Press Release: Expert Advice

A spot of polka is something that everyone’s loves and when it comes to homeware and soft furnishings it seems consumers just cannot get enough of it. Industry expert Sonia Kelly, who is Head of Interiors for Nursery Retailer Mamas & Papas, reveals why designers go dotty for spots and why she feels that with consumers and designers alike polka will always be popular!

Sonia comments ‘The first point to note about polka is simply how versatile it is in its design and this point is really the key to why it will always be popular. Polka is something that can transcend gender and style and designers love to work with it because you can play with both colour and scale. Traditionally polka was quite formal and designs were in very regular or uniform patterns. It was also quite common to
find interior pieces with an all over polka print or design. This kind of all over print was most often used in items such as curtains or soft fabric furnishings. Things have definitely moved on for the 21 century customer and now you find a real array of polka products on the market with the polka print or pattern often being used in aspects of a
design rather than all over a product. This is something we have incorporated in some of our new nursery products and to add an extra dimension to this we have also used more irregular scales and shapes in our polka patterns which makes the overall look and feel of the product much more fluid.

Another reason why polka is loved is that it can encourage us to be more experimental in our homes particularly with colour. Our designers at Mamas & Papas certainly view polka as a great way of introducing new colours into a design and this is particularly important if you are working with some of the bolder colours that are influencing interior design at the moment, as you can introduce a strong colour in a more subtle way.
Despite the demand for more modern polka prints and style there will always be a place for all over polka prints too.

We often find this kind of design works really well in some of our more traditional baby products. Polka really suits the nursery environment as in its simplest form it can be quite childlike. This nostalgic element could influence why it remains popular with adults too.

This season I have worked with my designers on a much more modern polka design in our new Light of the Moon interiors collection. This pattern plays with scale and introduces bolder tones such as red and navy. On the other hand we’ve also developed a subtle and regular pin dot polka pattern on our boutique line for girls, Tres Petite. This range demonstrates how an all over polka print can be chic and vintage in its feel and suit a home with a more traditional decor. The use of polka patterns and prints in these products really demonstrates that polka can be used in some form or other on any level. It really can be tailored to any style and used anywhere in the home.’

Collection background:

The Light of the Moon collection features a polka print on a number of products. The polka dots are irregular and more fluid in their look than traditional polka. This allows the introduction of darker tones into the colour palette such as red and navy into a more subtle base of oatmeal, cream, orange and light blue Tres Petite is a vintage inspired collection with a Parisian feel. A classic pin dot style polka print is mixed with broidery
anglais and vintage style prints to give the pieces an elegant chic feel. The Tres Petite Quilt (£110) is featured top left and the set of three Picture Frames (£30) top right. This luxurious quilt has embroidery detail and vintage inspired applique trims on a polka print base. The Picture Frames can be used individually or together and feature a mixture of floral and polka prints.

The Roundabout Collection can be tailored for either a girl or a boy. It has a contemporary feel and features an all over polka print with elements such as a feature wallpaper and woven blankets that utilize a mixture of pink and blue tones. Roundabout polka feature Wallpaper (£14 a roll) is shown centre top and is available in pink or blue. The Made with Love collection is an eclectic range which adds individuality to the nursery. It can be tailored to a boy or a girl and features a mixture of prints including vintage style florals and both bright and pastel polkas. The range includes a variety of items from hand-quilted coverlets and blankets to fabric letters and toys. The Hodge Podge Collection takes its inspiration from nature with earthy tones and a woodland theme. Beautiful layered fabrics and trims are featured through and polka is used to introduce new colours such as aubergine on the tree house cushion and new textures such as the polka ribbon on the hedgehog toy. All Mine is a collection of beautifully packaged gifts for little ones and parents alike. These homeware and keepsake items come in pink or blue sets and feature a regular polka pattern.

Article Source: Mammas and Papas. Visit mamasandpapas.com or telephone 0845 268 2000 to find which of the 35 Mamas & Papas UK stores is nearest to you.