TRENDS IN APPAREL + FOOTWEAR DESIGN AND INNOVATION
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

Looking Beyond to Find Planet-Friendly, Future-Wise Materials

A little bit of everything is generating reason for optimism in 2023 within the textile business. Supply chain headaches are subsiding while excitement about product innovation in the pipeline is on the rise.

3 Mistakes You May Be Making When Developing Cotton Products (And How To Fix Them)

Are you making these avoidable mistakes when working with cotton?

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Past Magazine Features

Directional Developments

The upcoming Fall/Winter 2024/25 season is packed with possibilities. Innovation is rampant in today’s textile offerings achieving new levels of eco-performance as suppliers continue to create trendsetting solutions that feature functionality and maximum sustainability.

Weather Report

It is not unusual anymore for one day to be 70 degrees, and the next, snowing. Sometimes it can seem as if seasons have disappeared. A walk or ride to work can be completely different than the trek home, temperature and sunlight-wise.

Cultivating Fresh Ideas

These days the making of the modern ingredient brand involves everything from partnering with regenerative farm programs, staffing creative directors, taking a hybrid digital/physical approach to branding and, most importantly, listening to the voice of the consumer.

Second Hand Stoke

Last spring’s thredUP report* describes a used apparel market tsunami. Second hand garment sales are increasing significantly around the world and growing exponentially in the United States. Tucked into those numbers is the outdoor industry with its unique combination of fashion and functionality.

Call to Action

Recent virtual presentations by the Transformers Foundation brought together representatives of the denim supply chain along with industry experts to share ideas, experiences and possible solutions to reform and rebuild chemical management systems.

A Step Change

Footwear brands are on the move this season leveling up product with the latest material developments. There are two main drivers influencing the direction forward in the footwear market.

Circularity Rolls

There is progress on the circularity front these days, as suppliers prioritize actions to advance textile-to-textile recycling, establish comprehensive cross-sector collaboration and bring to market materials developed for circularity.

Magazine Archives

Designed to serve members of the performance textile industry throughout the entire supply chain. With an eye on innovation, and focus on active apparel and footwear, our skilled editorial team provides corporate executives, material developers and designers information and expert commentary needed to succeed in today’s competitive textile business. In Every Issue: In The Market, Eco-Update, Made In America, Technology, Footwear, In the Studio, Supply Chain, Trendsetters, Strategies, Education, Out of Context. View All Archives.

Woolmark Announces Performance Challenge Winners

The Woolmark Company and Salomon recently named prize winners in the Woolmark Performance Challenge 2022, an innovation and ideas incubation program for the sports and performance market. More than 191 universities from 25 countries participated in this year’s program.

Polartec Names 2022 Apex Award Winners

Twelve standout products were recently proclaimed winners in Polartec’s 2022 Apex Awards, an annual design event that celebrates the brands and designers pushing the boundaries to turn Polartec fabric technologies into inspiring products across sport, lifestyle, and performance categories.

Cotton Incorporated Highlights 3D Collection

What would it take to reduce plastic waste and replace it with natural materials that have a better sustainability profile? According to a post from the company, that’s one of the questions researchers at Cotton Incorporated asked themselves before delving into a multi-year project...

Season’s Greeting from Textile Insight

The textile community delivered exciting developments throughout 2022, greeting the season in good spirits. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday and New Year!

Boost Your Brand’s Sustainability Goals with Recycled Fasteners

Is your active apparel brand on track for reaching your sustainability goals? If not, you’re not alone. On average, just one-quarter of leading apparel brands met their sustainability goals for reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging by 2020. Today’s high costs for recyclable materials can create additional challenges.

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More from Formula4Media's Publications

New Year, New Boots

Tell them what you want. Consumers are raising their voices about what is fit for their feet. Whether for work or outdoor activities, the boots in our closet circa 2019 just aren’t cutting it any longer.

Roaring Back

There is no denying that participation and sales for most team sports, male and female, experienced setbacks during the key pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 — but 2022 thankfully marked a bit of turnaround.

Directional Developments

The upcoming Fall/Winter 2024/25 season is packed with possibilities. Innovation is rampant in today’s textile offerings achieving new levels of eco-performance as suppliers continue to create trendsetting solutions that feature functionality and maximum sustainability.

Read the Winter 2023 of Outdoor Insight

Trends, Perspective & Analysis: Reaching the retail stores that drive the business in the outdoor category. Trending Up: Stylish Vibes & Innovative Tech in Outdoor Apparel; On the Rise: Hike & Trail Report; Shop Talk: Outdoor Specialty; Consumer Survey: Shopping For Hike & Trail.