On Second Thought: Octopada Imperial by Duralee

Okay. I was wrong.

You saw how well one of these things can do in predicting World Cup winners.

 In 2006, my Duralee sales rep made a trip to visit me and had a collection of mid-range acrylic outdoor prints. It was not uncommon for me to find outdoor fabrics cheaper from other sources, but continuity and fresh patterns had become an issue that summer. This was the first time we carried Flora Imperialis, a timeless Duralee print that originated as a cotton chintz many years ago and had since become, perhaps, their most compelling outdoor print. 

 Also in his bag were several colors of this large scale Octopus print, called Octopada (Duralee also calls it #20851). The problem with Octopada, I thought, was that the pattern was too big- and who would want giant octopus tentacles on their cushions? Four years later, I've come to admit that I was wrong.

 You see, I was thinking about Octopada the wrong way. I thought more of how the pattern would look rolled up on a rack of fabrics (the pattern is too big to know what's going on if it's rolled up) and not how great it would look on big cushions and outdoor furniture. Big, slightly askew patterns like Octopada look great when given the space to breathe on their own. Nowadays, I love the way big scale plays in brightly lit environments- such as patios and poolsides. I'd be scared to meet this tentacled creature in the deep blue sea- but I think he'd be pretty good company on a cushion under an umbrella in the sunshine.

Octopada Imperial by Duralee available @ Drapery Row