Siobhan Bradfield

Print Trends

Collage of the Splash Paris Resortwear Show, October 2025. Includes a pink garment with "Kulani Kinis" logo, an elegant building with "SPLASH" banners, an indoor fashion display with racks of clothing, and a vibrant floral pattern in pink and blue. "SS26" is shown in the top right corner.

Splash Paris 2025

Splash Paris – The Premium Resortwear Tradeshow October 2025 Everywhere you turned at Splash Paris, one thing stood out – the brands drawing the biggest crowds weren’t necessarily the biggest names. They were the ones with clarity. You could spot their identity from ten steps away. The magic? A signature print direction that felt unmistakably theirs. As a freelance designer and print consultant, I went to Splash Paris to soak in the creative energy, see what’s next in textile and surface design, and connect with the pulse of the fashion world. What I didn’t expect was how clearly this pattern emerged – consistency, not complexity, was commanding attention. The Scene at Splash Paris Imagine a sea of colour, texture, and pattern — from delicate florals to bold abstracts, from whisper-soft neutrals to unapologetic brights. But among hundreds of prints, only a few booths stopped people in their tracks.   These weren’t necessarily the trendiest. They were focused. Each print echoed the next, telling a single, cohesive story. Whether it was a brand built around romantic hand-painted botanicals or one with sharp graphic geometrics, the effect was the same – immediate recognition.     And that’s the quiet power of a signature print: it builds visual memory. When your audience can recognise your work without seeing your logo, you’ve crossed into true brand territory. What Small Brands Often Get Wrong Small fashion brands often fall into the trap of trying to please everyone. One collection leans earthy and minimal, the next bursts into tropical brights, the next goes pastel and delicate. The result? No visual thread — and no identity to hold onto.   I hear it often: “We just want to offer variety.” Variety isn’t bad. But without cohesion, it becomes noise. In a world of visual overload, clarity is what cuts through. Why Your Signature Print Matters A signature print is more than a pattern — it’s a visual anchor for your brand. It’s how your audience recognises you across collections, lookbooks, and campaigns. It communicates your aesthetic faster than words can. Think of it as your brand’s fingerprint — the repeated story that becomes unmistakably yours. And when you stay consistent, it doesn’t limit creativity; it amplifies it. The best print-led brands evolve within their own language – adding nuance, not chaos. Quick Win: Define Your Print Identity in One Afternoon Here’s a simple exercise you can do today: Pull up your last three collections or moodboards. Lay them side by side — either digitally or printed out. Ask yourself: What visual thread repeats naturally? Is it your love of hand-drawn lines, coastal colour palettes, vintage-inspired florals, or geometric shapes? Choose one to lean into for your next collection.   That one decision will create cohesion. You’ll start attracting buyers and clients who instantly “get” you — and stay loyal because of that visual trust. From Splash Paris to Your Brand Standing there at Splash Paris, I was reminded how discipline creates desire. The most magnetic brands were the ones who knew their DNA – and translated it, season after season, through print. If you’re a small brand building your next collection, this is your moment to define your signature. Don’t chase trends – curate your identity.   If you’d love guidance finding that print direction — or you’re ready for custom artwork that tells your brand story — email me at in**@**************ld.com for new prints or to chat about your next print concept.

Splash Paris 2025 Weiterlesen »

Collage from Premiere Vision July 2025. Top left: vibrant fabric displays in Hall 6. Top right: fashion color palette board for AW25/26. Bottom left: color swatch cards. Bottom right: colorful patterned fabrics on display. Atmosphere is lively and creative.

