Women’s fashion weeks are approaching, but industry watchers are still digesting the themes and brands that emerged from men’s Fall/Winter 2021-2022 collections. A total of 85 collections landed on the radar of fashion search engine Tagwalk, breeding a bolder and more sensitive approach to dressing.
Though established names like Virgil Abloh-designed Louis Vuitton, Prada and Loewe generated the most views on Tagwalk, the digitalization of fashion week has opened up the stage to small brands and up-and-coming designers.
Wales Bonner, Cool TM, Casablanca, Egonlab, GMBH and Ernest W. Baker captured the attention of fashion watchers with collections that pushed gender limits, experimented with fits and proportions, and injected vibrant color.
As the first fall/winter men’s season to debut since the start of the pandemic, the effects of homebound lifestyles—namely the demand for comfort and casual apparel—were evident in the most-sought shapes, fabrics and prints.
Tagwalk reported that searches for the keyword “leisurewear” increased 318 percent compared to searches last fall—a time when the term coronavirus was only known by few. Interpretations of the trend, however, were varied. Children of the Discordance channeled a psychedelic outdoor look with its hoodies. Etudes took a whole different direction by adding cutouts to the comfy basic.
Echoing recent data that shows an uptick in demand for comfy, loose fits, searches using the key term “oversize” increased 105 percent, while searches for “cable knits” climbed 94 percent compared to last fall/winter season. Be it a voluminous puffer coat, or a deconstructed cardigan, both trends align with the growing intrigue with outdoor, escapist fashion.
Artistic expression is, perhaps, another side effect of surviving a chaotic 2020. Following several seasons that introduced sheer fabrics and flowing silhouettes, designers offered their elevated take on DIY by applying abstract prints, serene floral motifs and painterly effects to fashion. Their creativity resonated with Tagwalk users, with searches for “art” up 85 percent compared to last fall.
The formality of suiting, however, appears to be falling flat with fashion watchers. The number of searches for the keyword “double breast” is down 19 percent from last fall, Tagwalk reported. Waistcoats may have an even more bleak future with searches for the layering piece down 56 percent.
Neutral colorways dominated leisurewear and men’s basics like sweats last year, but consumers may have had enough of the calming and soothing hues. The number of searches for “neutral tones” declined 22 percent. Similarly, the buzz for pared-down looks is waning. Searches for “minimal” dropped 43 percent.