Christmas trends 2021

La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE offers genuine craftsmanship with ecology in focus. Crafts from natural or recycled materials. Is that what the interior design world is asking for Christmas 2021?

Christmasworld Trends 2021/2022 shows three trends, which in summary describe increased interest in sustainable material choices; natural materials that have been handcrafted and recycled 'rubbish'. Sustainability and awareness of product selection and product mix are seen as increasingly central to global consumer trends - and this now also applies to this year's festive moments.

Trend 1: "Contemplative approach" focuses on nature. The natural materials play the main role in this style world. The materials are often displayed in their natural shape and colour. The tactile feeling is important. Old crafts become important to further highlight the beauty of nature.
In the photo above left: Fair Trade shoulder bag with outside of sun-dried, crocheted raffia palm and inside of plaited sedges. Seedpod from the raffia palm makes a decorative button. More about the material and the craft on La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE website.

Trend 2: "Heirloom feelings" puts flowers and nostalgia in the centre. The style is poetic and young with a cheerful and lively flora. Flowers and scattered flowers give patterns.
In the photo above in the middle: Fair Trade gift wrap and Christmas cards with envelope handmade from bark paper, decorated with flowers and leaves. Artisan and designer Madame Jéstine on small photo in between the Christmas cards. More about materials and bark paper craft on La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE website. 

Trend 3: "Spirited response" focuses on sustainability through recycling. This style world presents alternative and unconventional solutions to waste problems. The design is handmade and creative with zero waste, circular economy, recycling as central elements.
In the photo above right: Fair Trade lantern and motorcycle model handmade from collected metal waste and the brothers Fidèle and Fideliss with a bag of freshly picked metal cans. More about the metal recycling craft on La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE website.

The more Swedish-oriented magazines Elle, Residence and MetroMode show similar trends ahead of Christmas 2021. Quote from Elle: "Christmas is characterized by some clear tendencies, with timeless expressions and sustainable material choices as strong common denominators."

Trend 1. Green is the colour that is predicted to be extra important both in Christmas and in the future. Green is beautiful, both as a natural, plant-based greenery and colour. Long live green!
In the photo: Fair Trade shoulder bag with outside of hand-woven raffia palm leaves in olive green and nature white. Shoulder strap braided of sisal. More about the bag and the craft on La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE website.

Trend 2. Paper is a material related to sustainability and which is on the rise in the world of interior design. Paper is expected to occur more frequently already at Christmas. In the photo: Fair Trade Christmas card with envelope handmade from bark paper, decorated with flowers. See more about this Christmas card and other handmade bark paper items (eg pads, gift wrap, conference folders) on the La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE website

Trend 3. Tactile surfaces - preferably as soft and inviting as possible - are a big favorited.
In the photo: Gift bag handmade from bark paper. The decoration consists of long needles laid in the bark mass and which give the soft Anteimoro paper a special tactile surface. More about the gift bag on La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE website.

Trend 4. Natural colours often contribute to a genuine and rustic feeling. The seasonal Christmas trends 2021 are permeated by neutral colours in all shades. The colour trend marries well with natural materials.
In the photo: Fair Trade shoulder bag plaited of sun-dried sedges (Lepironia Articulata), shoulder strap made of braided raffia palm leaves, wooden button. More about the bag and the craft on La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE website.

Trend 5. Candles are a trend that includes both greater variation in the candles themselves and lovely candlesticks that enable finer installations. The candlelight trend is expected to continue long after Christmas.
In the photo: Fair Trade chandelier handmade from collected metal waste. More about the chandelier and the craft on La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE website.