ABSTRACT EASON, JENNA MARIE. Factors Affecting Trend Cycles in Automotive Upholstery Design, 1960-2020. (Under the direction of Professor Nancy Powell). The purpose of this exploration is to determine trend cycles in US automotive upholstery over the past 60 years and understand the factors that contributed to these trend cycles. This was done by analyzing the available swatches of US automotive fabrics found in the DeLeo and Detroit Body Products automotive trim books from 1960- 2006. The fabrics are analyzed for motif, scale and color in order to identify trend cycles. Following the analysis stage, industry interviews were conducted in order to verify historical trends and reveal trends from 2007-2012. Based on the literature reviewed and industry interviews, factors that contributed to these trends were then identified and a model was created revealing the relationship between key decision makers and design trends. Finally, forecasts for future design trends in automotive upholstery (2013-2020) were made based on this model and industry feedback. With the material covered in this research, the automotive industry will have an instrument to use as a catalyst for future developments. By understanding factors, trends and the dynamic relationship of key decision makers, new fabrics can be created that challenge the set confines for design and redefine the future limits. Appreciating the factors that influenced past trends in automotive interior textiles will increase the success rate for future automotive fabric development. Factors Affecting Trend Cycles in Automotive Upholstery Design, 1960-2020 by Jenna Marie Eason A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Textiles Raleigh, North Carolina 2009 APPROVED BY: Professor Nancy Powell Dr. Marguerite Moore Chair of Advisory Committee Co-Chair of Advisory Committee Dr. Kristin Thoney Advisory Committee Member DEDICATION This work is presented in honor of: My mom and dad, Jan and Steve Eason, for making me the person I am today, always encouraging me, always believing in me, and always letting me be me! My siblings, Marc, Denise, Stephanie and Brooks, for setting the standards of hard work and success high, and being the examples for the “baby of the family” to live up to. My uncle, Ron, for overcoming extraordinary obstacles and teaching me patience, acceptance, and seeking joy in the simplicities of life. My nieces, Hailey, Karley and Abbey, for bringing happiness to my life with every smile. My Grandma, for teaching me to growl and for warm winter hugs. This work is presented with thanks to: My roommates and best friends, who have “put up with” my dedication to my work and the stress that comes with it, and have still loved and supported me the whole way. Lauren Cobb, Brandon Alley, Paula Besterman, Meridith Peele Thompson, Vinicius Sa, Kati Cadenhead, Sarah Peavler Meredith and Char Hanks. Erin Sherwood, Rhiannon Taylor, Megan Gross, Sasha and Bryan Ormond, Lonny Langston, Asae Nakagawa, Andrew Treece, Chris Spach, Harper Pridgen, Greg Stryker, David Puckett, Haley Raimondi, Emily Barwick, Meghan Holliday and Nazire Yilmaz. My friends that have been there from the beginning: Katie Lastowski (my other sister), Paige Haber, Lauren Zimmerman, Anita Rivera, Stephanie Budny, Keri Peele, Kristin Baysek, Wendy Hager, Meredith Purser, Matt Holt, Eleazar Herrera, Mo Lopez, Daniel Oldham and Michael Vick. Even if we’ve lost touch, I still carry a big piece of you all with me every day. “When I find myself fading, I close my eyes and realize my friends are my energy.” ~Anonymous ii BIOGRAPHY Jenna Marie Eason was born in Sanford, North Carolina on December 11, 1984. She is the daughter of Steve and Jan Eason and has one older sister, Stephanie, who is married to Brooks Bunn, and one older brother, Marc, who is married to Denise Eason. Jenna is the proud aunt of Marc and Denise’s three daughters, Hailey, Karley, and Abbey. Jenna graduated from Lee Senior High School in May 2003. In August 2003, Jenna entered North Carolina State University’s dual-degree Anni Albers Program, at the College of Textiles and the College of Design. She was a Centennial and a Robert C. Byrd Scholar. While at NC State, Jenna was very active in school organizations such as Phi Psi Professional Fraternity, Kappa Tau Beta Leadership Fraternity, Sigma Tau Sigma Honors Fraternity, and Tompkins’ Textile Student Council. She also participated in the University Scholars’ Program and Scholars’ Council, the Chancellor-commissioned ReDesign of www.ncsu.edu, Student Bridges Leadership Program, and was the Creator, Director, and Webmaster of the Anni Albers Program Student Advisory Board. Jenna received her two undergraduate degrees summa cum laude: BS in Textile Technology and BA in Art and