Enough about me and back to what matters here (lol, but for real). In my last post about the fashion industry, I mentioned trends and inspiration, how to combine them, and how people use trends in their collections. But where trends come from? Believe it or not, trends are not rocket science.
One of my favorite sources of trends (and the only source of trends taught during fashion school, lol) is the Nelly Rodi book. This book was created to study trends, colors, inspirations, and shapes for the upcoming seasons. From Maxi trends to seasonal trends, Nelly Rodi books have a gigantic selection of colors and shapes which will blow your mind. I am a big fan of the books and if you are a beginner in this industry, have the budget, and would like to invest in something which will help you in the long run, here is where you put your money! Back in Brazil, when I was in fashion school, my mother gifted me with a 2013SS edition (not sure which season) and I could not bring it to NYC with me. I believe my mother has thrown it out or it is rotten with my sewing kit she will never touch (lol, but for real).
Trends come from social habits and customs. Whatever news you see on TV and whatever news related to the environment and sustainability (these two tops in particular) shape customers' minds and shape the fashion industry. Sorry, have you seen a fashion brand talking about sustainability back in the ’80s? Exactly! Recycled and organic fabrics have shaped our industry and a lot of vendors expanded their options and included sustainable materials.
Society behavior, environmental news, music, and art directly influence and help create new trends. In terms of colors, Pantone is the book that everyone who is in fashion, architecture, interior design, painting or anything related to colors (lol, but for real) knows that Pantone books are the books you will need forever. And it is great because they cost almost the same as Nelly Rodi books, so if you are thinking about being in the fashion industry, you can sell an organ to buy these books. All good! But be mindful that they are two separated books, so make sure you will keep one lung in shape and one kidney working…
LOL, but for real! These books will be the base you need. And guess what? They work together. Trends create mood boards. This is how ideas, inspirations, and colors are combined. And obviously, all colors are coded in Pantone numbers. A lot of people usually think that trends shape society, but it is the opposite. Trends simply read what is going on in society and people tend to adapt to them. Have you ever caught yourself thinking “oh, I used to hate this kind of neon color, but now I am getting used to and I might give it a shot”? Exactly! Trends tend to reflect personality and branding, which can result in a great combination or bad combination for your brand.
Again, having a successful clothing brand and making the sales is directly related to your product, materials used, where you are producing, marketing, and sales plans. Englobing any kind of trends to your collection just because it is a trend that will not result in sales. So make sure you know how to use them, ask yourself what kind of trends suit your brand identity, and always think ahead. Trends will be trends for at least 3 seasons and if you are not sure about how certain products will sell, there is always the option of creating a few pieces (as long as it is locally produced), see how the sales goal and work on your next batch.
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