Fall/ Winter 2026 Trend Forecast
The Task:
Research current fashion trends and industry news to predict emerging themes and styles for a Fall/Winter 2026 apparel collection. Analyze consumer behavior, cultural influences, and market dynamics to develop informed trend forecasts.
Meet the Team
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Carmella Garner
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Reagan Palik
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Greyson Foster
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Quinn King
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Rhianna Holdren
Skills Used
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Adobe Creative
Used a combination of Adobe Express, Photoshop, and Illustrator to create mood boards and slides for the final presentation and ideation process.
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Research
Conducted primary and secondary research on industry reports, surveys, and competitor analysis. Ability to interpret sales data, market reports, and social media analytics as well as having an understanding of consumer behavior, preferences, and emerging needs.
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Fashion History Knowledge
Recognizing the cyclical nature of fashion trends. Constantly keeping up with new trends emerging within the industry.
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Project Managment
Effectively managed the trend forecasting project by organizing research timelines, setting clear objectives, and coordinating tasks. Oversaw the collection and analysis of industry data, ensuring timely completion of deliverables. Applied strategic planning to synthesize findings into a cohesive forecast presentation for a Fall/Winter 2026 apparel collection.
The Process
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We began this project by closely following current news and analyzing both past and present trends to develop a comprehensive forecast for Fall/Winter 2026.
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Once we solidified our forecast concept, we conducted further research to support and justify why we believed the trend would emerge.
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With our research complete, we moved on to developing a mock collection and creating a slide deck that showcased our justifications, trims, prints, mood boards, and color palettes.
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Once everything was finalized, we presented our trend forecast to a panel of critics from both VCU and Fashion Snoops NYC.
Ideation:
To kick off the project, our group began by developing a concept for our trend forecast—a task that proved both exciting and challenging. Each team member brought a unique perspective, influenced by the diverse media we consumed daily. We closely monitored both local and international news, stayed attuned to social media for emerging cultural cues, and conducted in-depth research on the current state of the fashion industry.
With a wide range of ideas on the table, we worked collaboratively to narrow them down, ultimately choosing the concept backed by the strongest research and cultural relevance. After extensive brainstorming and thoughtful debate, we aligned on a central prediction: a revival of jazz and speakeasy culture as a counter-response to the high-energy, chaotic aesthetic of Brat Summer.
Our insight stemmed from observing a collective yearning for escapism and nostalgia amid global uncertainty. People are searching for spaces that feel intimate, indulgent, and timeless—an emotional retreat from the pressures of the modern world. From this vision, The Golden Lounge was born: a concept that blends vintage glamour with modern sensibility, offering a sense of familiarity and fantasy all at once.
Research:
After finalizing our theme, we delved deeper into thorough research to support our forecast with compelling justifications. To strengthen our predictions, we examined historical parallels—specifically looking back at the 1920s to gain a clearer understanding of both the cultural atmosphere and fashion sensibilities of that era. We explored critical questions: What elements of that time could resurface? What aesthetic or societal patterns might remain consistent or evolve? How is this relevant to society today?
Our biggest issue during this process was that we continuously found contradictory research to what we had already found. This made justifying our trend a bit harder, but not impossible. A key pillar of our justification was the striking similarity between the sociopolitical climate of the post Great Depression era and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that the uncertainty and societal tension experienced in the 1920s is mirrored in the collective mood of the current era, now even more than ever. This historical resonance allowed us to forecast that by Fall/Winter 2026, cultural spaces reminiscent of speakeasies and jazz lounges would not only reemerge but potentially achieve widespread mainstream appeal.
To support our claims, we relied on credible industry and academic sources such as Women’s Wear Daily, Britannica, IBISWorld, and Statista. These platforms provided essential data and insight that grounded our creative direction in research-backed evidence.
Creation:
The creation process of our project was both intensive and detail-oriented, requiring a thoughtful blend of visual storytelling and factual justification. Once our concept was solidified, our next challenge was to bring it to life in a way that not only communicated our vision but also made it feel tangible and culturally relevant.
