The only constant in fashion is change. As textile trends evolve, wood-based fiber producer Lenzing keeps its finger on the pulse of the market to deliver fiber solutions that will be in demand, helping brands create products that fit emerging material, aesthetic and functional needs.
When it comes to fabrics for apparel, topping the list for 2024 are texture and shimmer. “We expect the most popular trends this year in ready-to-wear fashion to be shiny surfaced, lightweight and transparent fabrics,” said Gulfem Oral, global business development senior manager, fashion wovens and sweater knits at Lenzing. “Novelty and slubby yarns will be used to achieve 3D textures and mechanical brushing, adding hairiness and a velvety touch to clothing. Pastel and nude shares will be used with bright citrus colors like orange and yellow.” NR Series
Within sourcing and production, some major themes this year were textile material impact and circularity as well as a return to artisanal techniques. Companies are incorporating lower-impact materials, including recycled inputs, to build collections that both look and feel good. “In 2024, circularity, recycling and traceability will again be on the agenda in the fashion and home textile industry,” said Ebru Bayramoglu, head of global business development, textile business at Lenzing. Related Stories Sustainability Birla Cellulose Lands Number One Spot in Canopy's Hot Button Report 2023 Denim How Advance Denim's Innovations Improve Breathability, Comfort
With 2024 on the horizon, Lenzing’s category executives are sharing their thoughts on what to expect in apparel and home aesthetics and production.
As Jaye Anna Mize of trend forecasting agency Fashion Snoops explained, unpredictability is causing us to “nurture our emotional and physical self.” Wellness extends to what consumers wear and put in their homes.
Among the Fall/Winter 2024-25 trends spotlighted by Fashion Snoops’ Nia Silva during a Sourcing at Magic webinar was “Fragility,” which spans slow fashion and garments like loungewear and activewear. For Spring/Summer 2024, Premiere Vision similarly spotlighted “Sporty Lifestyle,” which brings the athletic aesthetic into street clothes, including “yoga knits” that blend cellulosic materials and recycled synthetics. Conversely, sports materials are getting a glam makeover with shine.
Enabling TENCEL™ fibers to be used for more intimate and loungewear styles, Lenzing developed an innovation that eliminates discoloration caused by the high heat used for garment molding.
A growing respect for nature and its calming influence on our lives will permeate interior design trends in 2024. “The advantage of textile fibers like TENCEL™ fibers is that they are derived from the natural raw material wood and, therefore, able to return to existing ecosystems1,” said Gamze Stoger, global business development manager, home & interiors textile at Lenzing.
Textiles’ impact on the planet will continue to be a prevailing concern. Heimtextil’s 2024-25 trends were titled “New Sensitivity,” defined as “considering impact when making a decision or product,” including choosing better materials, such as wood-based fibers.
Lenzing is consistently researching and developing ways to help the textile value chain reduce its impact on the environment. For instance, a resource-efficient dyeing process for TENCEL™ fibers cuts the usual multiple washes for denim down to one, saving water and energy and achieving wash-down aesthetics and vintage looks without bleach.
The industry is doubling down on efforts to tackle textile waste. Since 2017, Lenzing has been commercially producing its TENCEL™ Lyocell with REFIBRA™ technology fibers, which incorporate textile waste as a feedstock. This year, REFIBRA™ technology expanded to LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose, supporting wider adoption of this circular fiber solution. Moreover, the company has been reimaging approaches towards mechanically-recycled cotton blended with TENCEL™ Lyocell for added tensile strength and overall softness of the fabric blend.
“Mechanically-recycled cotton blended with TENCEL™ Lyocell was gaining traction in 2023,” said Oral. “As we focus on driving the textiles industry’s transition, encouraging wider use of recycled materials within fashion and textile is a crucial trend.”
Rising awareness of microplastics’ impact and biodegradability has catapulted synthetic-free options. In footwear, Lenzing worked with partner firms like Natural Fiber Welding, Ananas Aman and Coats Footwear to create solutions that use TENCEL™ fibers. A collaboration between Calvin Klein, TENCEL™ and Ananas Anam launched knit uppers made of Piñayarn, a mix of TENCEL™ and pineapple leaf fibers. In another partnership, Coats Footwear’s ProWeave™ technology wove TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament to make uppers for Circle Sportswear’s “SuperNatural Runners,” marking the first time that the material was used for footwear uppers.
“Our goal is to enable brands to include our fibers and powder in as many components of footwear as possible, and in doing so, provide a viable alternative to synthetics in wood-based TENCEL™ fibers,” said Nicole Schram, global business development manager, apparel at Lenzing. “We are actively collaborating with industry partners to promote circular footwear developments and exploring brand partnerships in the footwear market.”
Denim today comprises more than just pants, as consumers sport denim shirts, dresses and jackets. Versatile TENCEL™ Lyocell can help companies produce lighter-weight denim that is soft and comfortable. The adoption of wood-based fibers has been widening in denim, helped along by innovations like matte TENCEL™ fibers, which removes the sheen typically associated with the fibers. Additionally, mills are now making jeans with no cotton or no virgin cotton, showing that authentic denim looks can still be created with alternative material to cotton.
After denim mill partners began mechanically recycling TENCEL™ fibers from their production, Lenzing launched a Fiber Recycling Initiative to support the reuse of pre-consumer recycled lyocell at a commercial scale.
“We can only help the textile industry address major challenges such as textile waste and carbon emissions by collective actions,” said Tuncay Kilickan, head of global business development, denim at Lenzing. “We will keep developing collaborative projects to eventually become the bridge to deliver the message to brands and retailers around the world.”
Maximalism and multi-functionality at home
Recent events have reshaped our understanding of living spaces. Homes will need to adapt as remote work and flexible schedules become more common. Interior designers are responding by creating multifunctional spaces and convertible furniture, producing modular designs will be crucial in achieving this level of versatility.
Personalization will be a key trend for home and living spaces and maximalism will shine once more. “Maximalism encourages mixing and matching, allowing homeowners to express themselves in every corner of their homes. Consider rich, saturated colors, intricate patterns, and a variety of textures,” said Stoger.
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1. While garments are not intended for disposal via biodegradation or decomposition, recycling potential and other end-of-life considerations are important factors when designing garments. TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers are certified for biodegradability and compostability by TÜV Austria. In combination with compatible blending partners, dyes and finishes, TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers contribute to the biodegradability of textile products. In detail, TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers are certified biodegradable in soil, freshwater and marine environments. Additionally, they are certified for compostability under home and industrial conditions. Since TENCEL™ fibers can fully return to nature, they offer a viable alternative to synthetic fibers that can pose a risk of releasing microplastics into the environment when incorrectly disposed.
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