Fashion Trend Forecasting: What Should Your Focus Be?

Forecasting identifies emerging trends in the industry, using previous data to predict the future demand for particular styles, fabrics and even technology used. This helps brands to design and work towards their new collection which will be in demand.

Now the new decade has arrived, here’s the fashion trend forecasting you need to focus on.

• Sustainability and the Need for Increased Transparency 
• The Rise of Digital 
• Pantone’s Fashion Colour Trend Report

Sustainability and the Need for Increased Transparency 

The demand for more eco-friendly processes and products disrupted the fashion industry last year, putting pressure on brands to reevaluate their services. The State of Fashion Report in 2019 was eulogised as ‘the year of awakening’. Consumers everywhere demanded increased transparency and social responsibility from fashion brands - regardless of their size or sales figures.

The fashion industry is second only to the oil industry when it comes to the amount of damage it causes. Carbon-neutral runway shows were all the rage last year, with key players such as Burberry and Gucci getting involved.

Striving to more sustainable options may seem challenging and costly, but it’s a trend we all need to prioritise. Millennials are getting savvier with their purchasing, evaluating their own footprint on the planet - as well as brands like yours. 

Sustainability will be both the biggest challenge but also the biggest opportunity for the industry in 2020, so your focus shouldn’t waver from here either.

The Rise of Digital 

The presence of tech in our lives is undeniable. Digital trends are transforming almost every aspect of fashion. 

Many well-renowned fashion brands are taking the help of technology to advance in their industry. From the use of 360-degree panoramic cameras to create memorable VR runway experiences to utilising AI and leveraging data, fashion-tech is all the rage.

The fashion industry should also look to the Internet of Things (IoT), with 70% of retailers around the globe already using these devices in everyday life to communicate and improve overall customer experience. For example, Nadi X are yoga pants created with built-in sensors. This smart pair of pants alerts you when you break position, helping you to have better form without the help of an instructor.

IoT driven products will help retailers create a more personalised experience. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but your focus needs to be on customer data and providing better experiences. You can learn more about the future of fashion-tech here.

Where Can I Find Forecasted Trends?

Before the internet, trends were clearly defined and debuted on runway shows which would then trickle down to other brands. However, Global trend forecasting sites like WGSN now predict the future of fashion. Other websites like Trendstop also cite movements in the industry.

Google’s annual trends and Pantone’s fashion colour report also play a part in bringing to light the new trends and styles. It’s also valuable to subscribe to blogs written by progressive fashion branding specialists since they’re actively looking at trends every day. 

Pantone’s Fashion Colour Trend Report