We were on the road at the Las Vegas trade shows. For all those who have not made it there, we have compiled the strongest trends here at a glance.
THE MUST HAVE ITEM - Aloha shirts made a splash for Spring ’18 and the next evolution is the printed short sleeve shirt in silky rayon fabrics in a variety of floral prints, tie dye and bold, colorful patterns. It’s the easy, ever-so-cool ‘go to’ look for Spring ‘19. Think surf vibes and rock n roll cool. Everyone from Reyn Spooner to Publish, Neuw Denim, Rolla’s and The People Vs. offered their own version of the shirt.
THE CROP - Denim and streetwear brands alike are serving up ‘The Crop’ as the coolest pant of the season. In easy cotton fabrics and jogger styling, the crop offers a cool, easy to wear casual look for Spring/Summer. For denim brands such as Levi’s, Rolla’s and Jack & Jones, crops range from looser fits and contrasting linings to torn hems with a rocker edge.
LIGHTEN UP - From lighter weight fabrics to light denim washes, designers are keeping it cool for Spring. The Jean Shop offered one of the coolest jeans for Spring in a lightweight chambray. Many brands offered shorts and pats with jogger style waistbands in cotton twills and ripstop fabrics. There were plenty of other lighter looks on the show floor including light denim washes and ‘80s inspired acid wash.
GRAPHIC MODE - In an ode to the ‘80s, bold graphics are making a statement for Spring. Denim brands are showing strong graphic prints on jackets and jeans and streetwear designers also took note. Sweatshirts, rain jackets and track suits featured colorful, bold graphics.
CASE FOR CAMO - Camouflage is practically a closet staple, but designers made a case for the pattern reinventing it in all manner of prints and colorways for Spring. Army green, navy, yellow and orange camo prints were prevalent in many collections. Look for modern twists on the classic print in tops, bottoms, outerwear and a multitude of army-inspired accessories.
RED, WHITE & BLUES - Designers are flying their patriotic flag for the season. Red, white and blue colorways were abundant on the show floor and there were many All American references to be seen. The look varied from sporty to classic taking men from the gym to the street and a summer surf escape to Montauk.
BREAKOUT COLOR - Safety orange is the breakout color of the season. Striking and bold, orange jackets, accessories and accents felt fresh on the show floor. Standout looks included a workwear inspired jumpsuit by Machina, a sandal collab by Publish X Teva and an easy windbreaker by Alpha Industries.
BEST LIFESTYLE BRAND - Denim is the ‘go to’ fabric for workwear and now it’s finding a place in the home. San Francisco-based Ubi-Ind Denim Mi Cocina Collection is offering an extensive line of denim-based kitchen and home accessories including aprons, place mats and pot holders as well as some uber cool Southwest-inspired ponchos.
COOLEST ACCESSORIES - Atomic Mission Gear takes inspiration from climbing gear, and it’s that cool mix of rope, technical hardware, and camouflage that gives the brand its original edge. The brand offered everything from snap links to fanny packs, man purses, duffle bags and backpacks.
THE MOVEMENT - It’s no secret sustainability is at the forefront of the design world these days. And many denim brands featured organic, sustainable or socially conscious aspects to their collections. Nudie Denim Co. continues to innovate with its organic and sustainable offerings. Outland Denim offers socially conscious denim which benefits a number of causes and this season, Neuw Denim has created Zero, a collection created with responsible and sustainable production practices.
BRAND OF THE MOMENT - The People Vs., the vintage-inspired, retro surf punk-esque brand from Australia, was right on point for the season. The collection offers all the right pieces for men and women. Rocker cool, floral print shirts, distressed graphic tees, shredded jean jackets and ultra cool jeans are just a few of the must haves.
BEST GRAPHICS - It’s no secret Sol Angeles makes a mean graphic tee, but the brand lives up to the hype. For Spring ’19, the company offered some seriously cool surf-inspired tees as well as photo real printed shirts and swim trunks, tropical print sweats and easy to wear sweat suits and leisure looks.
IN THE HUE - Color was all the rage on the show floor for denim to streetwear brands. There are plenty of colorful denim alternatives for guys for Spring/Summer. For those looking to test the look without sacrificing quality, Liverpool showed a full range of colorful jeans for under $100 and Joe’s Jeans colorful shorts also fall under the $100 mark.
BEST IN TECH - Machina, the wearable technology company, offered jumpsuits and outerwear in cool graphic prints with aerodynamic designs, high tech zippers and embedded sensors. The cutting edge brand was previously a semifinalist at the Intel Make It Wearable challenge and regional winners at Seedstars World. Equipped with gaming capabilities and smart features that allows you to create music through body movements and sensors, Machina clothing is not only functional, it’s truly an out of body experience.
Also interesting:
