Anticipating Trends For 2026
Fashion has no intention to stop moving in the upcoming year. As we raise a glass of Prosecco while counting down last seconds of 2025, we inevitably think "What the new year will bring?". We hope for the best and wish that all turbulence stays back.
It was a very active year for fashion business. With many new hurdles in logistics and cost management due to tariffs we learned that people that love fashion find a way to enjoy beauty and see beyond politics. People who love beauty, read, watch and live in a slightly more cheerful world. Looking good in the end is one joy of life that helps us to make it through another day, even a very stressful one.
Definitely 2025 was a year of AI and we expect that AI, ChatGPT, Midjourney and Gemini will be the "main designers" in the New Year. Human designers and large corporations that used to hire them, in just one year, have pivoted to use machines in creative world. However, it's humans who buy, wear and react and we will see what people choose to buy.
Do we say "Yes" to what machines designed for us? Or we say "No". Without human intervention in design process it will be a very hard sell. Quality control and service will be more important than never before. How machines check quality for us? How machines adjust glasses to make them fit and how they know what we deem beautiful or practical?
We know that machines learn from the open web. But how they learn from most successful designers that didn't share their opinions? One of our most revolutionary designers Giorgio Armani sadly left this world in 2025. He didn't speak to press often and didn't share his ideas. He quietly created what people loved to buy and silently listened to critics. AI doesn't have a way to learn from such a person, who was one of the fathers of modern fashion.
Michael Kors likes to hide in backrooms of his stores and listen to what customers say about his products. He gets inspiration from little chats women have with sales representatives. Will women talk to robots in the same way? It's hard to imagine Michael Kors will transfer any ideas to robots either.
2026 will be an interesting year when balance between AI and human creativity will look for equilibrium. We will be watching and participating and enjoying the fashion ride along with our customers.