Commercial Design & Fabric Trends: NeoCon & Design Days with Rebecca Lee

If you missed Chicago’s NeoCon show and Design Days, don’t fret because today we’re sharing a full recap of the commercial design and fabric trends that turned our heads. We walked both shows with Rebecca Lee, Crypton’s Creative Director, and watching her navigate them was like getting a masterclass in trend forecasting. Rebecca has been in the textile game for years and can spot a fabric trend from three showrooms away. So, grab your coffee, and let’s dive into what caught our textile expert’s eye. 

First things first, what was your overall takeaway from NeoCon and Design Days? 

Rebecca: NeoCon 2025 demonstrated just how much the commercial interiors industry is evolving. Designers took classic mid-century shapes and energized them with bold, high-contrast palettes—think saturated reds, electric oranges, and deep blues.

Rebecca: Modular seating popped with gradient finishes, while upholstery and textiles played with striking patterns that stood out even on the most understated frames. It was a smart blend of nostalgia and innovation, using bold color to breathe new life into timeless pieces and set the stage for more immersive, visually dynamic spaces. 

Color took center stage, but what furniture silhouettes or fabric trends did you see highlighted? 

Rebecca: Mid-century design is having a resurgence, but this time with a fresh, contemporary spin. Classic silhouettes are being reimagined with generous curves—rounded sofas and sculptural lounge pieces that feel both inviting and refined. Designers highlighted iconic mid-century minimalism as well as bold geometric shapes, distilling furniture down to its purest, most approachable forms.

Rebecca: The result is furniture that functions as art—striking in its simplicity yet comfortable and human-centered. This blend of timeless lines and fluid shapes is redefining modern commercial spaces, proving that curves and geometry aren’t just trends—they’re shaping the future of design. 

Crypton: Mayer debuted Fuse, a Crypton contract fabric. It features a playful geometric pattern, and do we detect a Mid-Century Modern Atomic vibe? This performance fabric fits the bold, geometric fabric trend and will be available later this summer in Mayer’s new collections.

Crypton: And after watching this video recap of featured fabric, we think Dipper (a Crypton performance fabric available at Momentum) captures that MCM geometric fabric trend as well. Don’t you?

In your team recap, you mention a “pattern/non-pattern trend.” What does that mean, and does Crypton have any examples of this fabric trend? 

Rebecca: The “pattern-non-pattern” trend in textiles presented a new way to add visual interest without relying on prominent, repetitive motifs. Instead, designers favored subtle, organic patterns and layered textures—think gentle waves, mineral-inspired markings, or abstract, nature-based references that evoke a sense of spontaneity and uniqueness.

Rebecca: These fabrics blur the line between pattern and texture, using nuanced shifts in color, yarn, or weaves to create depth and movement that feels curated yet relaxed. The result is a modern, effortlessly sophisticated look that brings a sense of calm and connection to nature into commercial spaces, while supporting a broader focus on comfort and well-being. 

Crypton: Designtex debuted a new biophilia collection that features Crypton fabrics and aligns perfectly with this fabric trend. Both In The Cloud and Ridge will be available at Designtex later this summer in their new collection, but here’s a sneak peek!

You highlighted high-contrast color palettes. What color combination is currently inspiring you?  

Rebecca: I gravitate toward a palette of refined neutrals punctuated by vibrant, saturated accents. Think a grounded camel paired with an energetic key lime, or a midtone gray set off by an electrifying blue—combinations that feel especially relevant in today’s design landscape.

Crypton: That lime green is definitely having a moment, and it looks fabulous with that camel color. We understand why you’re drawn to it.

Rebecca: There’s something compelling about blending the familiar with the unexpected; when the proportions are just right, the result occupies that intriguing space between timelessness and trend, creating interiors that feel both grounded and fresh. 

As a textile designer for contract fabric, was there a pattern or color that surprised you for commercial design? 

Rebecca: Color themes highlighted bold, saturated tones like cherry red, mustard yellow, and ultraviolet grape, alongside warm earth tones such as soft greens and burnt orange. Designers used color blocking (in complementary color palettes) and monochromatic schemes to energize spaces, while green hues reinforced biophilic trends. The maximalist trend of pattern layering – featuring heavy textures in bold colors with equally bold patterns, or pattern-on-pattern presentations within a very austere space – felt exciting. 

Crypton: Momentum Texiles recently debuted Colorloop (featured in the video above), Hum, and Vera contract performance fabrics. Designers went bonkers for these bold colors on Instagram. These performance fabrics featuring our patented moisture barrier or Nanotex by Crypton performance finish are the perfect choice for any commercial space.

From a sustainability perspective, is there a natural material, design innovation, or application that excited you? 

Rebecca: The rise of non-PVC architectural films in commercial interiors is similar to what’s happening with recycled yarns in textiles—both are smart, sustainable upgrades that don’t force designers to compromise style. Just as recycled yarns like Recover and Repreve let us create high-performance, eco-friendly fabrics, these new non-PVC wraps—with their photorealistic finishes and impressive flexibility—make it easy to achieve the look of premium materials on almost any surface, without the usual physical or financial hurdles. This shift is giving designers way more creative freedom, making it possible to deliver standout, responsible interiors with ease. 

What was the standout showroom, collection, or installation that stopped you in your tracks? 

Rebecca: The 3D printed lamps in the Interior Design showroom were captivating in their material innovation and sculptural aesthetics. Each piece was crafted from plant-based PLA, a sustainable bioplastic, and featured a distinctive layered, ribbed texture that played beautifully with light, creating a warm, diffused glow and accentuating the lamp’s dimensional silhouette.

Rebecca: The modular forms drew inspiration from biomorphic and architectural geometry, allowing for endless expression, whether as bold, stacked compositions or subtle standalone statement pieces. The tactile surfaces not only reduced waste but also invited touch and visual intrigue, making these lamps a celebration of eco-conscious materiality. 

Crypton: This art installation stopped us in our tracks. We loved how it was interactive, and designers could create a unique lamp design once it was finished printing. We also want this lamp stack in our home.

Crypton: Rebecca captured more inspiration and passed it along our way. Above, you’ll find a few more installations that caught her eye.

Okay, last question: what growing trend are you excited to see evolve?  

Rebecca: It’s exciting to see how recycled fibers and natural yarns are truly shaping the future of textile technology. Yarns like Recover and Repreve, made from recycled plastics and textile waste, are helping us rethink how materials can be reused in innovative, sustainable ways.

Rebecca: At the same time, natural yarns like Celliant are bringing together comfort, durability, and eco-consciousness in a way that feels fresh and inspiring. These sustainable innovations give me hope that textiles can be both better for the planet and more functional than ever before, demonstrating that progress and sustainability can coexist in creating the fabrics of tomorrow. 

Crypton: As you know, sustainable fabrics are at the forefront of design and our highest priority. You can learn more about our eco-friendly PFAS-free process and GREENGUARD Gold certification here. Also, be sure to check out our roundtable discussion led by Metropolis with Austin designers to learn how Crypton makes specifying fabrics easier.

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Chicago’s NeoCon and Design Days proved that commercial design is having a moment. Color is back, textures are getting interesting, and sustainability is driving real innovation. We can’t wait to see the new fabric collections that Rebecca and team design and, even more exciting, how commercial designers will use our new upholstery fabric patterns in their upcoming contract projects. 

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