S/S 2014 Color, Print & Pattern

This season is highlighted by an optimistic attitude. There are lots of strong color palettes
that have multiple influences for how they will be utilized for different markets. Most every theme can be interpreted with two sides to each story. We see safe reassuring colors from prior seasons that are only slightly changed to update them. These base colors are then combined with other fashion colors of the season to create the newness we are all looking for. Color Palettes from this season’s themes will crossover from high fashion to sportswear.

WATER WORLD

            In this trend we see man’s fascination with the oceans and the underwater universe. Alternatively, aerial views of the earth’s oceans from above are the other side of this trend . It is inspired by underwater-scapes including tropical fish, coral reefs and other underwater plant life both for color and print direction. Vast oceans and rivers inspire this palette of water blues and greens that are calm yet powerful.  In addition we see color in ocean white caps, shades of coral, water greens and acid yellows inspired by plankton. Prints and patterns include ocean shells, corals, plants, fish, and underwater life. Viewing the earth from above we see prints in marbled strata, small cross hatch patterns, mineral surfaces, cracked textures and raised surface effects.

TROPICAL

            As the future World Cup 2014 and Olympics 2016 are both due to be held in Brazil, the fashion world turns its attention to Central and South America as the influence for both color and print/pattern direction. Colors reflect the colorful culture of Carnival and Mardi Gras with a happy playful attitude. Prints/patterns will show tropical flora and fauna plus lush jungle animal life and landscapes endemic to that part of the world. The other side of this trend has ice-cream colors. Prints and patterns are inspired by snacks eaten at the circus or at Summer County Fairs and Carnivals or perhaps prints with clowns, jugglers and circus performers.

TECHNO - URBAN

            Inspiration is derived by the new worlds of science, math, architecture and technology full of optimism and discovery on the one hand and a more faded melancholy mysterious mood on the other hand. We see luminous, virtual light acid inspired pastels that are simulated, artificial, cold and man-made. The other side of the story is nature inspired soft, bleached out whites and neutrals. Prints and patterns are architectural shapes, grids in large and small scale, geometrics, natural honeycombs and digital laser patterns.

Spring/Summer 2014 Color & Trend

                                                             AMERICAN TOURIST  

                             The overall theme for Spring/Summer 2014 continues to be
                             travel. Vacation friendly sportswear is highlighted  this season.
                             Classic beachwear looks emerge such as board shorts, printed
                             cabana shirts and sarong skirts. Utilitarian and Safari trends
                             continue. Africa, Latin America and tropical islands are also a
                             source of inspiration for prints and patterns. Fabrics are light in
                             weight focusing on cotton, cotton/nylon and linen blends.
                             Silhouettes are slightly roomy and comfortable. Colors are
                             bright yet slightly sun-drenched or faded by the sun. Key
                             prints and patterns focus on tropical floral prints, jungle foli-
                             age and novelty vacation conversation prints.
                                                         
                                                                       
                                                                  DOCKSIDE

                            This trend focuses on the person who loves to be near the
                            water for their vacation. The theme is tilted toward coastal
                            towns, sailing, fishing and water sports. Dockside can be
                            slightly preppy or nautical inspired. Work wear details, utility
                            pockets and Naval influences emerge. Waterproof and
                            weatherproof and wrinkle-resistant fabrics move to the fore-
                            front. The windbreaker category and rainwear is up-trending
                            in outerwear. A color palette consisting of shades of blue is
                            key, mixing with linen white and khaki. Whitened bright colors
                            have a slight wash to the hue and add pop to the basic color
                            palette. Key patterns are Madras plaids and bold stripes.


                                                          SPORTY DIVERSION

                             An athletic pulse reverberates for this season, displaying
                             sporty silhouettes for the consumer who focuses on an
                             active lifestyle, even while on vacation. This is a sports
                             illustrated trend focusing on working out, baseball, running,
                             swimming and golf. There is a head-to-toe monochromatic
                             look which creates a clean, sophisticated attitude but there
                             is also a colorful, sporty look highlighted by bold color.
                             Silhouettes feature athletic details, and a voluminous and
                             fuller appearance emerges. Sporty stripes and color block
                             patterns are key elements.

 By Color Portfolio
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What’s new for Denim?

The fashion design process starts by looking at the latest trends for yarn, fabrics, raw materials, technical details and accessories based upon what is being shown at the international fairs.

Close-Up Fashion Textile

There is a new magazine by the publishers of Close-up titles called Fashion Textile that  is a quick reference for designers and buyers, presenting a huge collection of all the fabrics and materials from the European fairs: Denim by Première Vision, Pitti Filati, Milano Unica, Mod'Amont, Le Cuir à Paris and Indigo.