Design. At the 2007 University graduation, Chancellor James Oblinger profiled Jenna as an “Outstanding Scholar”. She was the College of Textiles Graduation Speaker and Dean’s Award recipient and she received the College of Design Community Service Award. Jenna also received scholarships from Women in the Home Textile Industry Today and the Industrial Fabrics Foundation. Her work has been recognized and featured by Automotive Textile Solutions, the International Textile and Apparel Association, fibreQUARTERLY, Jubilee Embroidery, and the Inspired Design Conference. In January 2008, Jenna began graduate studies at the NCSU College of Textiles in Textile Technology and Management. Her focus was in Automotive Textile Design, and she was awarded a graduate assistantship with Professor Nancy Powell, funded by the Office of the Provost, NCSU. To enhance her research, Jenna spent the summer of 2008 at Nagoya University in Japan taking a course in Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automotive iii Engineering and participating in global lectures and related company visits hosted by Japan’s top automotive companies and research centers. Jenna is truly a global scholar, who has studied and presented her work internationally in Southern Europe, Japan, Mexico, and Ghana. She has a vested interest in the automotive and textile industries and believes that learning from the past and the international environment are keys to a successful future. Jenna plans to graduate in December 2009 and pursue a career in Automotive Textiles. Portfolio: www.hereiam.carbonmade.com Research Blog: www.AutomotiveTextileDesign.blogspot.com iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are a number of people that I would like to thank for their role in my educational career at NC State and also in my personal successes and growth. First and Foremost, I would like to thank Nancy Powell. Over the past years, she has been so much more than a teacher, academic advisor and committee head. I am grateful and honored to have worked with Nancy and appreciate the guidance and enthusiasm she has provided for my work and for me. Nancy is my mentor, my friend, and many things I strive to be. I would also like to thank: . My thesis committee members: Marguerite Moore (co-chair), Kristin Thoney, and John Emrich, for their assistance and support through this research and learning process. Their dynamic areas of expertise created a strong team, which encouraged me to approach each topic from a different point of view. The industry professionals who contributed to the validation stage of my research and shared their passion for the industry. I can’t wait to be a part of your world. Sara Yasin and Emily Hanhan, for their assistance in my research data collection. David Holt and the North Carolina Textile Foundation for their confidence in me and the financial support of my undergraduate degrees. Kent Hester for listening, talking, and guiding. Additional thanks to the administrators, faculty, and staff at NC State who have impacted my academic experience: . Dean Blanton Godfrey and Dean Marvin Malecha . Vita Plume, Susan Brandeis, Traci Lamar and Lisa Parillo Chapman . Michael Pause, Kathleen Rieder, Pat Fitzgerald, Charles Joyner and Chandra Cox . Abdel-Fattah Seyam and “Bob” Gupta . William Barefoot, Stan Long, Shawn Dunning and Ryan Leap . Nancy Cassill, Kate Ryan, Robert Cooper, Corrie Cadwallader, Emily Parker, Sherry O’Neal, and P. Dail . Reiko Fururya and the NUSIP team in Nagoya, Japan v My primary education art instructors, who always encouraged me to express myself: Mrs. Waters, Ms. Berliner, Ms. Babb and Ms. Brown My teachers, community, and religious advisors, who helped me realize my potential: Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Ligon, Ms. Hamrick, Mrs. Willet, Ms. Kelly, “Doc” Underwood, Coach Creighton, Ms. Marshall, Cindy Baysek, Mark Westrick, Joe Hawksby, and Ms. Rothstein The coaches that taught me perseverance and leadership: Ms. Renee’, Ms. Kathy, Ms. Joanne, Ms. Hegwar, Ms. Hughes, Ms. Crowley, Molly P., David Bond, Joyce Marks, Marc, Steve and Jan Eason All those that have supported me through following my research and my blog. And all of those who let me crash on their couches during my trips across the US: Johanna Medina, Meridith and Ryan Thompson, David Puckett, Keri Peele and Paul Christianson, Brenda Haitema, David Giovannini and Shannon McElfresh and Lauren Cobb. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………….. xi LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………… xii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………. 1 Purpose of Study …………………………………………………………………… 2 Research Objectives ……………………………………………………………...... 2 Significance of Study ……………………………………………………………... 2 CHAPTER