Three things we learned in 2023

It’s that time of the year where it seems only right to take a breath and reflect on what we’ve learned here at Agua Towers over the course of the last 12 months. It’s been a rollercoaster of a year, one marked with several successful product launches, and some new high-performing fabrics that we’re really proud of. But there were surprises in the mix too – from a growing demand for vegan friendly materials, to the fun we had on the trade show circuit. Here are three things that we’re confident we’ll see more of in 2024.

1. Demand for vegan-friendly fabrics is on the up

This is the first year we’ve seen a consistent stream of requests for vegan-friendly fabrics for both hospitality and workplace environments. It makes complete sense with the way the world has changed. No long is real leather seen as a ‘must have’ – more and more people are valuing the ethical benefits of vegan materials over leather’s traditional prestige. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Agua has been producing vegan-friendly faux leathers for years, and all our artificial leathers and soft woven upholstery fabrics are 100 per cent vegan friendly. If Stella McCartney won’t use leather in fashion, then we’re all for following suit in the interiors industry too.

2. There’s nothing quite like a well-run trade show

2023 felt like the first year since the pandemic where trade shows, exhibitions and networking events were back to “normal”. Numbers were up, clients wanted to be out there and all the events we either hosted or attended had a really welcoming buzz about them. We hugely enjoyed Clerkenwell Design Week, which was even busier than we hoped it would be, and Cruise Interiors in Miami proved that the demand for cruises is healthier than ever. We rounded out the year with the best HIX event to date, with the hospitality sector seemingly as buoyant as ever. The social side of our industry has been much missed over the last few years and we hope that this year will act as a springboard for an even more sociable – and fun – 2024

3. Bouclé fabrics are here to stay

Certainly, in 2023 bouclé fabrics have made a triumphant return, but it doesn’t look like they’re going anywhere in 2024, either. We’ve seen them everywhere this year, used in every sector and every kind of project. Rich in texture and with a sophisticated, yet subtle appearance, they’re just the right amount of ‘unconventional’, while remaining supremely stylish. We released Agua Bouclé at Clerkenwell Design Week, and are pleased to offer a collection that’s fire retardant to Crib 5, waterproof, anti-microbial and stain resistant – without compromising on the fabric’s softness or tactility. We don’t know of any other bouclés with all these characteristics on the market and it’s proved to be an amazing success. We expect to see sample requests and orders continue to climb as we move into the spring next year.