Premiere Vision July 2025

Print Trends that will shape swim & activewear 2026 Premiere Vision Paris From Paris to Your Collection: Print Trends That Will Shape Swim & Activewear in 2026 Paris in September always buzzes with creativity. Designers, studios, and innovators gather for Première Vision and Paris Prints, two of the biggest events in the textile and surface design world. These shows set the tone for what’s next in fashion — from colours and fabrics to prints and textures. This year, I couldn’t make it in person. But thanks to digital reports and insider insights, I’ve gathered the highlights for you — and more importantly, how they apply to swim and activewear prints. Because while it’s fun to know what’s trending, the real value comes in translating global ideas into collections that actually sell for small brands like yours. Why Trade Show Trends Matter (Even If You Can’t Be There) If you’re running a swim or activewear brand, it can feel like you’re constantly juggling: product development, marketing, logistics, customer service. Trend forecasting often falls to the bottom of the list. But here’s the thing: being in tune with the direction the market is heading helps your brand stay fresh and relevant. Your customers might not know the names of trend themes from Paris — but they feel when a collection is current, and that’s what makes them buy. That’s where I come in. My job as a textile & print designer is to keep my finger on the pulse of these fairs and filter the noise into clear, actionable creative directions for your brand. The Three Big Themes from Paris This season’s reports highlighted three major directions for Autumn/Winter 2026–27 — and each of them offers exciting possibilities for swim and activewear. 1. New Dynasties Think heritage meets futurism. Prints are influenced by architecture, archives, and subcultures like punk or goth — but with a refined, modern edge. Metallic touches, brushed silvers, and bold pops of electric blue are leading the way. – For swim & activewear: Imagine geometric or architectural motifs reimagined in bold, sleek lines. Or a classic floral, but outlined with a futuristic metallic accent. These prints bring a feeling of strength and edge — perfect for activewear that wants to project power and performance. 2. Ego-Eco This theme blends wellbeing and eco-consciousness. It’s all about caring — for our bodies and the environment. Prints draw on biomimicry and natural forms: water ripples, foliage, organic textures. Colours are soft, calming, and translucent, creating a sense of comfort and restoration. – For swim & activewear: Think about soothing, nature-inspired prints that still feel dynamic in movement. Ripple effects across swim fabrics, or leafy abstracts scaled to flow with the body. For eco-conscious brands, this is the perfect way to visually connect sustainability with style.   3. Territories of Expression Personal storytelling and identity take center stage here. Prints look artisanal, imperfect, and deeply human — painterly brushstrokes, collage-like layers, cultural motifs. It’s about connection and individuality, not mass-market sameness. – For swim & activewear: Imagine activewear sets with brushstroke textures that look hand-painted, or swimwear featuring motifs inspired by travel and culture. These designs feel authentic and unique, giving your customers a story to wear.   Why These Trends Matter for Small Brands Here’s the real takeaway: you don’t have to chase every trend. In fact, trying to cover them all can dilute your collection. What matters is choosing the right thread of inspiration and translating it into a cohesive direction for your brand. For example: If your brand is all about performance and empowerment → New Dynasties could give your prints a bold, futuristic edge. If your audience values wellness and sustainability → Ego-Eco motifs will resonate deeply. If your brand is lifestyle-driven and storytelling-focused → Territories of Expression gives you the chance to stand out with prints no one else has. This is the magic of trade show insights: they’re not just abstract concepts — they’re tools to help you design collections that connect with your customers and move your business forward.   My Behind-the-Scenes Process When I work with clients, I don’t just copy/paste what’s trending. Instead, I: Research across shows, reports, and forecasting platforms. Moodboard the most relevant themes for your brand. Refine colours, motifs, and layouts to work with stretch fabrics and your brand’s unique identity. Design a print collection that feels cohesive, market-ready, and unmistakably you. This means you don’t have to stress about “what’s in” or wonder if your prints will feel dated. You can focus on your business, knowing your collection is ahead of the curve.   Ready to Bring Paris to Your Brand? You didn’t have to hop on a plane to Paris this season — and honestly, you don’t need to. That’s my role: to absorb what’s happening globally and translate it into designs that work for your swim or activewear line. If you’re ready for a collection that feels fresh, cohesive, and truly market-ready, let’s chat. Reach out today and let’s explore how these global print trends can transform your next launch.

Premiere Vision July 2025 Weiterlesen »

Interview poster titled "Print Stories with Linda for her brand 'Chocolat Couture’" featuring two women outdoors, with a calm and professional tone.

