Denim Fabric, Wash &

Finish Forecast S/S 25:

Digitopia
Digitopia is inspired by synergies between technology and
creativity – particularly in AI – resulting in denim with
digitally distorted patterns, high-contrast washes, soft
pastels and darker dystopian themes

Susie Draffan and Nicole Ajimal

07.27.23 - 11 minutes

G-Star Raw
Introduction
Digitopia embraces otherworldly aesthetics and new possibilities in design,
driven by the rise of AI, virtual realms, and a growing focus on creativity as a
problem-solving strategy. It evolves from our A/W 24/25 forecast trend,
Expanded Imagination.

WGSN’s three S/S 25 forecast trends expand on the macro concepts in our STEPIC
reports (covering Society, Technology, the Environment, Politics, Industry and
Creativity). Digitopia focuses on Technology and Creativity, taking the sublime,
sometimes strange visuals emerging from AI as its starting point.
The ethereal landscapes and impossibly smooth forms generated by the likes of DALL.E
2 and Midjourney are already changing the way we see the world, and this will become
more embedded as a design influence in 2025. Expect to see a flourishing of products
and spaces (both physical and virtual) that dissolve the distinction between fantasy
and reality, embracing dreamy colours, liquid lines, sensorial textures, exaggerated
shapes, and cartoonish or characterful elements.
Beyond synthetic flights of fancy, Digitopia will also see the rise of more
sophisticated, engineered and precisely personalised products and spaces that
reduce waste and supercharge innovation. Look out for designs, aesthetics and finishes
that explore the interplay of light and shadow, as well as mirrored or ghostly designs that
seem to disappear within their environment. We will also see the rise of intricate,
digitally crafted designs and products that recall the elegance of classicism, or the
ornate flourishes of Art Nouveau.
At its heart, Digitopia is powered by great leaps in how we view and interact with the
Soorty
world around us. As such, it presents an opportunity to reimagine how design and
technology can shape that world, encompassing idealised forms of escapism, as well
as innovations that are as pragmatic as they are aesthetically pleasing.
More reading
Digitopia aligns with the following macro forecast themes:
STEPIC Drivers: Decentralised Digital Culture | Synthetic Creativity
STEPIC Innovations: Digital Duality | Adaptive Design | Conscious Subcultures | AI
Surrealism
Big Ideas: Layered Realities | Strategic Imagination
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Liquidity and flux
The concept: aquatic themes evolve with
watery liquid finishes, driven by AI artists
exploring underwater fantasy aesthetics.
#HighShine and #MutedShine treatments lend
subversive elements to denim, manifesting in
glossy and lustrous coatings.
Diesel
Fibre and yarn: use BCI, GOTS-certified and
GRS-certified cotton.
Construction and finish: while waxy,
polyurethane coatings are the go-to choice in
the industry, look for more responsible resins @osklen Louis Gabriel Nouchi

that have the least environmental impact.

At Starfades International (US), bio-sheen
creates a leather-like look. The sustainable
coating is made of 55% botanical raw materials
EGONlab.
and 45% sustainable ingredients, and is
Bluesign and ZDHC Level 3 certified. Denim
makers Paradoxe (France) #Upcycled plastic-
coated fabrics to add a wet-look finish to
reworked denim styles, giving new life to
problematic fabrics that don’t break down in
the environment.

@starfadesinternational @acnestudios @paradoxeparis

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Dual realities
The concept: driven by the ongoing influence
of Surrealism, further fuelled by the
proliferation of AI aesthetics, this wash and
weave story explores the interplay of opposites,
highlighting stark #Monochrome contrasts, as
well as light and shadow, and opaque and sheer.
@oldblueco
Fibre and yarn: source BCI, GOTS-certified and
GRS-certified cotton, and mix with recycled
elastane or small percentages of biodegradable
comfort stretch such as Candiani’s Coreva.
Construction and finish: create a hi-lo contrast @paula_einfalt Eytys

