Trend seminar: these are the four biggest trends for Autumn/Winter 2019/2020

“The border between virtual reality and
our own daily reality will merge”, said trendwatcher Christine Boland
during the opening of her seminar “Mixed Realities” organized by Appletizer, which took place in
Amsterdam earlier this week. It may sound like a prediction for a future
decades away, but she was referring to the winter of 2020. “Human and
machine are not opposites anymore. Instead, they grow closer and closer to
each other. In this grey area where technology, artificial intelligence,
fantasy and creativity meet, a new design language will develop, with its
own vocabulary”.

Here are the main fashion, design and lifestyle
trends for Autumn/Winter 2019/2020, according to Boland.

Smart
Reformation

As the name suggests, “Smart Reformation” refers to the use of
intelligent materials. Think design objects that purify the air surrounding
them or garments that measure the wearer’s heartbeat or stops radiation
from being absorbed. According to Boland, these items will protect us
literally (by keeping us safe from outside “dangers”) and figuratively (by
making us “feel” embraced in a fast-paced, ever-changing world dominated by
technology). The trendwatcher predicts that the materials and silhouettes
will be luxurious and advanced. Clothing that aligns with this theme will
be modest and calm, to offer people a sense of protection against the
ever-changing modern world.

Cybernetic Chic

Virtual reality, artificial intelligence, robotics and androids
will continue to blend more and more with our analogical reality. People’s
behavior will increasingly be influenced by social media algorithms. In
such a context, how to define what’s real and what’s not?

Boland
mentioned fictitious influencer Lil Miquela as the ultimate example of how
the limits between “real” and “virtual” tend to matter less and less. She
predicts consumers will get fashion inspiration from robots and vice-versa.
Some of the keywords related to this trend, according to Boland: glamour,
rebellion, femininity and afrofuturism.

Fabricated fantasy

The theme Fabricated Fantasy examines the relationship between
fact and fiction. During a time when ‘fake news’ distracts us from ‘tough
reality’, more space for fantasy emerges. According to Boland, we will be
living in a “metaworld” full of surrealistic expressions. The film “The
Shape of Water” was the main inspiration for this theme:
extinct aquatic animals served as inspiration for prints, bursting the wall
between past and present. Keywords for this theme are: eclectic, organic,
historical, and mythical.

Off-Grid Settlers

The balance of the Earth is destroyed and the climate is changing
rapidly. Floods and droughts may ensue, putting the lives of millions of
people at risk. As concern surrounding the environment and the well being
of people grows, many companies are striving to make their processes more
sustainable and raise awareness about the need for a lifestyle change. This
will be reflected on the designs seen in Autumn/Winter 2019/2020. According
to Boland, both fashion and interior design collections will feature more
recycled materials, and self-reliance will be the name of the game, with
new materials such as seaweed, mud and even human hair coming to
prominence. People want to go back to nature, back to basics.

Boland
also emphasized that veganism is the fastest-growing lifestyle trend. But
even those who still eat meat and buy animal products are becoming more
conscious about the environmental impact of their choices. Many consumers
are now demanding industries to use the entire animal instead of killing it
only for its skin or meat.

Boland notices many designers are finding
inspiration from the native peoples of the American continent when
following this trend. Therefore, the theme “Off-Grid Settlers” refers to
respecting nature and looking for new ways to protect it.