When I first started in the window blind industry, writes Steve Birtles of Louvolite, the majority of windows would feature some form of net curtain — these were typically white in colour, although there were also plenty of grey ones that had started off as white! One of the keys aims of the window industry at that time was to ‘kill off’ net curtains and replace them with beautiful shades. Over the last few decades, the humble window blind has morphed from being a mainly functional item into a window furnishing that is seen as a fashionable and decorative product with functional capability.
This has not happened by accident, but by the window blind industry promoting design and innovation within the numerous fabric range changes over this period. The ability of the window industry to continue to develop new products has been a major factor in helping the window blind industry survive and prosper when others have suffered. The range of products currently offered is beyond the expectation of window blind industry pioneers and underlines the differing needs and desires of today’s consumers.
Net curtains were mentioned at the beginning of this article — and today, these may be referred to as sheers. Sheer products can be used to add that little extra privacy whilst allowing the homeowner an image or view to the outside, and they are particularly popular within soft furnishing textiles. When window blinds were classed as a purely functional product, one of their primary functions was to provide privacy and to this end, sheer fabrics would never have been considered. Today, however, sheer fabrics are de rigeur and a must-have in any meaningful fabric collection. They are no longer just white (and grey) but come in a plethora or colours and textures. The Louvolite collection includes four voiles, eight sheers, eight open linens and four burn-out products. When they have the appropriate coating applied, these fabrics can be used across various product lines. For example, Louvolite Voile, Open Linen and Sheer are available as roller blind, vertical blind, Roman blind, panel blind and pleated blind fabrics. Vines and Blossom work as roller blinds, Roman blind and panel blind fabrics. Louvolite Belize fabric incorporates a variety of coordinating shades of each individual colour in the weft, creating a subtle haze effect at the window. This product is available as roller blind, Roman blind, panel blind, vertical blind and pleated blind fabric.
So sheer window blind fabrics are more versatile than ever imagined. However, if we include new products designed to provide similar capability of allowing a view-through effect at the window, we should also include the Louvolite Vision blind programme of fabrics. With eight ranges of fabric, the Vision blind programme started the trend in this type of product when it was launched some four years ago. It satisfies the first requirement of sheer products — when the window blind is down (but not closed), it obscures the view into the home but allows a view to the outside and it is the sheer elements of the Vision blind product which allow access to the view. Unlike any sheer fabric, if the solid panel is raised to overlap the next solid panel the sheer elements are covered and this results in an effect not unlike a normal solid fabric.
Read Steve’s full article in Openings Magazine from the BBSA.