Most of us wear Denim and it is therefore of interest to know what is trending. This is a great place to find out what is new and different this season for Denim clothing as featured at the Denim by Premiere Vision Fair. For Autumn/Winter 2013-14, we see “an opulent, charming  and glamorous season” with lots of Glitter, sparkle, metallic, jewel-like accessories and lots of decoration. In addition, are seeing dark coated shiny finishes on dark indigo, grey and black denim.

              

While we see a glam side to denim, we also see country inspired styles that work with plaid shirts and suspenders. Practical, warm and cozy denim mixed with cashmere, cotton, wool and real or faux fur are trending. There are more streamlined silhouettes that show clean lines and/ or may have a distressed finish. There are either super stiff heavyweight denims or extra supple weight fabrics with nothing in between.

Plus we see fabric treatments whereby color melts into color for a diluted effect.

Fashion Textile is an exclusive working tool offering the most up to date information featuring the new collections of all the important international textile companies for Men, Women and Children focused on yarns, fabrics, embellishments and more.

www.fashion-magazines.com 

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View 2 Issue # 13 Spaces

What is the significance of "New Spaces?"

Everyone is experiencing challenging market conditions. Products that have been produced in some parts of the world for decades have had their manufacturing positions usurped by more price competitive regions of the world.

The answer to the above is for the companies who have been replaced by companies in another part of the world, is to re-evaluate, innovate and re-invent their product(s) to once again reclaim market share. "Two key factors are impacting the season- the aesthetics of the product and the way it is made." This is some of the ways that traditional brands are cleverly reemerging to rise once again to regain their business.

So many brands are developing a story that  seizes the current nostalgic mood while launching something new for the future. A narrative rooted in the past, resulting in something with a new dimension to capture the interest of today's consumer and thus the large market share they once enjoyed.

What is trending in both the men's and women's markets is bright color, mixing of different patterns and a military influence with a new approach to proportion and fabric. There is also more attention being channeled to the types of fabrics, their texture, appearance (inside and outside), structural make-up as well as the use of traditional materials and fabrics used in new ways. Details matter more than ever.

This issue of View 2 is named "'Spaces' in acknowledgement of this fresh sense of optimism and creativity" No matter what path the design cycle takes, " spaces can be whatever or wherever you need them to be."
View 2 issue #13 explores retail, street, men's & women's designers, denim, trade fairs, fabrics, trims, color, key looks, key items, graphic, footwear spanning A/W 12-13, S/S 13, and A/W 13-14. In addition, there are S/S 14 forecasts for casualwear, sportswear, design details, inspiration and more.

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Pantone View Colour Planner S/S 2014

“Looking at color as a total language”

The new S/S 2014 Pantone View Colour Planner Portal: “ speaks to a point of joining; a way of referencing the past to inform the future, forming a path that moves us forward into another world. For spring/summer 2014 as we enter into the portal through to our way out, our interest in strong color continues becoming more grown-up, mellow and sophisticated in its level of thinking. Become a part of another view; another dimension; the perspective of a landscape turned on its head.”



Pantone View Colour Planner S/S 2014

  What is meant by “Portal” is based upon the Roman g-d of Portals Janus. This was a g-d worshipped during times of change such as birth, death, marriage, harvest, etc. He had two heads so he looked both ways towards the past and the future. So too, this season we are looking at two sides to the color and trend stories for the season; the past to look at the future. Natural colors of fossils and natural colors of chemically created materials. Blues of innocence, sadness and also hope. Warm pinks, reds and oranges that are urban and luxurious, then sweet and nostalgic. Bright and intense colors of nature and then bright colors of the digital world. Deep dark colors of the night forest and the colors of the light of day.
Portals brings the possibilities we can discover by looking at the past to see the vision of the future and allow us to be inventive in new ways. It is the spark we need to create new and different choices to present in the marketplace and offer our customers something compelling to purchase.

  

PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner Spring/Summer 2014 has seasonal trend inspiration, key color direction and a variety of color combinations for men’s, women’s active, cosmetics, interiors, industrial and graphic design.

To see the new S/S 2014 Pantone View Colour Planner  call  (212) 564- 3954 ext 12 or 13  www.fashion-magazines.com

Pantone Reveals Top Colors for Spring 2013

·         By ROSEMARY FEITELBERG

With no income tax, zero unemployment and the world’s highest life-expectancy rate, Monaco has a lot to offer. This spring, designers will be channeling that picturesque principality — although not directly — with Monaco Blue, the season’s leading color for women and men, according to Pantone Color Institute’s executive director, Leatrice Eiseman.

Not a dark navy, Monaco Blue has more of a maritime cast to it, but it is also a practical purchase for any wardrobe, with more than half the population listing blue as a favorite hue. “It speaks to the practicality that we are seeing in society. You have to realize there is still concern out there for the economy,” Eiseman said.

