The global women’s fashion month has finally come to a close in the four big capitals. There are several new themes that designers brought to fruition this season. Often, designers picked up pre-existent storylines for their Ready-to-Wear line-ups because they are relatable themes that translate well in retail. For Fall/Winter 2018, the case was no different. And prints and graphics of any collection are the most direct way of communicating these concepts.
One strong revelation this season was that seasons in themselves are out of fashion. While materials of course will continue to be used as per their requirement, designers are not following any rules when it comes to fashion. Florals and brightly tinted stripes made their presence known loud and clear. Surprisingly, chequered patterns, though spotted at some shows, were still at the lower end of the trend spectrum.
Closer home, Vandana Bhagat of Cactus Fashions informed Apparel Resources that for her clients (concentrated in Europe and Australia), checks were very much in demand. The buyers asked for variations in different types of suiting checks. Hounds’ tooth and graphic geometry were some of the stand-out winners. Apart from this, florals with open bases were also in good demand. But they are trying to move away from flowery garlands. Bhagat also added that gold and shiny value additions in general were a big craze, and while her buyers were not interested, crazy appliqué slogans on anything and everything were also a big trend for the exporters.
The holy grail of manic logos has officially become the season’s favourite graphic both on runways and the streets. Logos are integral for both sportswear and streetwear fashion and this is why designers are trying to emulate the same aesthetic in high-fashion now. Logos, along with ironic slogans, have continued their reign from the last few seasons and are only poised to saturate mass retail more and more.
A mix bag of old and new…, here are the key prints and graphics from the Fall 2018 runways that are set to trickle down to the high-street market come winter!
