Camira Fabrics
What Are the Current Trends in Rail Fabrics?
- This article first appeared in the Railway-News magazine Issue 5 2021.
From the welcoming warmth of a wool moquette to the sleek finish of a flat woven fabric and timeless luxury of pure leather, the upholstery featured in a rail carriage’s interior plays an integral role, not only in its aesthetic, but the place a commute holds in a passenger’s day. In this article, Ciara Crossan, Group Design Manager at Camira – a transport textile manufacturer with over two centuries’ experience – discusses the trends and changes they are noticing in the industry today, and the influence this has on the fabrics they create.
“Following the coronavirus pandemic, and the isolation and crowd avoidance this necessitated during the various periods of lockdown, many passengers may feel increased levels of anxiety when travelling during busy times. As we begin to return en masse to the office, operators are working to address the impact the past 24 months has had upon our daily lives and make the commute to work as appealing – and relaxing – as possible. One of the first to implement a solution, in October this year the Docklands Light Railway in London announced the launch of 12 carriages dedicated to mindfulness, equipped with meditation corners and designed with natural scenes, such as forests, across the interior walls, and we’re certainly beginning to see an increased desire for carriages to be calming, soothing spaces – places where passengers can take a moment to unwind, rather than feel as though they must be permanently switched on and connected to their devices…”
