The fashion climate at the onset of 2020 was wrought with the horrific grip of the coronavirus pandemic, which has now come to paralyze the world in its entirety.
With stores closed, deliveries delayed, online orders being cancelled and customers quarantined, the entire fashion supply chain is undergoing a massive change with decisions on key product categories and designs being rethought of during these uncertain times.
With the entire world going under lockdown mode, a notable shift in buying behavior is expected to surface for the next season, rendering many showcased trends inessential in light of the recent developments. As entire industries shift to ‘Work from Home’ formats, consumers strive to maintain a work-home-sanity balance and prioritize comfort and essential products over luxury spending.
Prints and colors cast a strong impact on one’s moods and are a direct reflection of one’s surroundings. Since ages, patterns and colors have been associated with lifting up one’s spirits and set the tone for happier moments. In a coronavirus-stricken world, we see consumers reacting differently to perceived successes – with recurring themes being promoted.
An aftermath of the pandemic, which has spiraled out of control, has also recently seen many international-scale fashion and sourcing events either cancel their showcases or shift to a digital format.
Apparel Resources analyses the key print, pattern and color trends that are going to drive purchases during and post these uncertain times for the upcoming Fall/Winter 2020 season.
Check out trends which have proven to be success come the colder months – in a hopefully healthy, pandemic-free world.
Paisley
As tensions across the world escalate, consumers focus shifts towards nostalgia as an escape mechanism, as it presents an ode to happier, freer times. Banking on the same emotion, designers approached the season with a plethora of bohemian-inspired silhouettes and prints – paisley motifs leading the way.
Boho prints have always been a part of runway trends in some way or the other, but what is to be noted this time around is the shift to more colorful tones – also a mix and match at certain times – alongside the classic neutral palette.
Classic blue
There could be no better time for the Pantone Color of the Year ‘Classic Blue’ to have emerged in the world of fashion and retail!
As the world is gripped by the negativity of the coronavirus pandemic, consumers take to the calming shades of blue to evoke its peaceful characteristics and generate those same vibes into their lives. This color has been quick to trickle down to the mass market with many retailers – including swimwear brands – adopting it into their assortments. On the runway, Halpern conjured up royal vibes with its jewel toned voluminous dress, whilst Isabel Marant presented yet another shade of the same family in a knit, statement shoulder, modest dress with a thigh-high slit detail.
Monochrome geometric patterns: Geometric patterns take centrestage with multiple designers and brands opting to flaunt graphical motifs over their Fall/Winter 2020 pieces.
Check mate
This color palette sticks to the classics, wherein we see many red and black and red and blue variations, and also a lot of neutral tones. Taking it up a notch are designers such as Antonio Marras and Bobby Abley who mixed checks with other prints, patterns and graphic elements.
Calm corals
As another reminder of how consumers’ shopping habits are indirectly related to the effects of the world around them, we see yet another color trend quickly creep into mass market from the recently concluded runways.
Cementing the same, we saw Dion Lee experiment with yesteryear escapist tie and dye motifs over a coral co-ord, Carolina Herrera and Roksanda going for big, voluminous silhouettes in the same colour family.
Mix and match
A direct repercussion of the confusion surrounding work-life balance, we expect this trend to be extremely big in the coming season.
Designers and high fashion brands alike went all out in combining not only prints and patterns, but also divergent fabrics together to create mashed up looks.
Dries Van Noten and Gucci topped the charts in this regard, wherein the former went all out with tropical florals, plaid, and even snakeskin prints – all mashed up in one single garments, whilst the latter portrayed the same trend, but this time, in a more subtle way than what has been come to be associated with the brand.