In fact, the top five spring colors for women — Monaco Blue, Dusk Blue, Emerald, Grayed Jade and Linen — are all shades that can be easily blended into consumers’ existing wardrobes. Noting how Dusk Blue has “kind of a quiet, calming sense of serenity,” Eiseman said, “There is sort of a stop-the-world-I-want-to-get-off feeling. People want dependably stable colors.”

That being said, there is still room for more Pop Art-inspired hues, with Poppy Red, African Violet, Tender Shoots, Lemon Zest and Nectarine ranking sixth through 10th, respectively.

TOP 10 MEN’S PANTONE COLORS FOR SPRING

1. MONACO BLUE 19-3964
Percentage of designers who used this color: 15.2
Navy is known to be the no-brainer, foolproof color for spring, but this shade has a bit more life. That said, it is still safe enough for guys to try out, especially in these topsy-turvy financial times.

2. ALLOY 16-3915
Percentage of designers who used this color: 13.6
This reliable midtone gray is a safe bet for guys who are always willing to add some grays to their closets. “It is kind of a shoo-in color that has a lightweight feeling,” Eiseman said.

3. DUSK BLUE 16-4120
Percentage of designers who used this color: 12.1
Hushed as it is, dusk blue invokes the calm of an evening sky, but it works as both a staple and a new neutral. “You wouldn’t expect that kind of softness to be that high up on the men’s color palette, but it is dependable and stable,” Eiseman said.

4. EMERALD 17-5641
Percentage of designers who used this color: 11.4
“Emerald is a wonderful color. We see it hanging on as a member of the green family for a while. But this really is a new direction for the green family,” Eiseman said.

5. GRAYED JADE 14-6011
An extension of that continued interest in green is this shade, which men can adopt without attracting quite as much attention to themselves as its bolder brother emerald. “Grayed jade really is a novel neutral that is not just another gray, beige, taupe or white — end of story.” Eiseman said.

6. POPPY RED 17-1664
Percentage of designers who used this color: 9.1
Dynamic and exciting, Poppy Red will play a leading role on men’s fashion trends for spring and summer. While women were first to appreciate this bold shade, now men are taking to it, too, according to Eiseman.

7. TIDAL FOAM 14-0210
Percentage of designers who used this color: 7.6
Reminiscent of the sea washing on the shore, Tidal Foam will be evident in collections like Elie Tahari’s. As far as neutrals go, it is a little more complex than most and it has more of a grainy undertone, Eiseman said. “But it feels a little newer than other dependable colors,” she said.

8. LINEN 12-1008
Percentage of designers who used this color: 7.6
Men’s interest in this “very enhancing” shade indicates a movement away from everyday neutrals to a more interesting choice. Eiseman said.

9. VIBRANT ORANGE 16-1364
Percentage of designers who used this color: 6.8
Bright as this is, it is a natural progression for men who have shown a good deal of interest in orange over the past few seasons. It also mixes well with Tidal Foam, Monaco Blue and other spring colors.

10. SUNFLOWER 16-1054
Percentage of designers who used this color: 6.1
Sunflower is another newcomer to the scene that women were the first to gravitate towards. But this earthy, dijon-like shade offers a fresh option for men. It also can be combined with Monaco Blue or Emerald to kick up their spring wardrobes.

Top 10 Spring/Summer 2013 Pantone Colors available for purchase        www.fashion-magazines.com

Textile View #99: Reimagine

This new issue of Textile View #99 examines the trend we are seeing of looking to past eras, decades, styles and moods to produce the fashion of today. The publisher David Shah tries to answer the question: "Why always the past?"We see packaging, prints, colors, styles, silhouettes, music, art, TV shows and products that celebrate decades like the 1950's to market to today's consumer. Some of this is to look at past times when the economy was better in the hopes of conjuring up this feel good mentality to get customers to think as they did when their finances were better and open their wallets once again and spend to have a positive outcome on company's bottom lines.

The danger of the above is that if we only revisit the past, customers will have less impetus to purchase what we offer today. We need to remember that not everything was perfect in the past and technology and innovation of modern day society has much to contribute. "Let's hope buyers will pick up on this and not continue to follow the past, but treat the nostalgic and retro for what they should be-platforms to a more exciting future!"Thus, the current issue of Textile View #99 "Reimagine" reports on what is trending at retail in major fashion capitals. It is a go to bible of what to look for when designing A/W 2013-14 inspirations, colors, fabrics, accessories, trimmings and styling for men and women.

              

In addition, fabric and color forecasts are presented for Spring-Summer 2014 plus a lifestyle prediction of consumer culture to help understand the direction of seasons to come.

www.Fashion-Magazines.com