between lights and darks through yarn dye,

coatings or overdyes. Oldblue Co. (Indonesia)
creates authentic blue/black shades with an
indigo warp and black weft in denim that's
milled in Osaka, creating the optical illusion of Levi's WellThread

a blackened blue denim. Likewise, Darkpark

(Italy) works with black flock film on blue
denim to create stark contrasts when worn
down, revealing the denim underneath.
Nature Coatings (US) partnered with Levi’s
WellThread for a collection using plant-based
dyes that reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Levi’s
(US) introduced BioBlack TX, a 100% bio-based,
certified carbon-negative black pigment made @imogeneandwillie @darkpark__ Freedom Denim
from wood waste – a direct replacement for
toxic, petrol-made carbon black.

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AI pastels
The concept: as the boom in AI creativity
continues to emphasise #PowerPastel looks,
there’s a renewed interest in sweetened shades,
evolving our Elemental Blues and Soft Nature
stories from S/S 24 with gelato-inspired tones.
Fibre and yarn: source BCI, GOTS-certified and
Another Place
GRS-certified cotton. Add linen, hemp or ramie
or nettle for vegetal character.
Construction and finish: make mid-weight
denim in 8oz to 12oz, and achieve colour via
mineral dyes and contrast-colour wefts. @anchorball @tatiana_rosmarie

As mineral dyeing becomes more popular,

Rajby (Pakistan) collaborates with chemical
firm Nearchimica to develop a collection with
colours derived from soil.
Advance Denim
Crystal International Group Limited (China)
also offers indigo denim overdyed with natural
mineral dyes, with colours spanning citrus,
coral, orchid and olive derived from soil,
celadonite, hematite and grains. Naked &
Famous (Japan) was inspired by colours of the
Japanese cherry blossom season, combining a
sky-blue exterior warp with a cherry-blossom
pink interior weft that gives the denim a rosy
pastel glow. Sharabati @acnestudios Naked & Famous Denim

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Barely there
The concept: move on A/W 24/25’s Ghostly
Illusions theme with #Surrealist effects that
evolve last season’s light translucent fabrics.
Develop barely there denim wash effects that
create an imprint or a photocopied version of
images and patterns.
@voostore
Fibre and yarn: use BCI, GOTS-certified and
GRS-certified cotton.
Construction and finish: lightness and
translucency are created through #TrompeLoeil
digital prints for ghostly, otherworldly effects. @joooo.ann @madfrenzy

Our Legacy’s (Sweden) Third Cut jeans feature a

digital print of a vintage pair of jeans, creating
an optical illusion that gives the appearance of a
well-worn favourite.
M&J Group
Use denim colour and washes that look like
imprints or brass rubbings. Officina 39’s (Italy)
Recycrom Gel can create this high-contrast
look, allowing users to obtain more intense
tones than traditional dye via exhaustion,
saving on water consumption.

@officina39 Dries Van Noten Our Legacy

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Dystopian futures
The concept: Dystopian Streets and Extreme
Surface stories evolve in S/S 25, with last
season's armoured protective constructions
giving way to more engineered surfaces that
speak to #Y2K wash and weave trends.
Fibre and yarn: source GOTS-certified, BCI and
WGSN Archive
Fairtrade cotton, and GRS-certified recycled
cotton and deadstock fabrics. Pilot pre- and
post-consumer textile-to-textile recycled yarns
such as Infinited Fiber, Refibra, Circulose and
Spinnova. @tiempos.shop @nofaithstudios

Construction and finish: Y2K wash and weave

trends continue, driven by #NoughtiesNostalgia
and darker moods sweeping fashion with
apocalyptic undertones, driven by the ongoing
polycrisis. Aggressive #Y2K-influenced slub M&J Group

denims return. Explore raindrop slubs with

variegated thicknesses in the warp yarn, adding
character – especially key for youth-market
brands.
#DistressedTextures are important. Recreate
them in jacquards for a more responsible
approach, or create texture in #Upcycled,
highly worked surfaces, tapping into extreme
artisanal trends. Nien Hsing Textile Co. Ltd Diesel Stella Blu Textile

