Manchester-based fabrics supplier Bespoke by Evans has launched a new biophilic collection aimed at supporting care home residents suffering with dementia.
Approved by Stirling University’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC), these new flame retardant fabrics are the first to meet independent testing standards and have been awarded dementia-friendly ratings of ‘2a’ and ‘2b’ for use as dementia-inclusive designs for curtains, upholstery, cushions, and accessories.
The fabric designs are supported by over 25 years’ academic and best-practice research by the DSDC. Five accredited designs use a range of techniques to help psychological understanding of care home living, orientation, and navigation including: colour contrasts to break up and connect spaces together, avoidance of ‘busy’ repetitive layouts, perception of colour and contrast by the ageing eye, and familiarity bringing generation-appropriate modern florals.
Lucy Hutchinson, senior interior designs at the DSDC, said that they had “… carried out a product accreditation assessment on the Collection and found that all five designs / colourways are suitable for use within areas used by people with dementia. Strong pattern and significant tonal contrast within a pattern may be visually overstimulating and as a result cause distress for some people with dementia. Whilst none of the designs are totally plain, the patterns featured are relatively subtle due to the colours of the elements making-up the patterns being quite close tonally. This has resulted in the creation of a collection which provides pattern in a homely and familiar way whilst successfully avoiding strong colour contrast within each pattern.”
Beth Lewin, Head Designer at Bespoke by Evans, commented: “We’re delighted to become the first and only supplier of approved fabric designs which have been independently reviewed and approved by one of the UK’s leading authorities of dementia care & research - it ensures maximum confidence in our new collection. Interior designers, architects, building standards agencies, care commissioning bodies and practitioners can now enjoy added peace of mind knowing that our fabric designs not only comply with necessary legislative requirements for flame retardancy but the designs are proven to support wellbeing and encourage a safer environment for residents within care.”
