A trend forecaster on the four fashion and textile trends you’ll soon see everywhere

“A shift towards a more conscious, connected and personalised experience, reflecting the complexities of our modern world.”

While fashion is always looking to the future, now, more than ever, industry insiders, creatives and enthusiasts need to think about the seasons ahead. “[In] an ever-evolving landscape of socio-economic challenges, trend forecasting has become vital for staying ahead of the curve,” explains Sue Dixon from the trend forecasting agency, Peclers Paris. As we navigate a climate crisis and major social, cultural and political events, Sue notes “a shift towards a more conscious, connected and personalised experience, reflecting the complexities of our modern world”.

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The upcoming Melbourne and Sydney events from The Design Gallery (running from May 7 to 9) will provide a platform for exposure, networking, market access and innovation to people in the Australian fashion and textiles industries. Made for designers, buyers and production teams, The Design Gallery will offer expert insight into future market trends while helping to elevate Australian fashion on the global stage. To get a glimpse into what’s to come, we asked Sue Dixon to share four of the biggest fashion and textile trends we can soon expect to see everywhere.

Organic luxury

 

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Organic luxury refers to the blend of eco-conscious practices with high-end experiences. In a world increasingly affected by the impacts of climate change, this trend emphasises natural materials, upcycling, fair trade practices and sustainable production. “In the realm of fashion, people turn to natural materials as the basis of a ‘lived-in’ ecology,” Sue explains.

“[Organic luxury is] reminiscent of the ‘Arte Povera’ artistic movement, born in Italy in the ’60s. [During this movement,] creatives in the field of design, fashion… [and] cuisine challenged consumer society with simple, natural or recycled materials and ingredients.”

Antefuture sci-fi

 

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According to Sue, the antefuture sci-fi fashion trend encompasses garments that are “not just worn, but experienced”. It merges elements of historical European fashion like “draping, intricate filigree and armour-inspired accessories with high-tech garment technology”. For example, the Ecothermn Field Boot by designer Daniel J Carhuff was designed to address the challenges faced by field herpetologists in divergent habitats in Maryland, USA.

Daniel, a University of Oregon student, explains the boot “features efficient and lightweight add-ons including waterproof socks with detachable gaiters to prevent dirt and debris from entering the footwear,” as well as “an adjustable waterproof gaiter converts the boot to a wader”. As Sue says, the antefuture sci-fi trend has one foot in the past and one planted firmly in the future.

Sophisticated rawness

 

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Celebrating the beauty of imperfection, the sophisticated rawness trend balances luxury and simplicity. “[Sophisticated rawness is] about harmonising sleek, high-end fabrics with raw, organic textures,” Sue says. “Rustic, undyed looks are the base for a wardrobe of large, enveloping coats, loose jackets and pleated pants.” It’s classic, elegant and at times, androgynous, comprising natural materials and minimalistic silhouettes.

The trend also borrows from ranch and cowboy culture with key pieces like “supple shoes, ankle boots and woollen tote bags… asymmetric[al] cotton and wool etamine blouses [and] eternally simple jeans and T-shirts”. In terms of prints and graphics, sophisticated rawness encompasses “micro-scale fake ikats” and “all-over, irregular graphics”.

Space design

 

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Space design is a trend that spotlights cutting-edge technical advances in textiles. Our everyday wardrobe takes classics beyond the ordinary and incorporates technical advances in textiles. Think protective fabric membranes, reactive hands and aerodynamic silhouettes. “Knits… are the basis of [the space design] wardrobe that highlights the comfortable aerodynamics of stirrup pants, miniskirts, double-faced blousons, bodysuit tops and technical parkas,” Sue says. “The aesthetic is also conveyed through bold metallic embellishments [like] buckles, dog clasps, rings [and] eyelets… both the utilitarian and the functional, angular and fitted.”