Trend Direction: Martian Ice

keywords SNOW DESERT – APOCALYPSE – UNIFORM – PROTECTION – ARMOR – OUTLANDISH

Martian Ice. 2023 will be expanding our trails into the solar system. The pandemic and the war have given us a taste of the apocalypse and certain are harnessing stronger survival instincts. To take the possibilities of technologies one step further, people will literally leave planet earth behind. Curious explorations will project consumers far-away into space in order to begin the construction of new communities and settlements.  A pursuit to protect humankind evolves as our terrestrial solutions seem impossible to sustain our species longterm. Self-proclaimed heroes will be guided by their collective dream to persevere our kind in this doomed and uncertain era. With a new planet, they hope for new ways and possibilities of how life can evolve. Protective armors will become an integral part of survivalist being as consumers will need to shield and secure their existence in those unknown territories.

This color theme is exploring new scenarios, providing color combinations for a new hybrid landscape. Discovering other universes is key to interpret these new color hues as a visionary version for our future world. It is important to look at shades that fluctuate between earthy and airy aesthetics here. Sienna tones become the reference for new earthy pigments, as well as misty rose to describe soil from outer space. At the same time, cold shades to decipher icy landscapes. Dominated by grey aquatic hues and slightly tinted violets, the color story is speaking of faraway places with a futuristic imprint.

For the Martian Ice theme, design trends range from extreme pragmatism to serene minimal looks. A passenger theme, reminiscent of space-suits and armors, will create a protecting uniform for the next adventure and the new season. The theme is evolving recent collections surrounding the shielding looks of racing and warrior universes. Appropriating the intriguing dune and desert traveller inspiration of summer season for colder months, the sleek snowdrift look will incorporate hood and shawl-like elements for an airy warrior feel. On a more conceptual note, foreign forms propose new approaches to the female body. While women’s form is already explored and celebrated for all of its uniqueness, design will explore more experimental and imaginative shapes for AW23. Lastly, a need for post-apocalyptic functionality sees survivalist themes with strong utilitarian focus arise for AW23. With modular elements and practical add-ons like hooks, this trend provides high levels of reassurance and preparation for unexpected obstacles. 

Menswear takes a turn towards streamlined design for this more futuristic trend. Tranquil tailoring offers a sleek new uniform silhouettes in more serene palettes with rounded-off edges. Soft surfaces simultaneously propose subtle tactility and add a more intimate note to the traditionally distant tailoring universe. No-fuzz is key here to focus on the essential. For future cave expeditions a new level of #gorpcore emerges. Light performance materials and utilitarian features pair with iconic outerwear jackets and trousers. Pushing for more and more utility, the reduced palette and stylized features are keeping a modern look. Another trend suggests a look for dune warriors. The trend draws reference from fighter characters of otherworldly gaming settings. Playing with form-fitting silhouettes, extreme cut-lines and armor-like elements is enhancing to the warrior look. Lastly, hyper volumes propose a design path for stylized, yet performing snow stories. Exploring diverse shapes based on quilted and puffed materials adds a new dimension to forms. This element of the unknown is taking consumers to seemingly unknown territory and appealing to explorational and pioneering minds. 

Trend Direction: Flexworld

keywords BIO-TECH – SENSATORY – HYPER HEALTH – DIGITAL & REAL – IMMUNITY BOOSTING

Flexworld. The possibilities of novel technologies are endless and will define innovations that pursue a greater vision for humankind in the future. New flex-worlds will add more dimensions to our current reality, proposing regenerative solutions that can tackle and escape the threats of climate and pandemic catastrophes. Lab-grown and phygital experiments will become of interest as more free and inventive visions will radically reassess our ways of producing and doing things. Thinking outside of the box to expand ideas into the seemingly impossible. Reaching for innovation seems inevitable as previous solutions have failed to provide the  necessary solutions for current struggles of climate change and loneliness. Almost utopian pursuits, will be the imperative reaction to place hope on technology to connect the dots. At the same time, new innovations will restitute our sensory experiences to limit long lastingly affects on this integral part of human beings. Visuality and tactility will become equally as important as a sustainable approach.

In Flexworld, colors evoke the habitat of otherworldly creatures or worldly creatures in stranger worlds. Deep tones from petrol green and blue describe a lab environment of tubes and tinctures, which are luring in the dark to rebirth or species. Combined with strong notes of red and blue, nature appears to enhance our multi-sensorial experiences. Seemingly attracting and pulling away, the palette warps our senses and creates a dialogue between natural abysses and modern voices. The harmony tints a fantastic land that gravitates around unexpected human sentiments.

Flexworld dives into a science and tech-enhanced future and comes along a variety of unexpected design directions. Senses were suppressed for years, accelerating biological advancements to enhance human sensations. Those innovations inspire tactility of materials and print for AW23. On that note, sensecape will push fabric innovation to follow movement or adapt to the factors of our surrounding. Arctic aqua is exploring a colder narrative of ocean-ridden design themes, which begin to take movement within the industry. The unexplored territories and endless possibilities of oceanic worlds inspire excitement and fresh dreamscapes. Sleek and glossy silhouettes in stretchy nylons are leveling-up here. Another uncommon territory is introduced via lab-grown skins. The endless possibilities of bio-tech inspire creativity regarding new species and allow us to suggest surreal creatures now. A chemical gloom  inspires occasion-led design. After a season of frivolous glitz and glam, AW23 feels more grounded and aware of the dangers embedded in the crisis. The beauty of industrial glooms and its dangerous flirtation with extreme technologies and bio-modifications propose a sense of seduction and allure here.

The idea of regeneration and the preservation of the planet has a strong influence on the menswear market. Flexworld proposes a new focus on the biological male silhouette for AW23, taking an X-ray perspective. The nude male body remains an uncommon object of inspiration for fashion, but through radically new ways of thinking it is coming in focus now. Prints reference the men’s form literally and more tailored silhouettes are some abstract way to propose such unexpected inspiration for design. The question of real vs fiction remains endearing and suggests new cyberspaces. Digitally enhanced or inspired prints, as well as avatar-like skins propose bodysuits in augmented color contrasts. As part of new hybrid worlds, digital gardens offer beautifully dark outlook of new worlds. Based on nature and the virtual space, the menswear market will explore the emerging aqua themes via a look for an outdoor atlantis. As an option for the ski holidays, diver suits and underwater details will serve as the drivers for outdoors themes now. Overall inspired by a palette of deep blues, new oceans and new aves are forming.