Huanjing - Autumn/Winter 25/26 Theme Outlook
Key trends for this season include:
1. **Dual Exploration**: Advocates for tech innovation and future protection, embracing a low-altitude economy and addressing climate challenges.
2. **Wind Listener**: Upholds Chinese philosophy, seeking spiritual roots and experiencing the essence of time-honored culture.
3. **Urban Nomads**: Elites in cities seek a poetic, free-spirited lifestyle, balancing efficiency and artistry in a tech-savvy world.
4. **Time Reviver**: Rediscovering past beauty and intertwining it with future technologies.
5. **Joyful Movement**: A playful attitude reshaping cultural social scenes for youth, encouraging simple, pure outdoor enjoyment.
The "Huanjing" theme calls for innovation in fashion design to engage the new generation of consumers and focus product development for the upcoming season.
Space Age 2.0
Dual Exploration
Stoic Vanguard
Future Y3K
Dynamic Exploration
Balanced Enjoyment
Recreational Outdoors
Interactive Design
Intellectual Nature
Responsible Innovation
Urban Pastoral
Cross-Era Design
Kidulting
Time Refiner
Nostalgic Surrealism
Contradictory Aesthetics
Romanticism
Spiritual Homeland
Cultural Retreat
Elegantly Chinese Style
Echo of Time
--Bill Nye
The "New Air Era" theme highlights two global trends: "low-altitude economy" and "Space Age 2.0." With climate urgency and competition for extraterrestrial resources, consumers face multiple crises, leading to a duality in fashion responses. Both conservative seekers of safety and avant-garde deep space explorers desire multifunctional fashion products, envisioning limitless potential. The blend of Y3K style with a stark industrial edge creates an unknown anticipation for future fashion inspired by the 3000s.
The recent high frequency of extreme weather events indicates that the climate crisis is more urgent than ever, straining Earth's resources and making the fashion industry more vulnerable. In this year's central economic work meeting and government report, the low-altitude economy has been identified as a key emerging industry. Low-altitude airspace and deep space mining remain underutilized natural resources, harboring economic potential and fashion materials that could exceed land value. The "New Air Era" serves as a crucial guide for exploring space fashion and futuristic aesthetics. Despite the cosmos being predominantly dark, it is within this darkness that unknown wonders are hidden.
The video
inspiration comes from Zephalto's
advertisement for the Céleste spacecraft:
a pressurized capsule lifted by a
stratospheric balloon, almost ready for
takeoff. Starting at the end of 2024,
people will be able to board a hot air
balloon to soar above 82,000 feet—floating
above 98% of Earth’s atmosphere. This new
paradigm of space travel is emerging, and
in light of climate urgency, both
explorers and conservatives are investing
in more creative innovations in the space
realm, envisioning extraterrestrial
environments filled with new potential.。
From：
Come aboard Céleste and reach for the stars | Zephalto
Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2024 Show
FROM INSPIRATION./
The 'Measurably Closer Global Youth Climate Creativity Exhibition' captures the real experiences of people striving to survive after climate disasters from a global perspective. It creatively visualizes the urgency of climate change, inspiring dialogue around solutions and raising awareness of global climate issues
Zelphalto is transforming space travel with innovative low-carbon navigation. The Céleste spacecraft, a pressurized capsule lifted by a stratospheric balloon, enables travelers to float above 98% of Earth’s atmosphere. Starting at the end of 2024, this vision of normalized space travel will take a significant leap forward.
The architecture studio EX has built a "Minimally Invasive" shelter along high-altitude paths. This structure embodies principles of reversibility and lightweight design, providing refuge and rest for climbers facing sudden storms and other weather changes. The project also explores the relationship between artificial structures and the natural environment.
OUCHHH's collaboration with CERN marks the first instance of AI-generated art being created in space, showcasing this extraordinary achievement on the lunar surface. This space venture is more than just an exhibition; it represents a declaration of the limitless possibilities of human creativity and the innovative spirit that drives us forward.
HELIOT EMIL has partnered with the innovative Italian protective gear company Alpinestars to explore the concept of protection in fashion. This collaboration showcases a physical pop-up experience during Paris Fashion Week in partnership with Grailed, highlighting the unique interplay between fashion form and protective function, as well as the creative potential of materials.
