ECHOES OF ETHNICS

Inspirations
In this trend direction we find more ethnic inspired styles. Whereas the folkloric trends are mostly inspired by European, western culture, here it is the ‘other’ cultures like those from Muslim countries in North Africa and even some from Asia that influence the trend. After the nine eleven catastrophe, it seemed we didn’t want to have anything to do anymore with multicultural expressions… it was reflected in fashion by an abrupt stop of multi-culti mix trends in 2002. Today we see the beauty of ‘old’ traditional cultural expressions echoed in fashion again; these are the ‘handcraft’ treasures, just like in the Echoes of the Past trends, we don’t want to loose…

Colors and Fabrics
Colors are tending to natural and neutral soft brights and warm sand and earth tones, livened up with more vivid tones, with gold and silver metallics. Textiles and fabrics may be made of ‘natural’ fibers, rough, dry in structure, like linen; yet soft on the skin and elegant in styling, even with shiny coatings and effects and big exotic glamour ‘bling bling’ stones; romantic laces and prints, open works, à-jours, animal skin and even exotic glitter and glamour are mixed in styling; the typical ethnic handcraft looks are most important here…
Kaftan, embroidered border inspirations; Indian embroideries with little tassels; cross-stitched embroideries; Marrakech-inspired jewelry belts; ethnic decorative elements like wooden beads integrated in the textile and the design; African wooden beads; rough, decorative stitchings;
Echoes of ethnics, tribal and fantasy motives in prints; multicolored stripes, multicolored tribal and/or 70ies geometry, blown-up to large sizes, anatomically styled; or small in laces and embroidery; African tattoo and body paint inspiration.

Silhouettes
Inspired by different cultures; kaftan, tunica, Muslim djellabah, Indian lunghi, and old European empire-line forms. Simply shaped, collarless wrap-around jackets; high waisted romantic and feminine dresses with ethnic glamour accents; jewelry belts; anatomically shaped craft ideas; necklace ideas integrated in tops; short jackets.

Legwear
Djellabah and Indian lunghi inspired legwear with cross-overs between tights, hosiery and pants, often wrinkled; loose legwear parts, extra long over the feet.