Li (Lidewij) Edelkoort, the undisputed leader in the science of trend forecasting, is Directrice of Studio Edelkoort and founder of Trend Union, the style bible for anyone involved in design. Dutch by birth, Parisienne by adoption, she describes herself as 'extra lucid in trend forecasting'.
Photo by J.F.Jaussaud

For almost fifteen years Li has created and directed a bureau that provides trend information to companies in every sector, from textiles to automobiles to cosmetics, through Trend Books and Trend Magazines.

Li announces the colours and materials that will be in fashion two or more years from now...... 'Because there is no creation without advance knowledge, and without design a product cannot exist.....' In this way, she orientates professionals in interpreting the evolution of society and the foreshadowing signals of consumer tastes to come, without for one moment forgetting economic reality.

To see and hear a video interview with Li Edelkoort courtesy of Euro News 22/08/08: click on this link www.euronews.net/en/article/22/08/2008/meet-trend-prophet-li-edelkoort/

Travelling constantly, listening, shopping and searching the world over, she taps into everything. Political, ethnological, artistic, literary and consumer movements all come under her scrutiny for analysis.

Internationally known and respected, her authority and influence encompass conceptual forecasts of trends in Fashion, Interiors and Product design. On the steering committees for the larger European Textile shows, she participates in the selection of colour and trends. Li has also been a visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art in the UK. She is a member of the editorial board of Elle Decoration and voted by The Face one of the top fifty influences in the world of style. Currently she is Director of the Endihoven Design Acadamy in the Netherlands.

She has established, with United Publishers, a publishing company creating a completely new concept in magazines: 'View on Colour' and 'Inview', (now incorporated into 'View on Colour') aimed at Design professionals. More recently launching 'Bloom', an exciting new trend magazine for the flower and plant industry, which also appeals to a far wider audience: Trend Magazines

The Edelkoort Group founded by Li, comprises of Trend Union, Studio Edelkoort, Edelkoort Etc., Edelkoort inc., United Publishers and Heartwear:six companies working in Trend Forecasting, Consulting, Branding, Publishing, creation of Consumer Products and Third-World Development.

With clients ranging from the Dutch Ministry of Environment & Transportation, Nissan, DKNY, L’Oreal, and Philips to ABN-AMRO Bank, Roch Pharmaceuticals and Virgin. Li is also Chairperson at the Eindhoven Design Academy in the Netherlands. Voted by Time Magazine in the 2002 Fall issue as being one of the 25 most influential names and faces in fashion.

The Edelkoort philosophy is based on consensus and as she explains “..the days when one held the hand of industry are finished. I want to do what I do with as much integrity as possible and not always be saying what people want to hear. I also want to stimulate the creativity in people.....and not dictate rules, only to give a general framework.” 

LAURIER: Li Edelkoort opened a restaurant on the designer floor of Galleries Lafayette's flagship store in Paris on November 21st 2005.

'......The concept follows the presentation in 2004 to clients, of the Spring/Summer 2006 Trends, where the Paris studio (and RIBA in London) was temporarily converted into a flat bread 'restaurant'. The concept drew upon the best selections of the foods of the Mediterranean, showing how they are similar and that we each essentially eat the same produce - despite our religious and political differences. Hence, the restaurant was a "peace" restaurant, celebrating the gift....'

'......Following the success of this installation, Galeries Lafayette invited Studio Edelkoort to make the concept a reality, and so 1+ years later, here we are... The name is Laurier, which is French for Bay Leaf or Laurel, a spice which united flavours in cooking and which is represented in the cuisine and classical histories of many Mediterranean cultures. In fact, as you will see on the internet, it mythically was eaten by the oracles of ancient Greece to predict the future, henceforth an irresistible name for Li Edelkoort's first restaurant concept........'