10 Fashion trends for 2026

This is not a forecast of what will be “in”, but of what we recognise as the movements and actions that are shaping the future.

The fashion industry sits at the intersection of multiple crises: ecological breakdown, deepening inequality, cultural homogenisation, and a loss of trust in institutions and brands. At the same time, it is also a site of extraordinary possibility. It is a place where materials, labour, culture, and meaning converge on the surface of the body. What we choose to wear is never neutral. It is a political, ecological, and social act, whether we acknowledge it or not.

The trends we identify for 2026 have emerged from farms, workshops, factories, communities, policy rooms, research labs, and from the lived experiences of people working to make fashion fairer, slower, more local, and more accountable. They reflect shifts in values as much as shifts in practice: from extraction to care, from opacity to transparency, from speed to quality, from ego to kinship.

These are the ten fashion trends we see shaping 2026. They are not styles to consume, but practices to help shift us away from endless growth and spectacle, and towards responsibility, care, and meaning. The work – our work, your work – is to spread these ideas.

1. From self to social

The last few decades have seen a sharp focus on the self and personal development. Think about the booming self-help book trade, personal coaching and commodification of the personal brand as evidence of this. It’s led to a very transactional, self-interested world where what matters most are money, influence and personal aggrandisement. The results are the rise of fascist politics, the climate crisis, corruption and deepening inequality.

In the fashion industry, we see this expressed in the fact that some of the richest people in the world own some of the biggest fashion brands – and many of the clothes they sell are made by the poorest people in the world.

Luckily, there is a shift (nothing radical) in focus from self to social. Of course, we each need to be healthy and happy to be pro-social, but it’s becoming very clear that we can no longer abandon our responsibilities towards our communities and society, and the non-humans with whom we share our planet. In fashion, this is manifesting as a trend to buy local, to buy clothes from designers in your community, and from brands you trust are paying garment workers living wages.

2. Kinship

Taking our social responsibility one step further, we are noticing the influence of thinkers like Robin Wall Kimmerer who argues that we need to see the planet and all its animate and inanimate inhabitants as our kin. According to this story, Robin says that we need to rethink human exceptionalism and advocate instead for “kin-centred equality,” where no one species is deemed more important than another. By reconnecting with nature – walks, swims – we are recognising the natural world “not as a collection of resources to exploit but as a community of relatives to cherish. This worldview, embedded in many Indigenous languages, challenges the commodification of land and other species.”

Earth sustains us, and we have the capacity and the responsibility to sustain her in return 

 

“We are all interdependent,” Robin says. Earth sustains us, and we have the capacity and the responsibility to sustain her in return. It’s urgent now that we care for the planet as our kin. In fashion, our understanding of how our clothes impacts soil, waterways, air and people continues to grow. And with this awareness, fashion practices are becoming (and need to become ever more) considerate about nature and our fellow kin.

Learn more about Robin Wall Kimmerer here.

3. Natural fibre revolution

Multiple studies were released last year that showed evidence of the proliferation of plastic microfibres. These have been found in the womb, the brain and everywhere in the environment. Without clear evidence (yet) about the health consequences of these, people are turning to natural fibres.

We don’t have to look hard to find them. South Africa is home to producers of mohair, wool, alpaca, cotton, hemp… While it’s an exciting time for natural fibres, more investment is needed for fibres to be spun and woven into textiles locally rather than leaving the country as raw materials. We want all retailers and designers to have access to local and affordable natural fibres. Designers like MMUSOMAXWELL, Viviers Studio, and Gerber & Co, with the help of Mohair South Africa and Cape Wools, are driving this revolution. We can’t wait to see the growth in 2026.

4. Biodegradable dyes and finishes

We understand the environmental and health value of natural fibres; now, there will be more attention paid to the chemicals used in the processing of these fibres. It’s no use talking about the positive environmental impact of a fibre and then treating it with a chemical that renders it bad for the environment. Producers and brands need to know and keep up to date with the list of toxic chemicals and replace them with responsible ones.