Delnia Yousefi's futuristic interior design for lunar living, part of the "Lunar Horizon" project, stands as a beacon for humanity's exploration beyond Earth in this era of peak innovation and space exploration. As we transition from exploration missions to establishing sustainable human societies on the Moon, humanity is set to thrive in the cosmos.
Rimowa has collaborated with La Marzocco to launch a coffee machine made from aluminum-magnesium alloy, blending German engineering with innovative design. As a material commonly used in aerospace, aluminum-magnesium alloy brings together a unique blend of sci-fi retro and futuristic aesthetics in this partnership.
adidas Sportswear unveiled its "Light Mech Boots" at the NAMESAKE 24FW Paris Men’s Fashion Week. The modular and structured design minimizes the emphasis on color elements attached to the product, significantly enhancing its futuristic appeal. By combining points, lines, and surfaces, the boots showcase the complex construction of Y3K aesthetics, which is set to be a key trend for 25/26.
In recent years, Coperni has focused on creating its brand products with innovative materials, such as nanomaterial silica aerogel, meteorite, and the smart fabric "Pyratex." This season, the Air Swipe Bag made its debut on the runway, with the designer likening its design to the sky above Earth, highlighting its extraordinary yet Earth-protecting qualities.
climate empathy
The "Dual Exploration School" views extreme natural conditions as the new normal, seeking an ideal environment and a life full of adventure while also focusing on collective interests. In the turmoil driven by survival, they are both participants and observers.
technological self-protection
longing for the unknown
Under the New Space Age theme, women's fashion merges avant-garde leisure with modern futurism, blending contemporary textures and futuristic designs. It showcases an industrial aesthetic while embodying a sense of rawness. Sculptural silhouettes convey belief, safety, and empowerment, giving women a cool demeanor and resilient attitude, presenting a fresh take on futurism in an industrial context.
Under the theme of "New Space Era," the men's collection showcases a avant-garde streetwear aesthetic, embodying a physics-inspired persona. Elements of shields and protective padding highlight depth and layering, illustrating the subtle balance between softness and resilience. The use of soft materials like faux fur, knitwear, and lightweight layers reflects and blends with the harshness of an industrial future.
--Co-authored by renowned writers such as Shi Tieshen
National culture carries human memory, with Chinese culture being a lasting flame. Wind symbolizes freedom and life, carrying emotions. The theme "Listening to the Wind" reflects on Chinese culture, encouraging the fashion industry to focus on cultural depth, nourish the soul, and seek one's spiritual homeland.
Thesong
Chinese Style
In this rapidly developing era, people seem increasingly lost in the clamor of the world, trapped in a myriad of digital neon lights, as life gradually loses its poetry and vitality. The fatigue of the soul prompts individuals to seek self-liberation and embark on a journey to reconnect with their roots, engaging in dialogue with history and merging with the landscapes. By exploring the vastness of the homeland and experiencing its diverse customs, one can feel the pulse of the nation and its cultural essence. Reviving traditional clothing or interpreting new Chinese styles through modern aesthetics allows one to don romance and elegance, seeking the warmth and energy that everyday life provides, enriching the inner self.
The video follows the "Scenery Along the Way" series from "Shangcheng Shi," exploring the weathered marks of time in the city. Each corner carries cultural genes and endless stories. With blue bricks and dark tiles in view and the sounds of silk and bamboo in the ear, the wind guides us into an artistic treasure trove, witnessing countless hands devoted to traditional art. Learning from the ancients, we carry on the legacy; each melody and word conveys meaning, writing the history of spring and autumn.
From：
《Shangcheng Shi》
FROM INSPIRATION./
“Only Henan: The City of Dramatic Illusions” is China’s largest theater community, featuring rammed earth walls and immersive scenes that blend reality and illusion. It reflects the rich history and cultural transformations of the Central Plains, allowing viewers to experience millennia of history and the stories of its people, highlighting the strength and resilience of Chinese civilization.
CGTN has launched the digital exhibition "Millennia of Melody: Song Dynasty Landscapes and Flowers," showcasing "Chinese traditional aesthetics" to the world. The Song Dynasty represents the peak of Chinese landscape and bird-and-flower painting, with intricate works reflecting the refined tastes and lifestyles of the era. The exhibition recreates ancient customs, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the leisurely and joyful spirit of the creators.
