With the footwear category gearing up for a fall season of translucent uppers, sparkle details and ladylike silhouettes, it’s an opportune time for legwear to make a statement.
Invista, owner of the Lycra brand of elastane fibers, has a leg up on the must-have legwear looks for the Autumn/Winter 2018-19 season.
The company partnered with the trend forecasting agency Stijlinstituut Amsterdam to develop a capsule collection that combines key fashion trends with consumers’ demands for performance, fit and sustainability.
“As we develop each season’s capsule collection we pay particular attention to garment design and construction to create dynamic and versatile looks that will enhance any wardrobe,” said Sybille Bald, Invista global segment leader, hosiery.
Sheer thigh-highs are among Invista’s fashion trends for the season. Depending on skin tone, Invista says its “slightly raised graded stripes in opaque yarn either merge subtly, or contrast sharply, for a more expressive impact.” Made with Lycra 3D technology, the hosiery offers greater comfort and enhanced freedom of movement, a uniform appearance and a softer, smoother hand.
Hosiery will double as a canvas for decorative embellishment in Fall ’18. For this, Lycra touts its Living Lights technology, which delivers saturated fashion colors with a herringbone pattern. Lycra says the semi-sheer hosiery creates a linear pattern that “confuses the eye and creates the effect of a fast-moving animated blur due to translucence and layered graphics.”
[Read more about legwear: Technical Innovations Help Legwear Make Strides]
True black tights made with Lycra Black technology will remain a seasonless staple. However, a splash of shocking color that is fully engineered in the garment will bring newness to the category.
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The battle between denim and athleisure lives on, but Lycra says denim leggings are an easy compromise. The form-fitting but non-constricting fit can be achieved with Lycra’s Hybrid technology, which features multidirectional stretch. Authentic worn and torn looks can be achieved by an openwork knit effect.
Activewear will continue to be an influence—both in style and comfort. Lycra says daywear hosiery will pick up design cues from the category’s use of color blocking, particular in shades of blue and black.
Likewise, activewear-level performance will continue to upgrade socks and hosiery. For cold months, Lycra’s Thermolite technology is engineered to help keep the wearer warm and dry.
Lycra says the trend toward health-improving fashion is ongoing. Lycra’s Leg Care technology provides graduated compression to help energize tired legs, while Lycra Energize is designed for a serious athlete demographic. Made with a compact knit effect, its graduated compression supports muscles and improves blood circulation.
For eco-conscious consumers, Coolmax EcoMade technology keeps feet cool and dry with a fabrication made from 97 percent recycled resources including plastic bottles.
“Whether its all-day comfort, compression, warming or cooling technology—our fibers deliver lasting performance consumers can depend on,” Bald added.