5. Sustainable activewear

Once upon a time, cricket gear was made from cotton. We ran in cotton shorts and T-shirts. We used these same cotton items for yoga and gym classes. Now, activewear is generally made from high-performance synthetics made from fossil-fuel-based fibres like polyester, which is a plastic. Think of your bathing costume, yoga pants, running gear, and soccer gear. It’s all plastic. There is a movement to find new innovative materials for active wear, and even a call for wool swimwear!

6. Made in Africa

What can we say: 2025 was an incredible year for African fashion. There is no turning back.  We don’t believe in one African production system, but rather we see a multiplicity of nodes across the continent doing what they excel at – menswear, womenswear, knitwear, woven textiles, bark clothing upcycling. Designers from every country will continue to present collections that reflect a plurality of African cultures to a world that is hungry and willing to learn and unlearn prejudices.

7. Circularity takes the centre stage

Europe is setting the standard for policy and frameworks to guide sustainability and circularity in the fashion industry. First, due for adoption in 2026, the Circular Economy Act aims to make the EU the world leader in the circular economy by 2030.

Second, the European Union adopted the final text for its extended producer responsibility legislation. EPR holds producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of products — from production to disposal. It will help curb textile waste by making producers pay for how it is collected, sorted and recycled.

Third, fast fashion advertising has been banned (with exceptions) in France. Four, the EU has also introduced legislation for digital product passports for nearly all products sold in Europe. According to the EU, “This initiative, part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, aims to enhance transparency across product value chains by providing comprehensive information about each product’s origin, materials, environmental impact, and disposal recommendations.”

It’s important to know what’s happening in the EU and to understand the implications for the local fashion and textile sectors. If you’re a business owner, you need to comply if you’re exporting – and you can learn and adapt from the frameworks. Many people working in circular textiles and fashion in Africa are concerned that the new EPR will send more clothes to Africa without the funds to upcycle and recycle them here.

In South Africa, circularity is being promoted by various organisations like Circular South Africa. For textiles, Green Cape initiated the Circular Textiles Initiative to facilitate a transition and to introduce end-of-life producer responsibility practices in the local industry.

8. Second-hand market demands quality clothing

The second-hand clothing market has grown exponentially. Driven by affordability, uniqueness, sustainability, the thrill of the hunt and overproduction, second-hand shopping is becoming so mainstream that department stores and retailers are dedicating space for resale. Think Galeries Lafayette in Paris – it has a huge section dedicated to resale. Like Vinted in the UK, the online resale platform Yaga has become a household name in South Africa. With this comes a demand for better quality.

When people buy new items, they are already starting to think of the resale value

 

When people buy new items, they are already starting to think of the resale value. Like buying a car or an artwork: you want to know that you can sell the item once you’ve outgrown it for whatever reason.

9. New luxury

The traditional luxury market continues to struggle. The Financial Times reports that 40% of luxury goods were sold at a discount in 2025. You can buy identical fake goods at a fraction of the price. Does this not render the traditional understanding of luxury meaningless?  We think so. Now is the time to redefine luxury.

In her article, An Overview of the Luxury Fashion Industry Anna Cabigiosu writes that fundamental to luxury are “the brand name, identity, status, reputation and awareness as well as product and design attributes such as quality, craftsmanship, innovation, uniqueness and creativity…”

Before globalisation, luxury goods were produced by small, family-owned businesses. Many of these businesses have now become multinational companies with massive marketing budgets that mass-produce expensive goods often in the same factories that produce garments for fast fashion brands.

With the shift to local production, near and on-shoring, and appreciation for African artisanal practices, we’re seeing a new understanding of luxury emerge. There is more emphasis on quality, craftsmanship, innovation, uniqueness and creativity, and less emphasis on brand, identity, status, and reputation.

New luxury respects craft. It respects people. It respects Earth. It is local. It is African.

10. Good and healthy fashion

People want to wear clothes that are healthy and good for them. Awareness is increasing about the health impacts of plastic microfibres and toxins such as heavy metals, formaldehyde, azo dyes, etc, in our clothes. As much as we want our clothes to be healthy for the planet, they also need to be good to wear on our skins. There will be more demand for natural fibres that have been certified by organisations like the Global Organic Standard and Bluesign.

People want to feel good about the fashion they wear (who made it, what it is made from), and know it is healthy to wear.

• Feature image by Cottonbro Studio via Pexels