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COLOURFUL TERRITORY

When the Ford Territory colour and trim designers went looking for inspiration, they found it in the form of the humble sports shoe.

"Our brief was to create a modern, energetic and fresh interior environment," said Colour and Trim Design Manager Sharon Gauci.

"The trigger for the colour and trim program was found in the developments, technologies and mixtures of materials found in a sports shoe.

"We used a single image of a sports shoe to define the trim and finishes program for Territory.

"By juxtaposing different materials, textures, details and hints of colour we have managed to create a dynamic interior ambience."

Gauci said particular attention had been paid to tiny details, such as small contrasting colour accents.

"The mix of opposing technical and leather grains brings elements of the interior to life, in line with design items found in the home or office such as computers, mobile phones, or on the underside of sport shoes etc."

Gauci said the Territory interior colour strategy was to provide an active, versatile and new interior environment.

"We designed a family of colour called Eucalyptus, taking its inspiration from the famous native tree. It was important to bring the outside in. With so many lifestyle shows, we have a fascination with plants and gardening at the moment. Also the spaces in our homes that were once defined as outside and inside are now being blurred.

"With a hint of green, the Eucalyptus family is an innovative, modern, fresh and very urban colour palette.

"Accent colours in orange, silver, white and black all complement the Eucalyptus family and are injected throughout the Territory interior."

Gauci said the Territory interior fabrics were deliberately simple in their design.

"The design team was very much influenced by directions in active apparel and footwear. We were seeing strong influences and cross over in street wear, sport wear and comfort wear, with the boundaries between these fashion directions no longer defined but quite relaxed.

"So with these directions in mind, we set out to design sporty, active fabrics.

"The designs are structured, linear patterns with a fresh and energetic 'city' approach of casual, upbeat motifs.

"The designs are simple and uncomplicated, with high and low effects in the fabric as well as micro-shapes within shapes."

Gauci said the predominantly functional nature of the interior demanded the fabric didn't dominate the environment.

"The colour, the look and especially the handle of the fabric were extremely important elements in achieving harmony, security and grounding qualities.

"The leather strategy is, once again, a simple design philosophy that is crisp and taut in appearance, but overall very relaxed.

"The beautiful soft feel of the leather is enhanced by small details such as the double stitching and perforated leather inserts.

"We think it all comes together beautifully," said Gauci.