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Colour shifts
The concept: blurred, dreamy water-colour
effects update our A/W 24/25 Transformative
theme, with sprayed effects moving into organic
colour washes, ink blots and isolated splodges.
Fibre and yarn: use GOTS-certified, BCI and
Fairtrade cotton, as well as GRS-certified
@soortyenterprises
recycled cotton.
Construction and finish: painted artful effects
are created via more responsible methods, on
light to mid weights of 8oz to 12oz twills.
Isolated colour blotches add organic and serene @vrijgieterij @bigbudpress

elements to denim, while layered droplets

create a kaleidoscopic effect.
Soorty’s (Pakistan) Once Upon a Moon Rock
nature-inspired collection features unique
@yonghaju
garment finishes from responsibly sourced, bio-
based mineral pigments. Marbled pastel
overdyes are created through Officina 39's (Italy)
Aqualess Mission concept and Recycrom Gel.
And Big Bud Press's (US) hand tie-dyed denim is
completely unique – garment-dyed in Los
Angeles on US-made, NAFTA-certified fabric
using low-impact safe dyes.

@conedenim Eckhaus Latta @officina39

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Pixelated
The concept: digital glitches with #Surrealist
undertones underpin this story, which plays on
the distorting effects of AI technology, warping
perceptions of what is real and fake.
Fibre and yarn: use GOTS-certified, BCI, and
Fairtrade cotton, and GRS-certified recycled
Nien Hsing Textile Co. Ltd
cotton.
Construction and finish: this pattern-heavy
story focuses on pixelated, blocky effects.
Combine graphic Tetris-style cubes, and vary
indigo washes to create almost digital @ends.rp Knorts

#AbstractCamo effects via laser finishes.

Utilise jacquards to create broken, glitchy and
blurred-looking patterns in varying levels of
indigo, creating a graphic effect. Alternatively,
Marcelo Burlon – County of Milan
work into digital Surrealist themes. Loewe’s
(Spain) pixelated laser prints create optical
illusions out of denim, like looking at a broken
computer screen.

