Jim Atkinson
Fabric sourcing manager
for NextAsia
The fashion industry always works a few years ahead of the current season - which means that Jim Atkinson, for example, is already planning for 2005. He visits the European fashion fairs twice a year to keep on top of the most fashionable hottest trends in fabrics. This is what we can expect by the end of this year:
'We can expect to see more finishing on fabric to give basic fabrics a new angle. Fabrics will have a variety of different coatings, such as silicon and wax, and will be dyed or printed - things such as pigment dyeing. All of these processes will alter the touch, texture and look of the fabric.
There is a trend to create a washed or faded-out look for casual or formal styling. Denim is starting to look cleaner and less extreme in the washing, with more emphasis on getting a new fabric or pair of jeans to look authentically old.
