TRENDS FORECAST 2015 - Part III

In the final installment of our Trends Forecast, we look at a few trends that have developed in our collective mindset.  It is only a matter of time before these forms of expression transfer from being social phenomenons to fashion statements.

Futurism

The influence of technology on production techniques is enabling designers to become more cutting edge than ever before. This includes techniques such as laser cutting as well as working with fabrics in previously unseen ways.  Visual elements are coming to life: on fabric as well in other spheres, such as motion-sensitive billboards that are triggered by passers-by.  

In our world of visual stimulation, advertising has become more
interactive, as this billboard in a Swedish tube station shows.
At first the ad appears to be pretty standard until a train passes
and triggers a motion sensor.

Visual elements for fashion are becoming more important: the idea is that your clothing literally has to ‘speak’ for you. The more daring your choice of wording or print, the more courageous you are in your fashion choices. Even designers such as Carolina Herrera are re-engineering traditional motifs such as floral prints in more futuristic ways (so that they almost appear holographic or 3D) as extension of this trend.

An extension of slogan T-shirts, our formal designer
clothing will start to speak for us as this Moschino gown
shows.

Fabrics will become more futuristic in composition (synthetic, made made fibres
will prevail) and new techniques such as foam injecting fabric - as seen in the
latest Alexander Wang collection (left) or subjected to laser embossing as
shown in the Calvin Klein 2015 range (right)

Space Age Futurism will become more mainstream as shown in
the latest collections from Alexander McQueen (left) and
South African designer Jenevieve Lyons (right).

The trend doesn't necessarily need to be too left-of-centre - it can also be expressed in subtle ways.
Carolina Herrera's Spring/Summer 2015 range looks fairly conventional but it includes floral
motifs that have a 3D or holographic quality.

Rebellion

Socially there is a worldwide mistrust of government institutions.  They are perceived as ineffectual or corrupt and, coupled with a financial crisis that appears never-ending, this is leading to an uneasy feeling of anger, helplessness and the idea that chaos is inevitable. In the design sphere this is already starting to emerge in the way fashion is being displayed.  Male models are sporting more tattoos and not shaving – even going so far as to grow bushy beards - a look that has now become completely acceptable, not only in fashion but in every day life too.

The growing feeling that the world in general no longer
cares about the individual will start to manifest in continued use
of our bodies and clothing as ways to express our anger.

Girls now proudly display disheveled hair and a ‘devil may care’ attitude.  These elements embody what we would have previously perceived as anti-establishment. As badly behaved celebrities, such as Miley Cyrus (with her severely cut unstructured hair) and Justin Bieber (with his "rap-sheet" and array of tattoos), continue to land top endorsement deals – the idea that being anti-establishment will get you further will start to manifest itself in a much bigger way in 2015. 

Role models now include celebrities who court controversy and
are famous less for their artistic achievements but more for their
anti-social behaviour as seen in the latest ad campaigns;
Courtney Love for Yves Saint Laurent (above), Miley Cyrus for
Marc Jacobs (middle) and Justin Bieber for Calvin Klein (below).

The difference between the ripped look of the 70s DIY Punk fashions
and its modern counterpart, is that today we are not afraid to
abuse designer clothing in our efforts to be rebellious.