Leather and Fabric Trends for Autumn/Winter 2025/26 (See Photos)
The Première Vision trade show, held from July 2 to July 4 at the Paris Nord Villepinte Convention Centre, unveiled the anticipated leather and fabric trends for the Autumn/Winter 2025/26 season.
Excel Magazine International observes that despite concerns of a decline in visitor numbers due to its proximity to the Olympic Games and the French parliamentary elections, the event saw participation from 937 exhibitors, showcasing a rich array of innovations.
Environmental consciousness continues to drive the leather industry, with a significant shift from specific treatments or tanning processes to the commitment of the companies themselves.
The primary challenge lies in traceability, as companies must increasingly certify that their products are not linked to deforestation, particularly those manufactured in Europe. This growing accountability is shaping the industry’s approach to sustainable practices.
Buyers are showing strong interest in vegetable-tanned leathers, traditionally seen as stiff and difficult to dye but less environmentally damaging. Innovations in this area include soft leathers in various colors and finishes, such as lamb stretch leather tanned with vegetable extracts like quebracho, olive, and rhubarb.
The Autumn/Winter 2025/26 season also features technical advancements and aesthetic explorations.
Première Vision highlighted a collaboration with Les Teintures de France, introducing leather with laser engravings, perforations, digital embroidery, and 3D prints of micro-studs. These techniques underscore the merging of traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, creating unique and visually striking leather products.
This season’s fabric trends emphasize a fusion of past and present, blending old references with new technologies. Materials such as lace with unusual effects and worn-looking silk fabrics create a sense of nostalgia, while incorporating modern innovations.
Raised pleats, wool fabrics with a moth-eaten look, and other decorative signs of wear highlight the season’s embrace of imperfection and the ‘Do It Yourself’ aesthetic.
The move away from the metaverse and artificial intelligence toward more tactile and concrete fabrics reflects an evolving relationship with the body.
Fabrics that drape easily and allow for structural shapes, including knitwear, silk, jersey, cotton, warming mohair, velvet, and damask, are at the forefront. In the sporting world, this influence is evident in the combination of these materials with technical fabrics.
Special blends of fine yarns and dense compositions evoke structured volume, reminiscent of the Spanish fashion house Balenciaga.
The focus is on durable materials that transcend mere fashionable effects. Silk, in particular, is central to this trend, often combined with natural fibers like lyocell, modal, linen, and cotton. This approach reduces reliance on synthetics and chemical finishes, exemplified by wool-cashmere blends and zibellino-cashmere with a sheen and slight waves created by thistles.
These trends illustrate that environmental responsibility in fashion can be achieved through quality materials and innovative techniques, rather than solely through certifications or the avoidance of certain finishes.
Première Vision’s Autumn/Winter 2025/26 showcase highlighted a season rich in innovations, with a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility, technological advancements, and the blending of past and present aesthetics. As the industry continues to evolve, these trends reflect a broader commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship in fashion.
