Made a trip last week to Mode Information - a German-based company with operations around Europe that collates and retails publications by major trend forecasting agencies. And I was privileged enough to browse their collections.
Trend forecasting is really quite a science. At Mode Information, I found books focused on generic topics such as interior design, womenswear, menswear to more specific trend forecasts for sportswear, colour, prints, patterns and fabrics -- all giving the reader the crystal ball view into what will be hot in the future. The books were immaculately presented, with brilliant illustrations, succinct explanations and some even containing small swabs of fabrics. I leaner that these books are usually the product of a team of around 10 (consisting of designers, buyers, illustrators) travelling the world to 'cool hunt', observing everything from street styles, subcultures, art movements to world events. After some weeks of cool hunting, the team comes together to collaboratively predict trends up to two years in advance. A trend forecasting agency can produce up to 16 books in a year and these books retail to high street brands for something like £800 per book or £20,000 for an annual online subscription.
So I played trend forecaster myself and came up with this trend board for SS 2013. I drew on this summer's sorbet pastel trend and brought it to romantic depths. But looking at the end product on hindsight, I wonder if this is a trend prediction or really, a collation of my favourite themes and pictures. Ah well, let's see in a year's time if I'm any good.
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