The "Journey Scenery" series of "Shangchengshi" captures moments of interaction between people and cities, highlighting local history, culture, social life, and traditional crafts. This approach makes intangible cultural heritage feel vibrant and closely connected to modern life, rather than a distant, ancient concept.
The exhibition "The Forbidden City and Versailles" at the Palace Museum highlights Sino-French exchanges in the 17th and 18th centuries. It showcases political, cultural, and artistic interactions through diverse methods like artifact restoration, enhancing emotional resonance between East and West.
Deeply influenced by jade culture, Chinese people connect with their cultural roots and daily habits. LOEWE's "Jade Collection" offers a localized narrative that honors traditional culture while showcasing the brand's exploration and innovative expression at a cultural level.
At the 2024 Milan Design Week, China Week debuted, featuring Roche Bobois's first collaboration with Chinese designers on a complete furniture collection. In "BAMBOO MOOD," Jiang Qionger abstractly and artistically expresses bamboo, a powerful symbol in Chinese culture.
Diptyque's "Do Son Voyage" collection draws inspiration from lacquerware and rattan weaving, capturing scenic memories on the bottle's surface. The amplified tranquility and beauty create a poetic reality, representing a spiritual homeland deeply rooted in the soul.
Plant poet @21 integrates sculptural forms into floral art, crafting a botanical narrative rich in Chinese philosophical thought. The beauty of the garden lies in its details, revealing moments where "a flower is a world" and "a leaf reflects the cosmos." Through these subtle, tangible lives, one grasps the essence of nature and the wisdom of the changing seasons.
Cultural Travel and Residence
Emotional Resonance
Art Exploration Workshop
Under the theme of "Listening to the Wind," the women's clothing features vibrant, warm colors with straight or cocoon silhouettes and flowing hems, creating a poetic and elegant feminine image. This theme emphasizes the aesthetic of Chinese blank space, showcasing large, expressive prints, while intricate patterns can be rendered with solid embroidery or small-scale jacquard techniques.
Under the theme of "Listening to the Wind," the men's wear combines new Chinese styles with business casual aesthetics, presenting an image of a cultured individual strolling through the marketplace. The top is the core piece, featuring strong, fluid lines reminiscent of traditional Chinese painting, with details like stand collars, diagonal plackets, and button accents as highlights. Textured fabrics such as plant dyes or velvet are key to enhancing the overall quality of the look.
With the acceleration of globalization and changes in economic and social structures during the industrial era, people began to seek diverse lifestyles, giving rise to the concept of contemporary urban nomadism. Unlike traditional nomadism, which often shuns society, this concept emphasizes a proactive attitude and social responsibility, aiming to solve problems and seek spiritual strength. The essence of this theme is to explore the harmonious coexistence of people, technology, and nature. The fashion industry, under this theme, bears the mission of responsible innovation, adhering to natural ethics, employing timeless design methods to trace old techniques' roots while leveraging technological advancements, thus creating a new pastoral vision of true freedom.
Innovation
In a time of multiple crises, escapism has become a modern coping strategy, encouraging people to seek freedom from fast-paced lifestyles. The rise of hybrid work models has led urban elites to desire more freedom, diversity, and flexibility, reflecting their pursuit of self-worth and personal freedom. The "Urban Pastoral" theme uses fashion to explore how to balance technology and design in a rapidly industrializing world, aiming to meet increasing functional needs while allowing consumers to experience the primal vitality and freedom of nature.
The story begins as the female protagonist returns home from work, marking the start of her contemporary nomadic life. She navigates between the natural countryside and industrial landscapes, with new intelligent technologies adding a new dimension to her journey. In these vibrant spaces, she embodies both an urban dweller and a nature explorer, yearning for a constant connection with nature, respecting it, and embracing social responsibility. Through her nomadic experience, she achieves a balance between urban efficiency and natural tranquility, gaining unprecedented mental and physical nourishment.
FROM INSPIRATION./
PRADA's 2024 autumn/winter men's collection juxtaposes natural environments with office spaces, exploring how contemporary individuals can reconnect with the primal world. The collection features functional products designed for various settings, evoking a strong desire to return to nature.
The UK's Curve Club, in collaboration with creative agency Wildish & Co, has redefined the modern private members' club by combining natural elements with interactive technology. This approach creates a multidimensional experience that caters to urban elites' interest in cutting-edge technology, showcasing a lifestyle that integrates nature and innovation.
