BASF publishes leather trends for spring-summer 2018
14/11/2016
In a new ‘Inspirations for Leather’ brochure, it outlines four trends for the season, with ‘Exotic Escapes’ as its over-arching theme.
BASF said on releasing the details that the inspiration for ‘Exotic Escapes’ is “the colourful interaction of nature, the dynamic and youthful view of life, the compilation of exotic voyages and a fusion with the world of technology”.
The company’s vice-president for leather chemicals, Dr Matthias Halusa, said at the time of the announcement that BASF is “excited to be a part of the energy and passion that lead our customers to explore the functional uses of colour while attempting to achieve a perfect balance between materials and designs”.
Four trends for the spring-summer 2018 season are Vibrant Jungle, Electric Youth, Summer Travels and Hi-Tech Nature.
Vibrant Jungle (see image), named after its “hyper-exotic and dense vegetation style”, includes dark brown and blue leathers alongside “bruised greens” and khaki. These are combined with the use of pearly, sheen and iridescent effects on leather and reptile skins with “evocative and creative reliefs”.
For its part, Electric Youth centres on a youthful world: friendly, happy and with a positive touch, BASF has said. This includes leathers that are “dressed up in abstract textures and geometrical shapes, recreating matt finishes with superimposed layers that create optical effects”. Pastel shades for leather intermingle with strong shades, and pastel yellow is “a must-have”. There are also combinations of whitish tones alongside worn denim.
The third trend, Summer Travels, offers “the fantasy of journeys to exotic and distant lands, with influences from Egypt, Southern Europe and the ancient trade routes”, BASF said. Generally speaking, this look uses roughened-up leather accessories with stained effects, where pink tones are the go-to-colour in the range. Leathers are decorated with perforation and braiding, tassels and fraying, as well as felt textures.
Finally, Hi-Tech Nature taps into an exploration of nature and space that fuses handicraft and technology. There is an extensive use of natural dyes, fused colours, metallic, and silvery leathers “at their very smoothest”. Leathers are laser-cut and perforated, giving a light and flexible feel. The stand-out colours are dark indigo and silver.
BASF publishes ‘Inspirations for Leather’ twice a year. Each edition is published more than a year and a half in advance of the fashion season in question to help tanners plan production.
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