In cooperation with WGSN, Functional Textiles Shanghai launched the fabric trendforecast 。For more information, please visit the shw on March 11th-12th at Shanghai WorldExpo Exhibition Center。

• What's the topic
  

• Color Style Overview

Fabrics

 After the boom, outdoor activities are going to integrate into daily life. Under the influence of the economic situation, consumers are more concerned about the durability of clothing. Half-open jackets and vests are practical choices for daily commuting, outdoor hiking and urban exploration.
As the climate changes, consumers are paying more attention to the natural ecology environment. Therefore, being eco-friendly is crucial to functional fabrics, such as non-PFAS process, recyclable, sustainable yarn, etc. are used to provide more environmentally friendly products. Also, the use of natural fibers, bio-based materials and algae extracts can help reduce pollution during fabric manufacturing. Environmentally friendly and practical outdoor designs for multiple scenarios are what present consumers concerning about.

Printings

Application Scenarios:
hiking, mountaineering, camping, picnics, morning runs, nighttime running, pilates, city walk, Cycling

Technology affects consumer’s lives deeply and continuously. The latest season is filled with multisensory items, using Jellied Brights and light neutral colors to help consumers get emotional glimmers in sports and health activities.
Try to extend the concept of "health”, creating items and activities that improve physical and mental feelings like soft touch materials.

AI can generate convincing effect, such as fluffy silhouette, glossy appearance, and high-tech fabrics, therefore, those who use and lead AI design trends can present these elements exquisitely. AI designs can be transformed into physical products and used as a source of inspiration. These selected materials and adaptable elements add more flexibility to the design. Meanwhile the combinations of glowing neons and brights are trendy as well, making the clothes more personalized and appealing to the younger generation.

Influenced by AI design, the digital reality aesthetic inspires the design of physical products. This color board shows digital tones. Key seasonal color Electric Fuchsia and Celestial Yellow provide uplifting otherworldly brights. Blue Aura, Pink Frost and Celestial Yellow combine to create dreamy Glowing Pastels. A shift towards Nocturnal Living brings a series of dark tones: Mystic Purple, Cherry Lacquer, Robust Red, Cranberry Juice, classic navy etc. that can be used as alternatives to black, presenting the otherworldly colors of the night.

Colors

Fabrics

With the rapid development of science and technology, consumers are becoming more and more receptive to digital aesthetics, and this has been extended to various fields. The texture and printing of fabrics draw on the imagination of AI, presenting 3D weaves with digital aesthetics. When applied to active wear, they are functional and at the same time present a variety of textured designs. Fabrics with digital surfaces show the fluidity of liquid metal, combined with multisensory mixed color, can be applied to functional fleece, attracting adventurous young consumers.

Printing

Application Scenarios
Skateboarding, cycling, ball sports, swimming, travel, fitness, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training), yoga, running, skiing.

Healing design is the key topic among WGSN trends in 2026. Choose colors that can easily soothe emotions and heal the body and mind. For example, the key color Amber Haze exudes ancient charm, reminiscent of gems and crystals, and brings heal to the soul. Versatile elevated neutral colors are also becoming more and more popular with consumers: Robust Grey, Sustained Grey, Unbleached Cotton, Classic Beige, Chalk, Optic White. This series of colors is low-key and soothing. At the same time, it also takes into account the rich retro colors of the younger market, such as Cranberry Juice, Crimson, Chocolate Sauce, and Primal Green.

Colors

Fabrics

Amid the turmoil of the global economy and the environment, anxiety has been triggered. People are beginning to pay more attention to the health of their body, mind and spirit and to pursue relaxation and comfort, choosing more basic, simple and eco-friendly garments. Comfortable, relaxing and multifunctional half-zip knit tops and hoodies make commute more comfortable and relaxing. Simple fabrics, but not simple functions, such as good moisture absorption and perspiration function that makes spring and summer garments more cozy, healthy fabrics that provide calming and anti-inflammatory effects can help pos-exercise recovery, give consumers a more comfortable and healing feeling. Eco-friendly cotton and neutral responsible dyeing are the best choices for loungewear.

Printing

Application Scenarios

Fitness, living at home, daily leisure, remote work, outdoor leisure, sleep aid, business travel, medical care, daily commuting , meditation.

This theme champions the virtues and efficiencies of honing what we have rather than making things anew – it’s all about reformulating rather than recreating, underpinned by the mantra that everything should have a clear purpose. As such, this theme skews towards time-tested classics and better-quality basics, with updates coming in the form of tweaks and modular add-ons.

Evolving the Subtle futurism concept, sci-fi-esque design evolves into reality with enhanced functional materials and growing interest in long-term lifespan. An increase in global temperatures will see innovations emerge around extreme functional cooling. Conversely, athletes will also seek training in heat, which has been shown to improve exercise performance, increasing VO2 max (maximum rate of oxygen consumption) more than high-altitude training. This theme is influenced by the space style and pragmatism concepts. It is minimal, technological and practical, building a creative and elegant style while retaining functionality.

As functional materials become increasingly powerful and people become more interested in biomarkers of longevity, futuristic design is gradually being integrated into real life. The use of cold gray tones filled with a futuristic minimalist industrial atmosphere. The key color, Blue Aura, inspired by light and shadow, is an elegant pastel color that is soft and soothing yet modern and healing, shimmering, hazy and illusory. The key colors Celestial Yellow and Vivid Yellow create a halo effect, while the dim Sage Green and Dusted Grape bring a gentle  futuristic style to the luscious combination.

Colors

Fabrics

Space style shapes pragmatism, simplicity, technology and practicality are the key. Affected by extreme climate, numerous technical fabrics that emphasize functionality and practicality have emerged. Ultra-light fabrics for lightweight SPF garments during spring and summer travel. High-density functional knitting, through structured design of knit, is presented in functional knitwear suits, providing better performance and more comfort for professional training. Design exquisite textures using knitting and quilting techniques to provide a subtle futuristic touch to the appearance of the clothing.

Printing

Application Scenarios

Hiking, mountaineering, skiing, dance, frisbee, surfing, skateboarding, cycling, all-weather sports , running , travel.