Every year, WGSN, one of the world leaders in consumer trend forecasting, reveals its highly anticipated ‘Top Trends’ for the next 12 months and beyond. In 2021, as the world lived with the continuing effects of the pandemic, WGSN noted the accelerated rise of ‘genuinfluencers’ and ‘gamified retail’, which they forecast at the tail end of 2020. This year, WGSN brings forth four of the biggest trends that will enter mainstream fashion.
By WGSN, an Ascential company
WGSN, the global authority on trend forecasting, has released the top trends in consumer behaviour and product development for 2022 and beyond. Informed by WGSN’s unique methodology, the top trends reveal the future of tomorrow, today!
“WGSN’s research methodology allows us to discover change signals and analyse, validate and forecast trends that will effect industries’ immediate and long-term futures,” says Puneet Dudeja, WGSN’s Director of Business Development (South Asia). “We don’t just look at the past and extrapolate into the future; we actively foresee future influences on consumers, product design and commerce, all the while keeping a sustainable perspective in mind,” he adds.
The four trends set to enter the mainstream this year, as predicted by forecasters at WGSN Fashion, are the first in its ‘Top Trends for 2022 & Beyond’ series. Discover why bast fibres, inclusive intimates, versatile rash vests and the colour of the year 2022 are so crucial to the fashion industry’s future.
Bast Fibres
Bast fibres, framed regeneratively, will rise in importance as the fashion industry looks to diversify away from cotton. The bast fibre group, which includes flax (linen), hemp, ramie and jute, support regenerative agricultural practices that can help the soil sequester carbon.
Pure linen, being a biodegradable natural fibre, needs a fifth of the fertiliser required for cotton, less water to grow and draws carbon into the soil, making it a much lower- impact crop. Linen, as the best known bast fibre, is already growing in popularity in the fashion industry due to its natural performance and eco-friendly associations. It is also cooling, moisture-wicking, absorbent, breathable and durable, with inherent antibacterial, moth- and stain-resistant properties.
Along with linen, hemp is big news in denim circles, while jute is expected to make an impact in footwear and accessories.
Hemp is big news in denim circles, while jute is expected to make an impact in footwear and accessories.
Inclusive Intimates
The success of the period pant across all market levels has highlighted the opportunity to provide garments that deliver on wearable well-being, tacking the challenges women face at different times of life. This is bringing inclusion to the forefront of the intimates and underwear category by responding to the challenges of plus size, modest wear, pregnancy, menopause and older age with performance-based garments that harness fibre innovation to supercharge design solutions for their needs.
Canada-based Thigh Society’s sweat-wicking, soft, lightweight and breathable slip shorts help to reduce the discomfort of thigh chafing and can be worn under clothes for comfort. Adidas Terrex’s active base layers are designed especially for women, with special fit and body-mapped ‘sweat zone’ placements. US-based Elastique Athletics uses MicroPerle beading on the inside of its leggings to aid lymphatic drainage.
All this product innovation is aimed at targeting the pain points for women and making them always feel more comfortable and confident in their underwear.
The success of the period pant across all market levels has highlighted the opportunity to provide garments that deliver on wearable well-being, tacking the challenges women face at different times of life.
The Rash Vests
The rush to embrace outdoor lifestyles, aka the outdoor boom, means consumers are extending their ventures across seasons, with warmer performance layers for surf, beach and bike days becoming essential.
Women’s wear brands like Columbia-based Verdelimon and Agua Bendita are expanding offerings beyond regular swimwear and tapping into the rash vest and the sporty rash suit, looking beyond its performance qualities to its benefits such as sun protection.
Beyond the beach, vibrant vacation versions of the rash vest and the short rash suit featured on the SS’22 catwalks, with the vest’s body-conscious lines making versatile enough to be paired with shorts and skirts, and the short surf suit looking like a hot new alternative to the romper.
Orchid Flower
Orchid Flower, WGSN’s Colour of the Year for 2022, fuses nature with technology.
Forecasted in partnership with sister brand Coloro as the pandemic was unfolding, this intense magenta captures a vivacious appetite for joy and positivity.
Its hyper-real nature makes the Colour of 2022 appealing in both real-life and digital applications, and it will resonate within digital fashion, gaming and virtual environments.
