Kids' Style Trend Concepts S/S 21

GameScape
Creating new realities
in physical design,
through a digital lens

Blur the line between real and virtual influences with

bold colours, digital prints, and contemporary
updates for retro styles

Tangereene Magazine / Michiel Schuurman

 GameScape
Creating new realities in physical design,
through a digital lens
GameScape explores how the digital world will increasingly
influence physical design, and vice versa, as distinctions
between virtual and real become ever more fluid.
In an era of countless real-world anxieties, the digital space
is emerging as an antidote that offers escapism and self-
expression, and digital will become more influential in the
physical realm as we enter a new decade. Artificial
Intelligence is set to transform our lives, eSports is forecast
to be worth US$1bn by 2020, computer-generated
Instagram influencers are on the rise, and companies are
producing clothes that exist exclusively online. There is
method in the madness, and fun in the formats.
In S/S 21, these altered states will drive demand for artificial
colours, exaggerated forms, distorted or consciously fake
prints and patterns, and hi-tech and transparent fabrics, all
pulled together with a level of sophistication, rather than
any hint of gimmick. We will also see old ideas and new
classics reimagined for the digital age, as design widens its
focus to borrow from different eras and industries.
The feeling of this fun and experimental direction is
perhaps best summed up by American musician and artist
Laurie Anderson. In speaking about her latest VR
installation, which takes people on a journey across lunar
landscapes, she said: “It’s a great time to be creating new
realities.”
 Action Points
As distinctions between physical and digital life become
more blurred, we will see kidswear focus on kitsch remixes
and virtual play, along with retro styles reimagined through
a digital lens.
1. Mesh physical with digital: find inspiration within the
digital world by encapsulating the essence of esports
and video games within sportswear collections.
2. Express yourself: tap into the appeal of escapism
through cartoon and comic book themes, focusing on
empowering and self-expressive themes.
3. Go back to the future: reimagine the past with a
modern approach by combining ultra lo-fi graphics with
hi-tech athleisure looks.
4. Light up the night: create kid-friendly day-to-night
apparel, footwear and accessories with retro glow-in-the-
dark ink and neon tints.
5. Use repurposed materials: a growing focus on
sustainability will see digital-driven themes provide
creative opportunities for recycled PET materials and
deadstock waste.

Piupiuchick
 Palette S/S 21

GameScape
This edit of colours from 056-57-27 081-39-28 098-59-30 115-23-11 006-26-16 015-50-36 020-60-35
the Kids' Colour Palette focuses
on artificial tones designed for a
digital age, with bright pops
such as Pink Lift, Satsuma

Deepest Red
French Navy

Marmalade
Apple Buzz

Vital Green
Spritz and A.I. Aqua, which are

A.I. Aqua

Oxy Fire
grounded by French Navy and
Composite.

17-0336 TCX 18-5338 TCX 16-4725 TCX 19-4019 TCX 19-1526 TCX 17-1564 TCX 16-1361 TCX

031-72-40 007-57-23 010-52-00 10105 C 047-82-01 024-87-08 037-93-00

Peach Souffleé
Satsuma Spritz

Optic White
Digital Mist
Composite
Pink Lift

Silver

14-1064 TCX 16-1620 TCX 17-0000 TCX 13-4303 TCX 12-1006 TCX 11-4800 TCX

* All colour names are specific to WGSN. All metallics are Pantone. Find out more about Coloro.
Glow Gamer

Neighborhood One Third

Evrfelan

The rapid growth of esports (Fortnite fans are

already spending millions of dollars on skins
@masons_world_
for their avatars) will drive licensing and IRL
Heartjacking products into the future
• Update our Epic Games theme from A/W
19/20 by giving products glow capabilities,
complementing caps and sneakers
• Focus on sportswear items such as graphic
tees and matching sets, with the zip-up team
jacket as a hero item
• Drop: Seasonless

Brian Hanlon

The Esports Observer

Cartoon Cruise

Reserved Evan Mcohen

Cartoon-themes will move beyond the

screen to energise a new wave of designs,
Cartoon Network with the latest licensed cruise lines inspiring
comic-focused resort collections
• Emphasise cartoon aesthetics by adding
rounded details such as puff sleeves to
apparel, and exaggerated curves to
footwear and accessories
• Refresh comic book graphics with pastel
tones and storybook layouts to update high-
summer conversationals
• Include key items such as the resort shirt
and matching set
Drop: High Summer
Apocalypto Kids

One Day Parade Mini Melissa

Street Racer

@andy_extremer96

Update motocross themes with a digital racer

aesthetic inspired by video games, and look
Hiro
to Asian brands Teg Teg and Hiro as key
references
• Racing themes will return for S/S 21 with
a futuristic edge, focusing on ultra-casual
silhouettes
• Update chequerboard patterns with
uptrending colours such as #biolime, as well
as distortion techniques
• Racer jackets, soft coveralls and milky
translucent rain gear are key items. Top off
with statement socks, racing caps, and
Teg Teg sweatband accessories
Drop: Spring Transitional
Michiel Schuurman Hooligans
Weird Wide
Web

