Amo Blinds is putting the finishing touches to yet another new collection - and this time the focus will be on its much-anticipated Roman blinds.
The prolific Yorkshire company launched new collections of vertical and roller blinds at the back end of last year and has already introduced a new pleated book this year.
And now the priority is Roman blinds as the company increasingly sees them becoming a core part of its overall range, given the rise in popularity of soft cloths, according to general manager Richard Greaves.
He said that the new collection was imminent and the company had been working at breakneck speed to bring it through to meet demand from eager trade customers.
“The team at Amo have worked like troupers to bring through the vertical, roller and pleated collections to much acclaim,” said Richard. “And this has raised the bar of expectations and there seems to be a real appetite for more new collections from Amo and Romans is the next one which will be ready this summer.
“At one time Romans were regarded as a niche product but over the last few years they have really come into their own and are becoming what we regard as a core product – which is why we have pulled out all the stops to bring out a new collection.”
Latest home interiors trends
The new Roman blinds range will contain 120 fabrics and soft cloths, which is on a par with the collection book it will supersede. But the big change is the number of new fabrics which have been included to reflect the latest home interior trends.
Chief designer Helen Kilvington said that with the resources and support the company enjoys from parent company Hunter Douglas, Amo had been able to look at all the trends in soft furnishings and fabrics to assemble a collection which appealed to a spectrum of tastes across a number of price points.
“There’s a cleaner, slicker aesthetic coming in to play in 2011 and it’s set to develop through 2012,” said Helen.
“Watch out for zig-zags, chevrons, clean stripes and grids as design motifs as well as repeat prints. Strong colours trended through 2010 and moving forward is all about the colour clash.
“As a nation we have becoming increasingly comfortable and confident using striking colours - so watch out for pink and orange combos, pink with red, or even turquoise and yellow.”
To the untrained eye it would appear that all Amo’s efforts have been channelled into the aesthetics of the collection but the company has also been working hard behind the scenes to make significant improvements to the specification of the new blinds as well.
New developments
One major development has been the inclusion of a new bonded interlining option which gives the fabric greater volume. Amo has been trialling the new interlining and in a direct comparison using the same fabric with and without it the difference is astonishing. The one with the interlining looks richer and more expensive even though it’s the same fabric.
As well as increasing the volume of the fabric, the interlining also improves the functionality of the blinds when drawing them up or down by creating a smoother waterfalling effect.
The range of accessories has also been beefed up with the inclusion of more detachable valance options which come into their own if homeowners want to hide the headrail and brackets or disguise non-uniform window recesses.
Also includes Calico blinds
The new collection also includes Amo’s Calico blinds which are the Antipodean inspired variant of Romans.
A summer beach hut theme is created by these soft cloths because of the look of the cool neutral fabrics – which don’t require seems or hems – and are topped off with wooden pelmets, rods and bottom bars.
There are 14 fabrics in the collection and Amo has improved the fabric composition for added stability and durability whilst retaining the integrity of the soft cloths.
Amo has also expanded the existing range of accessories, which already features beech, yew, ivory and dark walnut, to include black and white for very contemporary colour schemes.
All together in one
The collection is housed in Amo’s new trademark style collection binder which is clean and modern looking and laid out by colour palettes to make it as easy as possible for independent blinds companies to assist homeowners to find their perfect Romans or Calicos.
Richard summed up by saying that the new Roman blinds collection continues in the same vein as the roller, vertical and pleated blinds collections in setting new standards for Amo Blinds.
He said: “The Romans are coming from Amo Blinds and it is another special collection which is brilliantly conceived, full of inspirational fabrics and laid out in such a way that it helps to fire the imagination of homeowners who want beautiful blinds.”
Amo’s Roman blinds collection book can be pre-ordered now by calling Amo Sales and Service on 01429 851500.
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