The summer of 2016 is of progress and restoration. We will move forward with technological advancements that are more responsible and substantial for the future generations with wearable technology and developments in the home décor industry. There is a revival of the vintage – roaring 1920s and a significant influence of the 1980s pop mania; renewal also came in the form of art forms where handmade and hand drawn techniques were illustrated, and animal textures were discovered for creative prints and surfaces. Cultural inspirations take us Far East as Asian countries will dominate much of S/S ’16, focusing on Japan and Korea with hints of a Mexican palette intermingling with the themes. Trend Forecasters at FFT have rounded up five of the themes that give you a synopsis of the art and culture influencers that will impact fashion in the form of prints, ornamentation, silhouettes and colours.
Natural Blooms
Florals continue to be a great source of inspiration for designers to reinvent themselves and conceptualize fresh collections. There would surely be placement prints in folkloric styles, botanical landscapes and delicate florals which would be presented in strong elements of digital printing and advanced engineered printing techniques but alongside this, a far more natural form would co-exist. Dialling back to the vintage when a paper and pen would suffice in the creation of gigantic blooms on full skirted gowns – the application of hand drawn, hand painted, hand dyed, hand cut and hand beaded forms would grace the runways. Coming summer, artists would be hand painting on apparels, as well as accessories and then use sketching or drawing over it to create deep texture, experimenting with smudging or doodling to give the flowers a natural and raw appearance that gives the viewer a sense of being closer to nature.
Textured Fauna
Timeless animal prints are recycled season after season in the fashion world and in the field of home décor. The reason is that they are constantly reinvented and updated, coming Spring this Fall favourite will be transformed by playing with different textures and giving them a 3-dimensional appearance. These contrived skins add a sense of decadence to the home and silhouette. One is introduced to a fantasy world of unreal animals and new creations where colours and textures are extremely wild and exuberant. The skins range from crocodile, snake to butterfly, fish and leopard and a bright palette of psychedelic shades compliment the complexity of these patterns which are not just created through prints but also lacework, threadwork, beading and jacquard patterns on the surface. This theme is a new and thought-provoking take on animal skins for the future.
Pop Revival
60s pop is reviving again as people want to escape the violence that is surrounding us nowadays. Conflicts are happening in many parts of the world, for instance, Gaza War, civil war in Syria, Iraq, Ukraine and Afghanistan and pop culture is the outlet that allows the youth to celebrate life. Present-day pop fashion without a doubt is expected to be bold when it comes to colour but polished, sophisticated and refined in silhouette. The colour palette comprises of both bright and subdued hues. And it’s more about mixing two ideas to form something unique. It hasn’t been too long since pop punk left its imprints on people and here comes primitive pop with bold prints, stripes, perky designs, bright colours, bouffant and beehives, kitten heels, plastic jewellery, A-line dresses, A-line minis, slim-fit pants, cat-eye glasses, comic patterns and prints.
Japan Reign
Fascinating the world with its multifaceted culture, Japan seeped in the deepest of traditions, revealing a mélange of aesthetics from the past using modern perspectives. With the incursion of indigo-dyes on denim and linen, cracked surfaces fashioned by the touch of hot wax, and blanket motifs adorning suedes of all kind, the artistic elements of contrast stitching and basket-weave techniques are being transformed to suit present-day sensibilities. Cumulating traditional sentiments with a contemporary twist; motifs, music and folktales of Japan’s culture and endemic identities portray its rich customs and diverse beauty. Spring peeps inside the exquisitely carved out shrines as the sun kissed cherry blossom blooms with all energy and vigour. Sandwiched between the long, bitter winter months and the sweltering humidity of summer, spring paints the canvas of contemporary silhouettes in dynamic realistic artworks and cherry blossom prints.
Mexico Craze
Blooming from the land of Frida Kahlo’s imaginative wardrobe, filled with prim, tailored skirt suits and dresses accompanied with floral embellishments and soft embroidery, Mexican cultural influences weave a story of techniques for the season. The incredibly bright tones from the Mexican palette garnish the playful fabrics in a contemporary twist. Showing off the strength of textiles, its culture beholds, ingenious and exotic fabrics, lace and brightly patched coloured silhouettes, come together in a bold combination of pieces echoing the traditional poster with inventive styling. Borrowing the silks, wool and the European foot treadle loom from the Hispania and Mexican cultural elements like polka dots and flowers, remains the centre of attraction. Festive attires like sleeveless tunics called huipils, capes known as quechquémitls and shawls called rebozos paint a scenic portrait of culturally rich vicinity, where delicate needlework and handicraft facilitate the route of transforming the design into reality.