Kinda Magazine

Take inspiration from retro digital aesthetics,

with over-simplified graphics, pixelated
Wander & Wonder
effects and computer-generated elements
• Use simple illustrative elements, inspired
by early 1990s web graphics
• Our key colour for S/S 21, A.I Aqua,
reinforces this story's digital aesthetic, offset
with our seasonal orange tones of
Marmalade and Satsuma Spritz
• Explore this theme for boys. Casual knit
items will work well from baby through to
tween
• Drop: Summer Transitional
Molo

Patrick Savile Lol Johnson

Joyfully Camp

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Camp

exhibition exemplifies a playful, over-the-top
Popelin
approach to fashion, inspiring a new,
innovative approach to kidswear
• Update occasionwear with oversized
kitsch graphics, including summer drinks,
ice-cream and tropical birds
• A maximalist aesthetic carries through for
party looks with #feathers emerging as a
key trim, trickling down from womenswear
collections
• Statement footwear and accessories are a
must. Update belt bags and sneakers with
Monnalisa quirky details and shapes
• Drop: Spring
Call Me Sparkle Fila Kids
Space Jam 2.0

Air Jordan

Molo

Basketball inspiration will make a

comeback, with 1990s cult classic Space
Jam set for a highly anticipated 2021
sequel
• For sneaker silhouettes, take
inspiration from retro 1990s Air Jordans,
including the 11 edition of the shoe worn
in the original film
• Explore traditional basketball jerseys
for warmer months and use as a layering
item into autumn
• Use photoreal prints inspired by
basketballs, as seen at influential kids'
brand Molo
• Drop: Summer Transitional
Earnshaws

Teg Teg @hypebeast

Noughties
Remix

Milk

Reserved

As the noughties continues to saturate

the commercial market for young women,
we will see it seep into kidswear with
logos and layering
• The logomania trend is finally calming
down, with a less-is-more approach in
either single placement or traditional
monochrome layouts
• Tracksuits and matching sets look to
key noughties brands, including Juicy
Couture and Fendi. Use the tear-away
pant to inspire denim
• Accessories should be maximalist, with
a three barrette minimum
• Drop: Seasonless
Fendi Kids

Juicy Couture Brian Heiser

Pink Ladies

Babiekins

This 1950s-inspired story picks up from

editorials for girls and tweens in influential
Diesel Kids kidswear magazines such as Hooligans, Mini
Maven and Babiekins
• The motorcycle jacket makes a comeback,
updated with two-colour combinations,
which include black
• Focus on accessories with a vintage feel,
such as headbands adorned with oversized
bows, and vintage sunglasses
• Collared shirts, moto jackets and full
skirts nod to the 1950s, and are made more
modern with metallics, engineered plaids
and seersucker patterns
Hooligans
• Drop: Spring

Mini Maven Martin Bergsma

Urban Pursuits

Tristan Zhou

Unauthorized

Outdoor Adventure themes evolve into

performance-inspired city gear, which we
have been tracking through the
#urbanpursuits trend on WGSN's Fashion
Feed
• Neon trims are on the rise, and are set
to heavily impact outerwear, footwear
and accessories
• Include functional elements such as
power cord, removable straps, and cinch-
and-release features
• Pair technical nylon material with
breathable cotton for a trek-to-city look
• Drop: Spring

RE/SP

Mounten Heron Preston

Slime Time

Mini Melissa

WGSN Original Image

Tactile goo is on the rise, with slime

moving from toys on to apparel, replacing
perennial tie-dye, camo and offbeat
animal-skin prints
• Lime green is a must-have colour,
highlighted throughout the kids'
GameScape trend, and pairs well with
upbeat orange, yellow and aqua tones for
slime-themed layouts
• Slime also works as a fresh update for
slogans and graphic typography, adding
a playful dripping effect
• This direction will pair well with
our Cartoon Cruise theme
• Drop: Summer
Jonathan Knowles

Sometime Soon Nickelodeon

Marbled

Michiel Schuurman

Patternity

Marble designs emerge as a fresh approach

to tie-dye, now trickling into kidswear, and
also pick up on the trend for psychedelic
prints, which are trending on WGSN's
Giorgia Chiarion Fashion Feed, and were also highlighted in
our S/S 20 adults' trend concept, Empower
Up!
• Combine two important commercial
trends – tie-dye and rainbows – to create
vibrant patterns with a liquid look
• Bleed edges and colours together for a
digitally imperfect aesthetic
• Team up with our Glow Gamer or Weird
Wide Web themes
Billionaire Boys Club
• Drop: Seasonless

@patternity
 Influences
2 Space Jam 2
1 Teg Teg
This Tokyo-based label is ahead
of the curve, touching on
multiple S/S 21 themes, with
gamer influences.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
4 TeamLab Planets
This space features installations
where the boundaries between
the viewer and the digital works
become ambiguous.
3 Tuomo Korhonen
This graphic designer creates
distorted digital art with an
Cult classic Space Jam is
analogue touch – perfect for our
making a comeback in 2021
GameScape theme.
with a sequel to the original
basketball-themed film.
5 Heartjacking
Glow-in-the-dark trends are 6 Reserved
making a comeback, and this Look to this brand for clean,
brand blends tech and fashion simple graphic inspiration,
elements seamlessly. feeding into our Street Racer and
Weird Wide Web themes.