Using trend forecasting firms is nothing new for apparel and footwear companies. But often before those thought-provoking presentation decks are prepared, fabric and technology suppliers/marketers already know what’s next.

The phrase “Wardrobe Casualization” is having a moment, yet when you scratch the surface even just a tiny bit it becomes clear that today’s hottest cultural trend has actually been taking shape for decades.

The June Outdoor by ISPO show was the first summer show from ISPO post-lockdown and the atmosphere was charged, as much welcomed human-to-human (H2H) communication and collaboration under the blue skies of Munich, generated a feel-good buzz.

The concentration of CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere has risen some 47 percent since the beginning of the industrial age, and 11 percent over the past 20 years alone, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Every business has a pandemic story to tell. Most of the time these tales from the trenches have a similar narrative; execs describe well-established routines that pivoted to new ways to run the company.

Our senses are closely intertwined with textiles. Color, sound, touch, feel, and in some cases, smell, are all part of the judgments we make about fabrics. It is ingrained in us, from home quilter to big time production manager, to see and touch the fabrics we buy.

Streetwear has been gaining ground in recent years by offering looks that represent the best of both worlds: high-level performance with signature designer creativity. French luxury brand Louis Vuitton ignited this new wave of collective collaboration of streetwear in 2017...