At the 2024 Milan Design Week, Zegna showcased an interactive exhibition titled "Return to Origins," combining digital and print media to immerse audiences in the brand's history and natural roots, highlighting its ongoing commitment to sustainable development and craftsmanship.
Comme Si, a luxury sock and leisurewear brand, partnered with USM to create a relaxed, meditative store environment. The space harmoniously blends nature and industrial design, featuring plants, textiles, earthy colors, and geometric modular furniture.
At the 2024 Milan Design Week, HERMES showcased the "Material Topography Exhibition," blending traditional Italian patterns with local craftsmanship. Using reclaimed woods and terracotta stones, it fosters a dialogue between roots, innovation, materials, and technology.
Tai Ping, a renowned Hong Kong luxury carpet manufacturer, launched its Biophilic collection, made from natural, undyed yarns. Featuring organic patterns and natural colors, the collection showcases the brand's traditional tufting craftsmanship and commitment to environmental sustainability.
At the CES annual exhibition, Dutch brand NOWATCH unveiled a screenless smartwatch featuring mineral art surfaces. It utilizes biosensor technology to quickly assess the wearer's biological rhythms, aiding in the improvement of mental and physical health.
Sustainable fashion brand Granny.london has launched the Granny 2.0 collection, focused on circular regeneration using unsold materials. This series combines vintage clothing, surplus fabrics, and recycled fibers to create retro fashion items with a natural texture and refined handcrafted details.
X-ZOO's new 36.5°C chair series is inspired by the body temperature of warm-blooded animals. Made from eco-friendly materials, the chairs offer an exceptional tactile experience and moments of natural warmth, blending design aesthetics with everyday functionality.
Deep Refinement
The refined nomad balances personal and social identities, choosing precise, functional products and exquisite aesthetics. They prioritize deeper spiritual health and abundance, nurturing themselves or their families through profound physical and mental nourishment.
Intelligent Consumption
Authentic Nomadism
The refined nomads, amidst busy lives, prioritize inner freedom, immersing themselves in nature or connecting with natural elements for energy. They navigate their controllable lives with ease, continually returning to authenticity to maintain their original intention
Under the "Urban Pastoral" theme, the women's collection reflects the relaxation that contemporary urban elites maintain despite fast-paced lives, highlighting their connection with nature. Muted natural colors and raw textures, like biophilic moss faux fur and distressed mineral-toned denim, create a rich atmosphere. Relaxed cuts and refined metallic details embody the season's nomadic style, allowing a seamless transition between urban and natural spaces.
Under the "Urban Pastoral" theme, the men's collection emphasizes a relaxed, effortless vibe, moving beyond traditional casual workwear. The rich textures include coarse wool, fine twill, and delicate leather, with bright accents in an earthy palette from details like buttons or accessories. This design symbolizes a transition between urban and rural settings, blending functionality with freedom and aesthetics.
Contradictory Aesthetics
Kidulting
In this uncertain era, nostalgia and surrealism guide young people toward self-healing, fostering a desire to rediscover the beauty of the past and embrace a childlike mindset. Their affinity for retro products drives brands to enhance creativity and marketing strategies, merging vintage styles with new elements. This fusion reflects a deep understanding of consumer psychology and retro culture, integrating new technologies and visuals. It prompts the fashion industry to reevaluate past and future, enriching brand culture and using "old" ideas to tackle "new" challenges.
The video weaves nostalgia with future reality, using playful elements to express a longing for the joys of childhood. Combined with futuristic, cool scenes, it illustrates the concept of "Kidulting," emphasizing freedom from adult constraints and transcending age and gender boundaries. This aims to maintain a childlike spirit of innocence and curiosity while actively exploring the world.
FROM INSPIRATION./
Tesla has been approved to build a restaurant and car cinema supercharging station in Los Angeles. This project serves as an energy hub for vehicles, blending futurism, surrealism, and 1950s retro style in its design. Tesla innovatively combines aesthetics with convenience, catering to the lifestyle preferences of its consumers.
The MIUMIU 2024 A/W women's ready-to-wear collection takes us on a journey from childhood to adulthood, with a backdrop inspired by artist Cécile B. Evans' dialogue between memory and fashion. This season, the brand conveys that "girlhood" transcends age, embodying a spirit of rebellion, freedom, and individuality.
