, we see trends in earth tones and endless shades of green, moving beyond the safe yet soothing neutral tones.

Can you give us any exciting examples of recent projects?

It’s no secret that Australia played host to many celebrities and film makers alike over the past two years as they sought refuge from overseas. We are eagerly awaiting the release of the new Elvis movie this month, which was filmed in Queensland. Our team helped with choosing a vast selection of fabrics for the set design – we can’t wait to see what made the cut!

On a local Victorian note, if anyone spent time in Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula over summer, it was impossible to miss the grandeur of The Continental hotel in development. With Warwick Fabrics featured throughout the ­rooms, restaurant and day spa, this heritage building is on our must-visit list when it opens later this year.

But as much as we like seeing the big projects come to life, one of our favourite things is seeing the more treasured decorating schemes come to completion. We love it when clients tag us in their work on social media, it is an endless source of inspiration and is such a joy to see our fabrics brought to life.

We’ll have a Sustainability Hub at Decor + Design in July. How do you ensure quality and sustainability in the fabric manufacturing process?

With a long-standing supply chain of over 55 years, quality is at the forefront of our core values. Our products are quality checked both at the mill and at our warehouse before the fabrics are dispatched. During the development phase our designers ensure that all fabrics pass stringent quality tests to meet Australian standards. Consumer confidence is most important to us, and we will not launch a fabric that we aren’t 100% confident in.

We align with suppliers that implement third party systems such as ISO 9001, Oeko-tex and Care and Fair, where appropriate. Now that we can travel again, we look forward to revisiting our mills to continue to ensure these and our quality standards are upheld.

Technology in fabric manufacturing is constantly evolving and developing new products to help us offer more sustainable textiles. Currently we have options with recycled content in our Encore range, as well as natural fibre products. We have seen an increased demand for Australian Made product in recent years, which also reduces our impact in transport.

We’re excited you’ll be back exhibiting at Decor + Design in 2022. Why did you decide to exhibit this year? What can visitors expect to experience at the Warwick Fabrics stand?

It was never a question of whether or not we would exhibit – we signed up immediately at the conclusion of Decor + Design in 2019! We loved the 2019 show, we enjoyed seeing old faces and meeting new customers, and have been eagerly awaiting the return of Decor + Design.

This year we will be showcasing brand new product from each of our brands – WARWICK, LINIA and WEAVE, featuring new categories in each brand along with core favourites. We are excited to give our customers, new and existing, the opportunity to see and touch these new releases, but it’s also a great chance to see the fabrics made up and be inspired for their own creations!

Don’t miss seeing Warwick Fabrics at Decor + Design & the Australian International Furniture Fair 2022, 14 – 17 July at Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Entry to the exhibition is free but limited to trade visitors. Register now and start planning your trip!