5-8 FEB, 2025, Istanbul Expo Center
No matter whether specialized in ready-to-wear production or haute couture collections, fashion designers across the world get in a sweet rush before every season. Vendors, brand owners, retailers and potential sourcing partners come together at fashion shows and catwalks where they find the opportunity to see a broad range of textile products and clothing items designed in line with the main concepts, themes and trends adopted by the fashion industry for each season.
Thrilled by the technological advancements of recent years as well as the evolving attitude towards the globe, environment and the past, fashion consumers are looking for positive vibe concepts to be created by means of digital and virtual approaches rather than perspectives based on physical items only. The terms luxury and consumption have already been redefined accordingly, and this recent approach is clearly mirrored in the new themes adopted by fashion designers. Below is an outline of four of such themes, compiled by Cansu Bodur, Team Leader of Fashion Design Programs at Istanbul Moda Academy (İMA), with a focus on apparel design elements.
Fashion consumers are looking for positive vibe concepts to be created by means of digital and virtual approaches rather than perspectives based on physical items only.
Calm mind
The main pillars of this transition season theme, which encompasses calm, inclusive and smart innovations, are rational use of materials and the reduction of carbon footprint effects in line with ecological sensitivity. Responsible design items make a connection with emotionality, spirituality and wellbeing. The latest silhouette of this theme is formed by maxi, oversize and almost futurist protective clothing items made of strong but lean technological materials that make the consumers feel well and healed, as well as warm inner layers. The most popular materials used under this theme are leather, vegan leather fabrics, and soft and matte recyclable cellulose and synthetics with reduced environmental impacts.
Weirdness is the key
Designers fictionalize the future in a transition atmosphere that is between reality and the virtual world. The ideas they generate based on the blend of nature and technology are driven by the excitement of the unknown. Inspired by realistic perfection, digital imaginative aesthetics intertwine with dystopian futuristic approaches to create weird looking risky images. At the core of this theme are 3D filling materials, quilted ridged surfaces, iridescent effects addressing tactile sensations, and structural curved forms. While the silhouettes in this theme feature bulky and oversize clothes enriched with compressed and shirred fabric, experimental silhouettes are also part of this theme. The mostly preferred fabric surfaces in the context of this theme are ultra-light, recycled polyester and nylon fibers, as well as metallic mineral colored surfaces that give romantic feelings, and surfaces featuring super bright imaginative digital abstract patterns.
The main pillars of this transition season theme, which encompasses calm, inclusive and smart innovations, are rational use of materials and the reduction of carbon footprint effects in line with ecological sensitivity.
Twist, the precious
This is the story of travelling back in time, to the times marked by Italian chicness featuring geometric patterns. Surprising, fancy decoration details remixing history, and innovative combinations putting rakish items and classics together create an eclectic look. Featuring artisanal bohemian vibes, soft suedes, satins, and retro geometric sports pieces balance each other. Following the nostalgic trends very closely, generation Z has reinterpreted the glittering classics items.
Maximal chic
Maximalist master pieces as well as sharp tailoring pieces express individuality in couture looks with dramatic, dark and surreal colors. The pieces designed under this theme offer a sharp and powerful stance with an extra exaggerated rich appearance. Featuring sculptural silhouettes and exaggerated arms, these flamboyant pieces designed with maximized proportions are blended with steel-colored silvers and the deepest blacks, as well as the bright and striking color combinations of nature.
