Polo dresses are pre-fall's breakout trend, moving from Gucci and Givenchy runways to Paris street style. India is primed to follow, with U.S. Polo Assn.'s existing equity and homegrown labels like The Souled Store, Amydus and Neofaa already adapting it for local climate and price points.

Paris label Matieres Fecales is dressing Zendaya, Lady Gaga and Demi Moore, its provocative name now a red-carpet fixture. Founded by Steven Raj Bhaskaran and Hannah Rose Dalton, it grew from Depop sales to Paris Fashion Week backing from Dover Street Market. Its rise shows bold branding can rival craftsmanship as a growth strategy — a cue India's D2C labels are picking up on.

MIT has developed an all-polythene yarn matching spandex's stretch — but unlike spandex blends, it can be melted and recycled repeatedly without losing strength.The single-material design solves the separation problem blocking spandex fabric recycling, and outperformed commercial spandex-polyester in strength tests. Researchers see potential to extend this to buttons and zippers for fully recyclable garments.

In 2026, the category is no longer defined by a single shape. Instead, capris are developing across two distinct yet complementary directions: sleek, body-contouring styles inspired by leggings and activewear, alongside softer, more voluminous interpretations that prioritise movement and ease.