At Milan Design Week, renowned Italian furniture brand Gufram showcased a series of iconic works from the 1970s to today, including its most famous chair inspired by surrealist artist René Magritte. This collection reflects the brand's keen ability to capture the spirit of the times and cultural influences.
The FUTUREHEAD headphones, designed by Orelolya, embrace a "future nostalgia" aesthetic. Featuring a square design, these headphones incorporate the latest holographic display technology, blending a retro look with modern functionality.
British designer Charlotte Kingsnorth reimagines second-hand wooden chairs, transforming their monotony into unique shapes that reflect her creative philosophy. By combining retro wood with playful, surreal designs, she infuses the chairs with fresh vitality through her rich imagination.
American visual artist Robert Beatty draws much of his inspiration from early 20th-century sci-fi literature and films. He skillfully blends retro and surreal elements, using color, shape, and texture to create a captivating aesthetic that intertwines nostalgia with science fiction.
This fashion design event showcases practical applications of the concept of surreal nostalgia in the fashion industry. GM collaborated with trending celebrities for a pop-up experience that offers consumers a memorable touch. Meanwhile, LOUIS VUITTON launched a whimsical collection in partnership with young artists, using surreal advertising and inflatable materials to enhance the products' surreal quality, akin to Matei Octav's photographic art.
GENTLE MONSTER and Jennie collaborated on the JENTLE SALON collection, creating a surreal, sweet dreamscape featuring adorable plush animals like unicorns and floppy-eared bunnies adorned with pearls and silver metallic elements. This collection beautifully merges vintage nostalgia with futuristic whimsy.
Matei Octav是一位年仅22岁的视觉艺术家，他的作品富有怀旧超现实主义和略带荒诞、戏剧性的风格。他擅长运用丰富的颜色对比，以及大小对比构图，从而解构 各种元素，重组出充满对比矛性的时尚视觉，极具视觉冲击力。
SweetSocial
"Time Reformers" advocate for a relaxed, independent social style, maintaining a healthy distance to emphasize individuality while sharing life's moments with like-minded people.
"Time Reformers" live in the present but enjoy blending retro elements with modern fashion trends. They express nostalgia and respect for the past while pursuing contemporary innovation and pop culture.
"Time Reformers" embrace a mindset free from the rules and expectations of the adult world, transcending age and gender constraints. They actively enjoy life while maintaining a childlike innocence, curiosity, and imagination.
nostalgia with a modern twist
embrace childlike innocence
Under the theme of "Echoes of Time," women's fashion exudes a romantic and dreamy vibe, incorporating nostalgic colors, soft knits, and playful patterns. It cleverly blends contrasts between reality and psychology, interpreting consumers' nostalgia while encouraging diverse expression unrestricted by age.
Under the theme of "Echoes of Time," men's fashion blends vintage and trendy casual styles to create a retro-futuristic look. It employs a rich palette, contrasting materials, layered combinations of internal and external contradictions, and wide-shouldered silhouettes to deliver visual impact and express the theme's surrealism.
In the era of social media, the unique visual appeal of outdoor activities attracts the fashion industry. This fusion of fashion and outdoor pursuits injects new energy into both realms, bringing stylish elements to outdoor experiences.
The fashion industry has keenly recognized this shift, evolving hardcore outdoor gear into stylish outdoor fashion. This has driven brand innovation, leading to designs that emphasize aesthetics and individuality to meet consumers' diverse needs.
FROM INSPIRATION./
The May issue of Italian Vogue features supermodel Irina Shayk and a Ferrari driver, highlighting F1's efforts to create a more inclusive environment for women and how the sport is bridging into the fashion world. The recent popularity of F1 events and the confirmed 2025 schedule indicate a growing trend of public interest and participation, prompting brands to launch more accessible products that bring fashion and outdoor experiences closer together.
Outdoor activities and environmental protection are closely linked. On the occasion of the 55th Earth Day, CASETiFY launches the 2024 special project themed "JOURNEY TO Re/BiRTH." The brand and artists remake recycled phone cases into various art installations and works, interpreting sustainability through fashion and art while engaging consumers.
