Over these last couple years of the Covid pandemic, we have seen trends scale from “work from home” to professionals / practitioners who can “work from anywhere“. In line with this new norm, we’ve seen an increase in demand for intuitive athleisure and comfort wear that meets all consumer needs. Learn more about the latest fashion trends in our latest blog post by thought leader Andrew Thompson here on Material Exchange!
As consumers of today become more aware of the processes behind what they’re wearing, there is a growing need for industry players to consider sustainable alternatives to leather. Whether you’re on the supplier or the brand side, you’ll want to check out thought leader Andrew Thompson’s latest blog post here on Material Exchange covering the latest leather and leather alternative happenings!
Design for disassembly footwear solutions is gaining momentum; that is, the concept of assembling and disassembling pattern pieces and components. Each product/concept is built to be remade, re-examining how to approach end-of-life creatively and incorporate this into a circular economy.
Fully recycling shoes would be very complex as there are so many pattern pieces, often involving many different materials having been stitched and glued together..
Sustainability is an ever-evolving theme every future-facing organisation is starting to unpack, otherwise known as the “eco awakening” specifically in the materials industry. The most practical thing to consider is stopping excess waste and pollution. Up until now, brand equity was everything; however, this is quickly being replaced by consumer perception and values, relationships and customer experience.
Beyond that, the industry will evolve further. What will be the future role for creators and designers globally? And in what ways will the industry evolve over time? How will materials play a role in a future-facing creation process?