10 fashion trends for 2026
10 Fashion trends for 2026 This is not a forecast of what will be “in”, but of what we recognise as the movements and actions that are shaping the future which can be seen in fashion trends 2026 The fashion industry sits at the intersection of multiple crises: ecological breakdown, deepening inequality, cultural homogenisation, and a loss of trust in institutions and brands. At the same time, it is also a site of extraordinary possibility. It is a place where materials, labour, culture, and meaning converge on the surface of the body. What we choose to wear is never neutral. It is a political, ecological, and social act, whether we acknowledge it or not. The fashion trends 2026 have emerged from farms, workshops, factories, communities, policy rooms, research labs, and from the lived experiences of people working to make fashion fairer, slower, more local, and more accountable. They reflect shifts in values as much as shifts in practice: from extraction to care, from opacity to transparency, from speed to quality, from ego to kinship. These are the ten fashion trends 2026 . They are not styles to consume, but practices to help shift us away from endless growth and spectacle, and towards responsibility, care, and meaning. The work – our work, your work – is to spread these ideas. 1. From self to social The last few decades have seen a sharp focus on the self and personal development. Think about the booming self-help book trade, personal coaching and commodification of the personal brand as evidence of this. It’s led to a very transactional, self-interested world where what matters most are money, influence and personal aggrandisement. The results are the rise of fascist politics, the climate crisis, corruption and deepening inequality. In the fashion industry, we see this expressed in the fact that some of the richest people in the world own some of the biggest fashion brands – and many of the clothes they sell are made by the poorest people in the world. Luckily, there is a shift (nothing radical) in focus from self to social. Of course, we each need to be healthy and happy to be pro-social, but it’s becoming very clear that we can no longer abandon our responsibilities towards our communities and society, and the non-humans with whom we share our planet. In fashion, this is manifesting as a trend to buy local, to buy clothes from designers in your community, and from brands you trust are paying garment workers living wages. 2. Kinship Taking our social responsibility one step further, we are noticing the influence of thinkers like Robin Wall Kimmerer who argues that we need to see the planet and all its animate and inanimate inhabitants as our kin. According to this story, Robin says that we need to rethink human exceptionalism and advocate instead for “kin-centred equality,” where no one species is deemed more important than another. By reconnecting with nature – walks, swims – we are recognising the natural world “not as a collection of resources to exploit but as a community of relatives to cherish. This worldview, embedded in many Indigenous languages, challenges the commodification of land and other species.” Earth sustains us, and we have the capacity and the responsibility to sustain her in return “We are all interdependent,” Robin says. Earth sustains us, and we have the capacity and the responsibility to sustain her in return. It’s urgent now that we care for the planet as our kin. In fashion, our understanding of how our clothes impacts soil, waterways, air and people continues to grow. And with this awareness, fashion trends are becoming (and need to become ever more) considerate about nature and our fellow kin. 3. Natural fibre revolution Multiple studies were released last year that showed evidence of the proliferation of plastic microfibres. These have been found in the womb, the brain and everywhere in the environment. Without clear evidence (yet) about the health consequences of these, people are turning to natural fibres. We don’t have to look hard to find them. South Africa is home to producers of mohair, wool, alpaca, cotton, hemp… While it’s an exciting time for natural fibres, more investment is needed for fibres to be spun and woven into textiles locally rather than leaving the country as raw materials. We want all retailers and designers to have access to local and affordable natural fibres. Designers like MMUSOMAXWELL, Viviers Studio, and Gerber & Co, with the help of Mohair South Africa and Cape Wools, are driving this revolution. We can’t wait to see the growth in fashion trends 2026. MMUSOMAXWELL at Confections x Collections 2022, by Armand Dicker 4. Biodegradable dyes and finishes We understand the environmental and health value of natural fibres; now, there will be more attention paid to the chemicals used in the processing of these fibres. It’s no use talking about the positive environmental impact of a fibre and then treating it with a chemical that renders it bad for the environment. Producers and brands need to know and keep up to date with the list of toxic chemicals and replace them with responsible ones. 5. Sustainable activewear fashion trend Once upon a time, cricket gear was made from cotton. We ran in cotton shorts and T-shirts. We used these same cotton items for yoga and gym classes. Now, activewear is generally made from high-performance synthetics made from fossil-fuel-based fibres like polyester, which is a plastic. Think of your bathing costume, yoga pants, running gear, and soccer gear. It’s all plastic. There is a movement to find new innovative materials for active wear, and even a call for wool swimwear! 6. Made in Africa What can we say: 2025 was an incredible year for African fashion. There is no turning back. We don’t believe in one African production system, but rather we see a multiplicity of nodes across the continent doing what they excel at – menswear, womenswear, knitwear, woven textiles, bark clothing upcycling. Designers from … Read more