Loewe Louis Vuitton Arvind

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1 234
Action points
New surreal themes offer a
commercial entry point to the
trend
The #Surrealist mood permeating
fashion and denim in particular
continues, as the influence of AI
aesthetics and design increases.
Evolving previous season's Trompe L'oeil
and 3D iterations, Surrealism is
manifesting in barely there washes,
high-contrast plays on light and shadow,
and digitally distorted prints, offering a
more commercial entry point to the
trend while still playing on themes of
optical illusions
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Slubbed denim builds, driven by
Y2K wash and weave trends
#NoughtiesNostalgia and #Y2K remain
two of the biggest denim trend drivers,
especially for the youth market. Wash
and weave trends from the 2000s
continue to resonate, driven by resellers
focusing on vintage originals and young
denim makers inspired by the aesthetics
of the era. Aggressive slubs return,
bringing character to denim, while
extreme surfaces and
#DistressedTextures continue to channel
#DystopianFutures themes
Embrace AI-influenced pastels
for summer capsules
Dreamy #PowerPastel tones offer a
commercial summer wash direction,
driven by the influence of AI fantasy
aesthetics. Achieve sweetened colours
through responsibly sourced bio-based
mineral dyes, or play with contrast-
colour wefts that reveal two-tone
contrast details. Alternatively, play with
thermochromic treatments. Another
Place (Brazil) collaborated with Tinder
to produce Heat-S jeans that change
colour from pastel pink to white when
the wearer reaches 33ºC
Take a responsible approach to
high-shine finishes
Driven by AI artists exploring
underwater fantasy themes, aquatic
influences, which have been present for
several seasons, inspire watery and
liquid finishes for S/S 25. Work into
glossy #HighShine and #MutedShine
treatments on denim to add a
#SubversiveSexy element. Source
responsible resins that are eco-friendly.
Alternatively, #Upcycle deadstock
plastic-coated fabrics and scraps in
combination with denim for a more
sustainable approach
Industry credits
Advance Denim Denim Privé M Blue Raymond Denim
johan@advancedenim.com nizar@denimprive.com ipek.andac@ayyildizkumas.com denim@raymond.in
advancedenim.com mblue.com.tr raymonddenim.com
denimprive.com
Akkus Textile M&J Group Realteks Tekstil
Dynamo tugce@realteks.com.tr
akkustextile.com fatihy@denimkumas.com.tr info@mj-group.com
realteks.com
Artistic Milliners denimkumas.com.tr mj-group.com
S.M. Denim Mills
josh.knight@artisticmilliners.com Envoy Textiles Maritas Denim
artisticmilliners.com smdenim@smgroup.com.pk
manish@envoytextiles.com akayan@maritasdenim.com smdenim.com
Arvind envoytextiles.com maritasdenim.com
Sharabati Denim
viresh@arvinddenimlab.com
Fashionart Mozartex +20 482659023/24
arvind.com info@fashionartsrl.com mozartex.com.cn sharabati-denim.com
Beximco fashionartspa.com
Naveena Denim Soorty Denim
fayaz@beximtex.com
F'blue Denim Fabric info@naveenadenim.com
beximco.com eda.dikmen@soorty.com
gro.nielsen@fbluefabric.com naveenadenim.com
Blue Diamond soorty.com
gary@bluediamondglobal.net fbluefabric.com Nextevo Stella Blu Textile
bluediamondglobal.net Foison Textile nextevo.one marco@stellablutextile.com
Blue Jeans Lavanderie fionademaat@gzfoison.com Nien Hsing Textile stellablutextile.com
info@bluejeanslavanderie.it foison-textile.com
nick.li@nhjeans.com Springtex
bluejeanslavanderie.com Firemount Textiles Ltd springtex.com
firemount.mu nhjeans.com
Bossa
Tat Fung Textile
ogul@bossa.com.tr Freedom Denim Nishat Mills Ltd
bossa.com.tr michael@freedomdenim.com nishat@nishatmills.com tatfung-tex.com
freedomdenim.co nishatmillsltd.com Tavex
Calik Denim
betul.demirci@calikdenim.com Iskur Denim Officina +39 tavex.com
calikdenim.com a.venier@officina39.com
info@iskurdenim.com TCE Denim
officina39.com
Chottani alex@tcedenim.com
iskurdenim.com Orta
kinza@chottani.com tcedenim.co.kr
chottani.com Kaltex
nboni@ortaanadolu.com Tusa Denim
Cone Denim info@kaltex.com ortaanadolu.com vedatkalay@tusagroup.com.tr
pierette.scavuzzo@conedenim.com kaltex.com tusagroup.com.tr
Prosperity Textile
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conedenim.com Kassim Denim costa@prosperity-textile.com Troficolor Denim Market
prosperity-textile.com troficolor.com
Crescent Bahuman junaid.ali@kassimdenim.com Rajby Vicunha
hamza.butt@ecbl.pk safdarshah@rajbytextiles.com
kassimdenim.com m.estela@vicunha.com.br
crescentbahuman.com rajby.com
Kilim Denim vicunha.com
Denim De L'Ile Ltd
info@kilimdenim.com
jeremyw@ddi.mu
kilimdenim.com
ddi.mu
WGSN’s forecasts are created by our global team of experts
Fashion forecasting team
Helen Palmer, Head of Materials, Knit &
Textiles
Charlotte Casey, Senior Strategist,
Knitwear
Nicole Ajimal, Strategist, Materials
Victoria Bulmer, Strategist, Materials
Sara Maggioni, Head of Womenswear
Laura Yiannakou, Acting Head of
Womenswear
Kim Cupido, Senior Strategist,
Womenswear
Sithandiwe Khumalo, Strategist,
Womenswear
Nick Paget, Senior Strategist, Menswear
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Yvonne Kostiak, Head of Active
Charlotte Browning, Strategist, Active
Rebecca Saygi, Strategist, Swimwear
Jo Lynch, Strategist, Intimates
Hannah Watkins, Head of Prints &
Graphics
Rose Hudson, Strategist, Prints &
Graphics
Fanny Chow, Strategist, Prints &
Graphics
Erin Rechner, Head of Kidswear
Allison Goodfellow-Ash, Strategist,
Kidswear
Hannah Allan, Strategist, Kidswear
Jane Collins, Senior Strategist, Footwear Contributors
& Accessories
EMEA
Ana Correa, Strategist, Footwear &
Raeesa Brey, Researcher, Research Hub
Accessories
Ryan Parry, Digital Assets, Retail &
Lucila Saldana, Strategist, Footwear &
Buying Specialist
Accessories
Francisca Perez, Client Services
Urangoo Samba, Head of Colour
LATAM
Clare Smith, Strategist, Colour
Giovanna Bedinelli, Client Services
Susie Draffan, Senior Strategist, Denim
Leticia Araujo, Consultant, Creative &
Mia Jacobs, Strategist, Youth
Production
Jaeyeon Park, Strategist, Youth
Mariana Santiloni, Client Services
Rhoneil Tiburcio, Strategist, Retail
Stefany Lopes, Digital Assets
APAC
Natacia Lim, Researcher, Research Hub
Anchi Wong, Client Services
WGSN trend matrix 2025
Mapping the continuity between the themes covered in our STEPIC Drivers, STEPIC Innovations, Big Ideas
and Product Forecasts.

