Core Prints & Graphics Updates S/S 21

Women's
Swimwear
Perennial prints receive an artistic update, while
tropicals return with a romantic makeover

Katrina Lyne-Watt
 Action Points
As the leading swimwear season, S/S 21 is the time to
infuse a little extra colour and creativity into your
offering. Update commercial stripes and tropicals with
artistic expression and fresh hues.
1. Celebrate artistic techniques: painterly prints
increased by 29% YoY to a 4% share on the recent S/S
20 catwalks, playing into the trend for
#expressiveprints. Make sure the hand of the artist
shines across your core prints, from humble stripes to
classic #gingham.
2. Tone down brash tropicals: for core markets, offer a
refined tropical with a subdued yet warm colour palette
and delicate exotic botanicals.
3. Keep it simple: pare-back florals and animal skins
to create minimal designs that retain impact thanks to
on-trend colour combos.
4. Feature an earthy palette: take inspiration from the
S/S 21 Homespun palette, with its soothing collection
of warm and natural hues. The earthy coral shade
Soap Nut works well for core swimwear, offering a new
neutral.
5. Add interest to classic patterns: checks and
ginghams are a swim staple, so add an update by
playing with splicing to create a fresh feel.

Azulu
Romantic
Tropics

Zimmermann Camilla Frances

Click on WGSN original artwork to download

Oysho

How to update
• As tropicals reappear on the catwalks, be sure
to move away from graphic iterations and hyper
brights in core ranges. Favour softer, more
romantic prints, in line with the feminine
mood across womenswear
• Feature hues from the natural Homespun
palette. Coral Soap Nut is a key shade
• Look to lingerie prints, making them swim-
ready via coloured bases and an exotic edge

Carolina K
Lightweight Click on WGSN original artwork to download

Skins

Boohoo

How to update
• This trend taps into the demand for both
polka dots and animal skins – two buzzy trends
we’ve been tracking in womenswear
• As consumers tire of true leopard prints,
experiment with abstract markings to create new
designs that are as much a spot as they are a
skin. A fresh palette, discreet scales and ombré
effects offer further updates
• Drop in spring as a season opener

Kulani Kinis Carolina K Rixo London

Painted Stripes

Seea Hannah Culshaw

Click on WGSN original artwork to download

Aerie

How to update
• Offer a refined take on popular #tiedye for
core ranges with painterly stripes, while also
echoing the trend for #artinfashion
• Opt for inky, blurred lines to soften the edges
of this otherwise graphic print, making stripes
more wearable for all markets. Use on
everything from bikinis to cover-ups
• Use the S/S 21 GameScape palette in a
restrained manner with pale grounds

Pukas Surf
 Summer
Silhouettes

Seafolly Lineastudio

Click on WGSN original artwork to download

Bahia Maria

How to update
• Soften stenciled florals with sun-baked,
natural tones taken from the S/S 21 Homespun
palette. Keep the scale big to retain impact
online and in-store
• Nod to popular exotic themes with hidden
motifs of #tropicalbirds and palm leaves
• Take a sustainable approach to colour and
print. Explore how you can replace toxic dyes
with plant- or flower-based alternatives

Bahia Maria
 Click on WGSN original artwork to download

Picnic Checks

Camp Cove Swim

Katrina Lyne-Watt Katrina Lyne-Watt

How to update
• Refresh grids and checks with an artistic
approach. Hand-painted stripes add originality,
while #spliced layouts offer a graphic take on
this traditional design
• A key trend on S/S 20 catwalks, focus on
#gingham, as this print will trickle down to core
ranges for the subsequent season
• Keep designs in classic navy and deep coral
shades for core market commerciality

Marysia Swim Boohoo Peony

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