The influence of sport, technology and nature was evident in the Spring ’19 trims presented last week at Munich Fabric Start and Bluezone in Munich.
The need for the right trims has never been more apparent as the denim consumer diversifies their wardrobe with high stretch skinny jeans, post-consumer recycled cotton denim, soft hand feels and novelty pieces like jean jackets and vests.
Here’s a look at four key trim concepts set to help denim brands standout in a sea of blue.
Eclectic
Trims have a taste for wanderlust. Expect to find travel-inspired motifs and natural materials to enhance vintage and sustainable stories. Hemp, cork, recycled leather and textured surfaces are mixed with brushed metals, ethnic patterns and keepsake charms. Mosaic-like prints are modernized with iridescent finishes. Leather and hide combinations, as well as wood grain surfaces, add a Western feel. Meanwhile, influences from the ocean are found throughout collections—from wavy lines to indigo-splattered surfaces.
Sport
Mesh patches, translucent vinyl and plastic and rubbery textures add an instant punch of performance to denim. Shimmery black and concrete gray ground the collection, while orange, lime green and cobalt blue allude to sport trends. Simple embossed black leather patches look classic juxtaposed to paint splatter labels and grid-like copy. Rubber patches are enhanced with bold 3-D surfaces. Cutouts add airiness to leather. Metallic finishes take on a hard metal look. Minimal white adds a futuristic look that caters to minimalist designs.
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Natural
Cozy wool patches are enhanced with pearlized leather. Cloudy colors, water color effects and wash down tie dye denim add an artisan vibe. Leather patches take on a stone look with faded pigment and distressing. Loose threads create a feathered effect on appliqués. Tapestry materials add a touch of home goods warmth. Botanical art work decorates labels and patches. Unfinished edges and crinkled corners add a worn-in feel to white leather patches. Mint green plays a key role here, offering a soft and sometimes sparkly glow to leather trims.
Playful
Trims continue to play with youthful, high energy materials and finishes that look great on Instagram. Iridescent inserts on hangtags and patches double as reflectors. Simple metallic silver tags look sleek and mirror-like. Appliques of cutesy characters and insects are jazzed up with bauble-inspired gems. Star and moon embellishments are covered in a smattering of crystals. Simple striped patches are enhanced with sugar-like grains of glitter. Printed chainmail over leather create a floaty, fabric effect. Gold foil adds instant glam to leather, while pink and purple combinations speak to the ultra-girly consumer.