STEPIC STEPIC Drivers STEPIC Innovations Big Ideas A/W 24/25 S/S 25
Diversity for Survival
Forecast Forecast
The Polycrisis Era Flex-Abilities
From Personalised to Individualised

Society
Digital Duality
Decentralised
Layered Realities
Digital Culture Expanded
Adaptive Design Digitopia
Technology Imagination

Bio-Synthetic Streams
Nature As a
Resource-Ready
Environment Board Member
Sleep for Sustainability
Future Terrains Restorative Realms
Beyond Borders
Politics The Great
Migration Urgent Optimism
All the Rage

Industry
Future Mining Inter-Actions Common Connections
The Second Preservation
Space Age Mode
The End of Abundance
Creativity

Conscious Subcultures
Synthetic Strategic
Creativity Imagination
AI Surrealism

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WGSN 2025 forecast schedule
Your guide to when WGSN's 2025 forecast reports will be published.

STEPIC STEPIC Big Future Personas/Product Product

Drivers Innovations Ideas Consumer Opportunities Forecasts

The six global macro- The 12 areas of innovation
economic drivers that that will lead transformation
will shape 2025, and across industries in 2025 and
strategies for success their implications for
business, culture and design
STEPIC Drivers and STEPIC
Innovations contextualised
for the fashion, beauty,
interiors, food and drink,
and consumer tech
industries
The key consumer
sentiments and profiles
that will disrupt
industries in 2025
The Future Consumer
profiles contextualised for
the beauty, food and drink,
consumer tech and
interiors industries
Product Forecasts present
the design directions for
each industry and product
category, with more than
80 reports throughout the
year across WGSN

Business Strategy Business & Product Strategy Product Strategy Business & Consumer Strategy Consumer Strategy Product Strategy
Insight Insight, Fashion, Beauty, Interiors, Fashion, Beauty, Interiors, Insight Beauty, Food & Drink, Fashion, Beauty, Interiors,
Food & Drink, Consumer Tech Food & Drink, Consumer Tech Consumer Tech, Interiors Food & Drink, Consumer Tech

November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 January- February 2023 December 2022 -
September 2023

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