The Première Vision Trend Perdition for F/W 26-27 shows Sci-fi looking
The Première Vision Textile exhibition, held this July, unveiled 3 main themes for A/W 26-27 textile trends: Ego-eco, New Dynasties and Territories of Expression.
At first, I was puzzled. In the context of global economic slowdown, fashion has turned conservative. Now walk on the street, you find people mostly wearing soft tones, quite minimalism and safe silhouettes – a stark contrast to the expressive boldness of the 2000s, when everything was hopeful. So, under this conservativism revival, why the new textile trend feels so radical and Sci-Fi — filled with biomorphic forms, parametric structures, and flexible, shape-shifting surfaces?
The Sci-Fi Future is The Result of Sustainability Paradigm
It wasn’t until I attended the show in person that the reasoning became clear: this aesthetic is rooted in the logic of sustainability. While sustainability feels conservative on the surface — grounded in caution and constraint due to environmental pressures — it paradoxically opens a space for radical reimagination of materials and forms.
Sci-fi aesthetics is a visual compromise with artificial material. The underlying code of natural material is cellular structure, and it should be shaped by time and exposure. For example, natural leather carries the trace of a lived life – the animal moved, stretched, sunbathed and healed. Its surface shaped by tension and resilience. In contrast, the man-made materials, whether synthetic or recycled, are typically fragmented and re-compressed. This mechanical reconstruction often results in smoother, more uniform, even alien-like surfaces. Not all designers will embrace this new visual language, but in the face of a larger environmental narrative, many may compromise, choosing to design with these “unnatural” materials.
However, the Sci-fi future is also an aesthetic evolution – the new materials may stimulate creativity. At one of the seminars, I was amazed how 3D printing materials possess unique charm. It can achieve Lenticular Printing-like Effect, showing different patterns or colors depending on the viewing angle. They can also easily create smooth color gradients across continuous textures, which may inspire design. Just like how the introduction of Rhino software led to a wave of parametric architectural design with fluid forms.
The Shift will not immediately happen
Even if the logic holds — that the sci-fi aesthetic is a natural result of the sustainability paradigm — its widespread acceptance remains uncertain.
First, our urban environments are still rooted in traditional aesthetics. In most cities, wearing a sci-fi-inspired outfit still feels out of place. Second, functionality is still a challenge. There is embarrassing story about someone whose sustainable shoes began to biodegrade mid-run on the way to a meeting — quite literally falling apart in service of the planet.
So, what do you think about this aesthetic trend? Would you jump on it — or do you have your own design idea? 🫵 👀