The demand for comfortable and relaxed fashion, which has only been amplified by new home-oriented lifestyles, is unlikely to peter out when and if society returns to some semblance of what it was prior to Covid-19.
In an online presentation Wednesday for Denim Première Vision’s first digital event, Lucia Rosin, founder and head designer of Meidea, an Italian design consultancy with a sustainable focus, outlined five themes—each with their own pulse on consumers’ ever-evolving values centered on digital communication, sustainability, comfort and inclusivity—that will sweep across Spring/Summer 2022 denim collections.
Never before, Rosin said, have fashion trends been determined solely by the evolution of lifestyle and society. “There is a call to action for artists, innovators and dreamers,” she said, pointing to a S/S ’22 season that embraces mimicry, human craft and digital technology—elements that are shifting the overall consumer product landscape.
Or for denim, it is a “Bluescape” that is based on wellness, consciousness and an effortless approach to styling.
In “Leisurewell,” a theme that does exactly what its name implies—fuses leisure with wellness—Rosin said denim silhouettes and fabrications are inspired by the “reconnection with the intimacy of home spaces.”
Working from home, fluidity, peaceful feelings, calming shades, soft touch and relaxed moods are among the theme’s key terms.
Garments take on pajama-like qualities with elastic or drawstring waists. Sheen surfaces add an elegant look to high-rise pleated pants. Cuffs are punctuated by tone-on-tone indigo. Rosin named relaxed shirts and kimonos with micro jacquard, and elevated overalls in mid-tone indigo as products to consider for video-call dressing.
“There are no constrictions,” she said of the “size-less” designs.
The theme “Creatorya” shows how denim is evolving, Rosin said, thanks in part to an infusion of new energy and willingness for game-changing collaborations. In Creatorya, there’s an “artistic reinvention of garments” and a “fusion of cultures” that combines embroidery, printing, craft and digital techniques.
With vibrant tie-dye, macro stitching, painting and folkloric prints as tools for “freedom of expression,” Rosin said clothes become a “canvas to communicate ideas.” This level of creative freedom also presents opportunities for designers to reuse vintage textiles, particularly combinations of different patterns and shades of indigo, Rosin said.
Cigarette jeans are a classic canvas, as well as voluminous cargo pants, which she said can be spliced by insets of vintage floral textiles. Lasered indigo knit tops, multi-print carrot jeans and skirts with contrasting textures make up the theme’s “future vintage” aesthetic.
In “Blue Rise,” denim becomes immersed in nature.
“We need a circular system and a new consciousness,” Rosin said, noting that the theme celebrates innovations in biodegradable materials, natural dyes and zero-waste manufacturing through refined and elegant designs.
Trench coats made with natural fibers, indigo shirting with laser floral prints and amplified Trucker jackets with irregular washes are among the key pieces.
Cellulosic fibers bring a light and natural breeziness to the garments, while natural colors like green, pale blue and lavender keep the pieces feeling fresh and modern, Rosin said.
The need for minimalism and function is evident in “Elemental,” a theme that prizes high quality, clean silhouettes and garments with longevity.
Here, refined workwear and season-less designs and colors take shape, Rosin said. Garments such as adaptable long trousers, cropped jean jackets and denim tunics—worn over a layered skirt and flare jean combination—speak to consumers seeking simple and stylish workwear.
The theme “Humanet” reflects the future of fashion and its production. Technologies that seemed to be in the distant future are now in touch, Rosin said, bringing limitless possibilities to fashion.
Microchip and barcode graphics, glass coating effects and shades of bright green make up this futuristic wardrobe, albeit achieved through environmentally friendly processes. Jacquards with silver and metallic yarns, wrinkle-free fabrics and forever black denim, meanwhile, add a sharp and powerful look.