2026 trends: As fashion embraces sustainability, texture and statement pieces

After a 2025 marked by confirmed trends, Luxurynsight and Heuritech unveil their 2026 trend calendar, revealing a fashion landscape centred on sustainability, textures, volumes and statement pieces.

Last year, several signals stood out: suede, boat shoes and the colour cinnamon far exceeded expectations, as did the Euro summer theme, which propelled buttermilk yellow alongside gingham and oversized polka dots. These latter trends recorded growth of between +17% and +87%, confirming their rapid adoption and long-term potential, while the “city boy” aesthetic—with its vertical stripes, raw denim and cylindrical “duffle” bags—left its mark on urban menswear, signalling an appetite for versatile, functional silhouettes inspired by major global metropolises.

For 2026, the calendar highlights month-by-month trends, each with its own growth forecast. January opened with fur detailing, turning fur into subtle accents on collars, hems and accessories, with visibility forecast to rise by +15% in the first quarter and over the next twelve months.

February spotlighted leather trousers, seen on red carpets and sports grounds, with growth forecast at +8% in the first quarter and +2% over the year, while animal prints and croc-embossed leather complement the masculine aesthetic.

March was dominated by raw denim, appearing in trousers, jackets and monochrome silhouettes, with growth of +11% in the first quarter and +9% over the year. In April, performance football trainers benefited from anticipation of the World Cup, with +12% forecast for the second quarter and +14% over twelve months, while pink trainers emerge as a distinct phenomenon at +19%.

May spotlighted loafers, reinterpreted in suede with playful details such as laces, forecast at +15% in the second quarter and +14% over the year, with suede continuing to gain ground across all categories of footwear. June saw the emergence of shades of green and yellow, “greenfinch” for men and “pickle green” for women, with growth of +15% and +7% respectively—versatile colours suited to sportswear and urban pieces—while tones such as aqua green are set to stand out.

July highlighted draping, celebrating volume, fluidity and sculptural forms across blouses, skirts and trousers, with +5% expected in the third quarter and +7% over the year, while draped tops and dresses reach +15% and +12%. August showcased irregular, tennis-inspired horizontal stripes, forecast at +10% in the third quarter and +5% over twelve months, creating a strong, modern motif.

September introduced structured bags, with +10% visibility in the third quarter and +18% over the year, adopted particularly by consumers seeking a minimalist yet sculptural style. October spotlighted flat-lock stitching details, bringing a technical and graphic finish to silhouettes, forecast at +19% in the fourth quarter and +1% over twelve months.

November confirmed the rise of large polka dots, an oversized and photogenic print, expected to grow by +147% in the fourth quarter and +43% over the year, driven by links with contemporary art and visibility at events such as Art Basel Paris.

Finally, December saw the return of tartan, with +16% for men and +12% for women over the year, incorporating coordinating pieces and varied silhouettes from accessories to over shirts, confirming the relevance of reworked classics in a unisex and sustainable winter wardrobe.

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms enabled this study to detect emerging signals and anticipate consumer behaviour. The combination of quantitative precision and qualitative expertise ensures actionable forecasts, offering brands a strategic guide to meeting the expectations of a demanding audience attuned to the stylistic coherence and sustainability of their fashion choices.