A forest in fabric

Imagine walking through a dense forest canopy made entirely of fabric. That was the vision of French designer Élise Fouin, who was tasked with showcasing the Sunbrella^® Indoor-Outdoor 2015-2017 Fabric Collection in a new and unique way.

Fouin created a mosaic of colors in shades ranging from earth red to various hues of green and blue that represented the lush leafiness of a forest of trees and the azure airiness of the sky above. She also considered how light filtering through the fabric, like dappled sunshine, would add dimension and texture and highlight the fabrics to their best advantage.

The Sunbrella Canopy was created using thousands of interlocking embroidery hoops tied together and fitted with the fabric. The exhibit, installed at European design shows, invited visitors to walk through and immerse themselves in a world of color, sounds and senses.

The design also made a statement about the range and quality of the Sunbrella fabric collection. Available in 12 patterns and a wide array of colors, it’s woven from solution-dyed acrylic fibers. Like a forest canopy, it provides protection against UV rays, rain and other elements. An anti-stain treatment safeguards the fabrics, which are machine washable.