Q&A

First established as Holdsworth in 1822, Camira is a transport textile manufacturer with two centuries’ experience. Following a tumultuous period in the industry, we spoke with Transport Creative Manager Ciara Crossan about the trends the company has observed following the Coronavirus pandemic, and the influence these have on the textiles they create

Have you noticed any changes in the way in which rail interiors are being designed following the Coronavirus pandemic? Could you tell us about these?

I think that the isolation and crowd avoidance that was required during the various periods of lockdown has impacted upon the way in which many passengers feel when travelling. For example, people may feel increased levels of anxiety when travelling during busy times in compact carriages, and, as we slowly 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 2021 the Docklands Light Railway in London announced the launch of twelve 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 feeling as though they must be permanently switched on and connected to their devices.

As part of this shift in what passengers want, carriages are now being designed to embrace the natural world – there’s a reason why biophilia has remained such a popular form of design, it has been proven time and time again that an increased connection to our environment reduces our levels of stress and anxiety – and this is certainly feeding through into rail interiors more than ever before.

Part of this is through the colours chosen for the space, tones of green and brown are becoming more popular, as seen in the DLR project, and also through other design elements, such as increasing the levels of natural light in carriages. Whilst artificial

lighting will always be necessary, particularly for evening and winter travel, there is a movement towards optimising the amount of sunlight in carriages and embracing the impact this has upon our wellbeing.

Has this change in thinking had an impact on the types of textiles you are creating?

It has yes; all of these outside elements have an impact on the textiles we develop. So, we’re seeing a desire for softer, woollen fabrics in calming hues – such as deep taupes and pebble greys – which work beautifully in these more understated, relaxing environments.

In terms of construction, wire woven fabrics in particular are a popular choice – the ability to create a variety of different surface textures means that these types of textiles can have an intricate, micro detail, alongside providing irresistible tactility, which really helps to create a welcoming, comforting environment which is stylish, without demanding attention – allowing customers to practice the mindfulness which has become ever more important. Plus, as they are predominately woven from wool, the natural fibres perfectly complement the biophilic trend.

You were involved in the recent launch of Deutsche Bahn’s IdeasTrain (Ideenzug) - a revolutionary look at what the future of rail travel may hold – could you tell us about that project?

Of course. We were delighted to once again have the opportunity to work with Deutsche Bahn and Neomind on the IdeasTrain – two of the industry’s most forward-thinking companies, sustainability is one of their core concerns, and it’s an ethos we share here at Camira, so it was a natural fit for us to collaborate.

Our overarching vision for the IdeasTrain was to develop a textile made from natural materials, and we therefore created a wool rich composition – a fibre which is not only renewable but is also beneficial for passenger wellbeing, health, and safety as a result of its ability to improve indoor air quality and inherent flame retardancy. We wanted this to be complemented by a contemporary aesthetic, and the strikingly modern wire woven construction reflected the appearance of a flat cloth, whilst also creating a tactile finish through its contrasting textures. We were delighted with the final result, and the fabric was the perfect fit for the project.

With this year marking Camira’s 200-year anniversary in transport textiles, do you have any exciting celebration plans you can share?

We’re so proud of our rich transport heritage and are certainly planning to celebrate reaching this milestone with customers and colleagues over the next twelve months. Alongside some great events, we have some brilliant launches set to take place in 2022, which will encompass fabrics from our past and a technology for the future – so it’s set to be an exciting year at Camira!

Ciara Crossan is Transport Creative Manager at Camira

Tel: 07341 868166 Email: rebecca.hamer@camirafabrics.com Visit: www.camirafabrics.com