ROAM is a collaborative magazine that aims to showcase modern folk movements in an inclusive and interdisciplinary manner. The collection explores contemporary ways people interact with the past, celebrating collectivity through refreshing perspectives, and conveying the accessibility and joy of outdoor activities.
Acne Studios' Fall/Winter 2024 collection is inspired by Estonian artist Villu Jaanisoo. The runway space features his artwork "Rubber Chairs," showcasing two chairs made from recycled tires. Various trendsetters interact with the installation, highlighting the close connection between fashion and playfulness.
Barcelona-based 3D artist Marco Segovia uses artificial intelligence as a medium to draw inspiration from the outdoors, creating innovative models of transportation that challenge traditional designs. With imaginative and playful forms, he expands the boundaries of joyful outdoor exploration.
Pharrell Williams and Tyler, the Creator have created the Louis Vuitton 2024 Spring Capsule Collection, blending street music with fashion to showcase vibrancy and color. Incorporating graffiti elements, the collection features playful designs across travel bags, clothing, and accessories.
Streetwear brand MARKET and EASTPAK have launched a new multifunctional bag that features a foldable mesh pocket and multiple side pockets, making it a stylish choice for outdoor enthusiasts seeking convenience. This bag can easily pack and carry various items, combining fun with outdoor activities for a cross-genre experience.
The new footwear from Oakley and Brain Dead's Oakley Factory Team draws color inspiration from a future envisioned through tech utopianism, themed "Future Proof." It showcases a whimsical, futuristic natural landscape.
Gently stepping away from the busyness of everyday life, they embark on a joyful journey of outdoor exploration. "Cross-Genre Coordinators" embrace outdoor activities as the new normal. With a playful mindset, they celebrate freely in the most relaxed manner, seeking that simple and pure joy.
Under the theme of "Joyful Movement," women's clothing merges streetwear elements from menswear with the fluid lines of women's fashion to interpret the fusion of outdoor activity and style. This approach creates a trendy perspective on outdoor activities. Through micro-deconstruction details and diverse materials, the design language conveys a healthy, positive, and fashionable outdoor aesthetic.
Under the "Joyful Movement" theme, men's clothing blends outdoor sports with streetwear styles, emphasizing the fun and trendiness of outdoor fashion. This season softens traditional outdoor silhouettes, focusing on lightweight functionality to meet the demands of outdoor activities. By combining earthy tones with vibrant accents, it creates a visually striking balance between fashion and outdoor wear.
The "New Space
Era" embraces futuristic aesthetics,
pioneering the Y3K era by merging technology
and art. This concept focuses on the
combination of fashion and outdoor
functionality, linking the natural environment
with space. Men's clothing, boys' apparel,
footwear, and accessories can emphasize the
modular, protective, and stark sci-fi feel of
Y3K. Women's fashion can lean towards a modern
industrial future, avoiding the hardcore tech,
post-apocalyptic, and Y2K aesthetics.
The theme "Whispers of the Wind" highlights elegant urban leisure, with storytelling and cultural depth central to the collection. A blend of rich and subtle Chinese colors with refined wooden tones serves as a color reference. Textures can be inspired by architecture or traditional crafts, while patterns should emphasize a refined aesthetic and negative space, using techniques like Chinese ink wash or fine monochromatic embroidery.
The theme "Urban Nomadic Anthem" embraces the contemporary spirit of urban nomadism, exploring the harmonious coexistence of people, technology, and nature. The design approach intertwines traditional craftsmanship with modern refinement, using nature as the base while incorporating industrial elements. Natural textures take precedence, complemented by metallic accents.
The theme "Echoes of Time" explores young consumers' nostalgia through the lens of Kidulting, infusing retro styles with surrealism. This concept is particularly suited for women's wear, children's clothing, and accessories. Children's items and accessories focus on playful patterns, while women's and men's mid-layers and footwear emphasize a mix of plush fabrics and metallics, showcasing contrasting aesthetics through diverse silhouettes.
The theme "Joyful Movement" is rooted in the concept of happy outdoor living, emphasizing fun and interactivity. Product design avoids excessive refinement, focusing on individuality and playfulness as key references for footwear and accessories. This theme supports a lifestyle of cross-category enjoyment, incorporating easy-care functionality in men's and children's clothing, while women's wear showcases vibrancy through diverse material contrasts.