A major focus was on ensuring every creative decision was rooted in research. We curated a comprehensive visual narrative that included mood boards, color palettes, and color stories—all designed to reflect the emotional tone and aesthetic of our forecast. I was particularly involved in this part of the process, drawing inspiration from historical references, current fashion movements, and psychological associations with color to craft visuals that felt immersive and compelling.
In addition to static imagery, we produced a concept video that helped capture the mood and energy of our forecast in motion. This multimedia approach allowed us to convey the atmosphere of The Golden Lounge in a dynamic and engaging way, further strengthening the emotional appeal of our presentation.
We also carefully selected images pulled directly from our research to support our choices in trims, prints, textiles, silhouettes, and other key design details. Each element had to be not only aesthetically pleasing but also justifiable through a cultural or historical lens.
To present our forecast effectively, we built a cohesive slide deck that reflected the sophistication and glamour of our theme. Every slide was designed to align with the visual identity of our concept, ensuring consistency and impact during our final presentation.
Ultimately, the creation process became my favorite part of the project. As someone who loves visual design, I found it incredibly rewarding to take our ideas from abstract concepts to fully realized visuals that told a cohesive story. Seeing it all come together was both creatively fulfilling and professionally inspiring.
Presentation
The presentation phase of our project was one of the most crucial, and challenging, parts of the entire process. After dedicating months to research, concept development, and creative execution, we had just 15 minutes to convey everything we had worked so hard to build. One of our biggest obstacles was figuring out how to condense such an extensive body of work into a concise, engaging, and impactful presentation.
To overcome this challenge, our team committed to multiple rounds of rehearsals. We practiced extensively to ensure we could deliver our content smoothly and confidently within the time limit. Each team member contributed to drafting and refining scripts that would guide our speaking points, allowing us to clearly communicate the "why" behind every creative and strategic decision. We knew that in order to truly sell our trend forecast, our delivery needed to be just as strong as the research and visuals behind it.
We presented in front of our peers, professors, and a panel that included industry professionals from Fashion Snoops NYC. Knowing the caliber of our audience raised the stakes, but it also pushed us to elevate our performance. On the morning of the presentation, we arrived to class early to rehearse our flow one last time and troubleshoot any last-minute details. As a team, we coordinated our appearance; each of us dressed in sleek, business casual black attire to reflect the professionalism and aesthetic of our concept, The Golden Lounge.
That attention to detail, from our words to our wardrobe, was part of our strategy to create a cohesive and compelling experience for the audience. In the end, our preparation paid off. Presenting our work in front of such a knowledgeable and discerning panel was both nerve-wracking and incredibly rewarding. It was a true culmination of all the effort, collaboration, and creativity we had poured into the project from day one.
The Outcome:
Overall, I truly believe the outcome of this project was a success. Our team invested an immense amount of time, effort, and creative energy throughout the entire semester, and the final result was something we were genuinely proud of. From our initial brainstorming sessions to the countless hours spent researching, designing, revising, and rehearsing, every step of the process required collaboration, persistence, and attention to detail.
What made this project especially meaningful was the fact that all of that hard work—months of development—culminated in just 15 minutes of presentation time. It really put into perspective how important clarity, storytelling, and precision are when trying to convey a big idea in a short amount of time. That challenge alone taught me so much—not just about trend forecasting and visual design, but about teamwork, time management, and the power of effective communication.
Seeing our concept come to life and being able to confidently present it to our peers, professors, and professionals from Fashion Snoops NYC was incredibly rewarding. It reminded me how fulfilling it can be to see an abstract idea turn into a tangible, research-backed vision—especially one that resonated with others.
This project pushed me creatively and professionally in ways I didn’t expect. It taught me how to take initiative, how to balance creative intuition with factual justification, and how to trust the collaborative process. Most importantly, it showed me what can be accomplished when a team is fully committed to a shared vision. I walked away not only with a project I’m proud of, but also with skills and confidence I’ll carry forward into future opportunities.
