Miniscule prints have always been popular with designers and exporters, but lately the scenario seems to be changing. With regular appearance of bold, big, and amplified abstract patterns on the runways, this strong aesthetic has emerged as a new print direction for the upcoming seasons. Exporters picking up the cue from these bold and powerful prints are taking refuge under many printing techniques which can endow them with perfect results. Adding value to textile products, printing has now found a new expression through the combination of many different techniques, creating special printing effects with imperative characteristics. With huge print patterns sweeping miniscule prints off from maximum collections, they are about to become the face of Fall collections very soon…
If prints make you nervous then this winter you’re probably filled with high anxiety, as the boldest, brightest prints have trickled down from the catwalk to the retail segment and street fashion. Bold prints create perfect illusions, making the eye follow the print and create fluidity in the entire design. Vivid, graphic patterns swirled across the collections at Dior, Pucci, Loewe and more, are sending exporters into a daze with an array of optical illusions and comical prints to explore. When we say bold prints, we mean prints inspired from Comic Book Layouts or Super Hero Imagery.
Without a doubt abstract placements and illustrative styles are one of the fastest growing trends right now. If experts are to be believed, bold prints are going to become a hit in the Fall ’16-17 RTW collections. These bold prints have become increasingly popular over the last year and the hype doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
Being an interesting mix of classical and modern themes, these patterns are so versatile, that it can provide dynamism to products from every segment. Inder Mohan Bhambri, Director, Srigan Exports, explaining about the print effect said, “Garment printing has been an ongoing practice for many years – both commercially and as a home procedure. But now due to increasing demand of variant designs/techniques in the fashion industry bigger, bolder and more abstract prints are really picking up for the distinctive look that it gives to garments.”
The runways of A/W ’15-16 proved that when it comes to style, more is ‘more’ in demand! Designers from Prada to Marni showcased ‘notice-me-now’ graphic prints – from stripes to the size of traffic lines to giant polka dots and abstracted florals in the brightest and boldest of hues. This print trend is about embracing boldness and going all out, by mixing n’ matching the loudest prints and adding a quirky flourish of shine.
Whether they are bold and crazy or subtle and sophisticated, humour graphics, naive drawing styles and bold graphic prints are variation of patterns being created through rotary and digital printing.
Line drawings, blob prints, larger than life florals and swirly designs have been making a strong statement in the collections of designers like Christian Dior, Rachel Comey and Judy Wu using it on items such as shirts, sweaters and dresses. The floating prints are swirled into patterns, capturing the boldness of the concept.
The main reason why this technique has been intensified is because of the growing fashion trend towards abstract and iridescent patterning on casual clothing. Prints are no longer restricted to provide only the base illusion to the garment. Now the reign of minuscule grid prints and rotary print designs have been taken down by naive bigger prints where the size of the leaf is 5 times more than the quintessential one, giving an extremely unconventional look. Exporters of readymade garments, RG International, have been experimenting quite a lot with oversized prints. Gaurav Chopra, Owner of the company shared, “We do a lot of experimentations with printed fabrics. Contrary to the popular belief that small delicate prints are favoured, we are developing scaled up prints, owing to buyer enquiries.”
Inspired by the passion for retro, the energy of the art worlds and advances in digital printing, these patterns will celebrate the exporter’s individuality, as the type of bold print derived will be very different from what is done by some other exporters, unless the miniscule prints give almost the same aesthetics for collections from distinctive designers. With every technique moving towards digitalization and customisation, scaled up prints can see a lot of innovations through digital printing techniques as well. Munesh Kumar, Proprietor, Kalka Filaments – manufacturer, exporter, supplier and wholesaler of printed leggings, stoles and scarves said, “Nowadays, with increase in design demands from clients, we incline more towards developing combination prints, and abstract designs are the most attention-grabbing ones.”
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Also, it is true that florals are a perennial choice for Spring; therefore this winter’s offerings are far from the traditional buds. The prints have a tougher look. They aren’t ultrafeminine with an overload of softness; instead, they are strong with wild feel and a slightly abstract vibe. “The colours are moodier, like navy, burgundy, and orange, and the silhouettes are decidedly playful; thanks to sheer insets and oversize blooms,” says digital printing job worker Manish Khurana, MD, Shivam Terene Pvt. Ltd. What’s great about this trend is that, because of the deep colours and attention to detail, the pieces will seamlessly transition from day to nightwear. The reason why incorporating scaled up bold prints becomes a pre-requisite for exporters for upcoming seasons.
Psychedelic prints, idyllic florals and abstract prints are types of prints that many mass retailers are showcasing as a part of their merchandise these days. Whether trousers, blouses, T-shirts, dresses or skirts, this imaging is seen on mostly all types of staples and separates. Abstracts, florals, bold patterns, colour splashes, animal prints or novelty prints are the key trends prevailing in the market to pick up from. Trend for comic prints has evolved into full-sized ones, a full frame per dress type of concept.
