AW20 Trends
Bringing rich earth-inspired tones to essential silhouettes as a demonstration of individual brand expression, the leading trend for this season is prints. Presented across t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, button through shirts and practical trousers, Breton inspired stripes, traditional plaid, contemporary camouflage and more inclusive custom designs bring attention to everyday champion pieces that remain favourites time and time again.
Encouraging mix and match combinations, cuts have been relaxed and used as a base for practical detailing and attention to durability through heavy weight fabric selections. With a focus on classic styling, tonal updates and custom branding that helps to set designs apart from one another, the switch into the colder months this year can be done with ease.
Stripes are a staple style all year round and this season can be found across t-shirts, long sleeves, polos and hoodies. Look for your stripes in warm autumnal colours to keep on trend. Carhartt WIP have released their Buren Stripe T-Shirts in shades of rich orange and bottle green and even Armor Lux have updated their classic Breton t-shirt styles in warmer shades of navy and khaki. Continuing on with the key colours from summer of yellow and purple, look to Pop Trading Company who have taken these brighter pops of colour across warmer wardrobe staples such as long sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies. Polar Skate Co. have taken the yellow inspiration and have released a warm sand yellow colourway of their Stripe T-Shirt for a classic every day t-shirt that'll see you right through to spring.
Plaid shirts remain a firm favourite for the winter months and are offered in brushed cotton variations for this season. Coloured in rich earth-inspired colour combinations accentuated by brighter shades of yellow, pink and orange. Variations between larger and more dense proportions refresh the look of a plaid shirt which adds an immediate vintage effect to casual ensembles. Stan Ray has referenced their own workwear history within their new designs which have practical pockets and simplistic branding for classic heritage styling, whilst Dickies has presented a matching shirt and trouser two piece for a statement look. As a relaxed long sleeve style that is perfect for layering underneath jackets and sweatshirts or worn open over t-shirts during the transitional weather, plaid jacket variations are also on offer if you are in need of additional insulation.
Commonly favoured by outdoor orientated labels in classic green and brown variations for jackets and coats, camouflage prints this season have had modern adaptations by sportswear brands such as Nike SB for key accessories. No longer solely associated with warfare, the earth inspired design can be seen across camouflage jackets and utility style trousers which can be worn with a plain t-shirt or sweatshirt for relaxed everyday comfort. A modern rework from Carhartt, in a key colour shade of purple, uses plush fleece for a cosy effect, complete with a contrast nylon detail for a difference in texture whilst additional colour pops from Topo Designs brings further character to a ripstop jacket. Allowing you to choose between using camouflage as your key pattern for the season or for more of a subtle characteristic touch through caps and bags, the appeal of camo has remained strong over the last few seasons and it set to continue into next year.
An additional selection of custom prints have also made the cut for AW20 from labels such as Polar Skate Co., Dickies, Patagonia and Kavu who are well known for their strong characteristics and signature style. Seen across a variety of t-shirts, collared shirts and fleeces, custom prints vary between being created as part of an artist collaboration or as a continuation of an idea from the previous season. You’ll find highly decorative fleece pullovers featuring geometric prints from Patagonia who have opted for a lightweight fleece fabric to allow for layering with a t-shirt or sweatshirt, alongside custom typeface repeat prints from Polar Skate Co. which have been built upon since their summer release.
Reminiscent of vintage styles and created through woven techniques, both colour and texture work in harmony when it comes to more refined textural jacquard fabrics used for polo shirt designs such as the Polar Skate Co. Zip Pique Shirt, whilst the matching Sibley shirt and trouser set from Dickies features a Western inspired illustration, resulting in a duo that is both visually appealing and highly durable. When it comes to mixing and matching prints this season, there are no set rules.
Whilst caps and bags offer a glimpse of popular print designs without having to commit to a full look, printed socks are also a great way to subtly add in new season patterns when worn underneath jeans or work pants. Enhanced by a rich variety of colours and prints, essential everyday silhouettes remain at the centre of this season which are easily wearable and can be layered for a vibrant statement look, or if you prefer, paired with more low-key colour tones for a focus on individual stand out pieces.