Interview with my client Linda

Let me introduce you to my client Linda and her sustainable petite clothing brand Chocolat Couture. I have recently worked with Linda – a very kind person and dream client of mine! I connected with Linda through Vicki my friend, colleague and recently freelance coach. Working closely with Linda on the print was really fun – her inspiration for the print was the Glacier National Park. It turned out to be such a beautiful print with shades of blue, marble textures and gold elements. What I really appreciate and find totally amazing about Linda’s collection is that she puts so much effort into every detail. Making a print for her small brand and first collection, was a great experience and I am so excited how the print will turn out and can’t wait until the first collection of Chocolat Couture will launch. Meet Linda from Chocolat Couture 🙂 Siobhan: Linda, as it was so exciting to work with you and get a feeling what your collection is about – I loved making a print design for you. I feel that your brand and your first collection is very important to you. Can you tell us a little bit more about your brand Chocolat Couture, the concept and inspiration behind it? Linda: Thank you for your kind words, Siobhan! Working with you was a pleasure too! Chocolat Couture has a special meaning to me that goes beyond just a brand name. It represents the emotional connection that chocolate can bring to our lives. I was inspired by the sense of belonging and connection I felt during my early career when my mentors and I shared chocolates during team meetings. My goal with Chocolat Couture is to offer sustainable, high-quality clothing that promotes confidence and comfort to petite women who struggle to find clothing that fits their unique frames. I believe that building confidence is important and can be achieved by learning and gaining new perspectives. Personally, traveling has been a transformative experience that has sparked my creativity and imagination. That’s why I’ve decided to focus on resort wear for my brand. I am excited to incorporate unique textures and details into my designs and grateful to have found your design style that perfectly aligns with my vision. Thank you for being a part of this exciting journey! Siobhan: Can you tell us a little bit more about the process behind your first collection? And how you choose which garments to include? Was it clear from the beginning or was it hard to decide what to include?   Linda: Our first collection is made up of three garments, a dress, a top, and pants, all designed to create a versatile and sustainable capsule travel wardrobe. We wanted to create garments that were not only stylish and comfortable but also sustainable, and this meant spending a lot of time researching fabrics, trims, and colors.   To be honest, I didn’t have a clear plan from the beginning. I knew I wanted to include a dress, but I was unsure about the other garments to include. Through research and feedback, I learned that people tend to buy more tops than dresses, which is why we decided to include a top and pants that could be mixed and matched with the dress to create a range of outfits.   Choosing which garments to include was a challenge as I wanted to strike a balance between style, versatility, and sustainability. With the help of my sister and your guidance and Vicki’s advice on textile prints and Tech Packs, we were able to refine our designs and create a versatile travel wardrobe that can be used in different settings.   I believe that collaboration is key, and I am grateful for the support and feedback that I received throughout the process. It has been an exciting journey, and I am proud of what we have achieved with our first collection. Siobhan: Linda, as I am so excited about the launch of your first collection and can’t wait to see how they will look in real life -When will the launch of your first collection be? And how do customers sign up for the presale? Linda: Thank you so much for asking, Siobhan! I’m beyond excited for the launch of my first collection as well. Currently, we’re in the sampling and fit sessions phase, and we are launching in Spring 2024. To stay informed, you can visit our website at www.chocolatcouture.studio and sign up for our newsletter. By subscribing to our email list, you will receive exclusive offers and updates on our collection, as well as a free online clothing shopping guide. This guide is filled with helpful tips on identifying high-quality clothing and avoiding red flags when shopping online. In addition to our newsletter, you can also follow us on social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest at @chocolatcouture_. We enjoy engaging with our followers and sharing behind-the-scenes of our creative process and sustainability efforts. Thank you for your support! Siobhan: I know you are so excited about your first collection – what are your future plans – Is there already a second collection planned? Linda: While we are still focused on launching our first collection, we are definitely excited about the future and exploring ideas for a second collection. At this stage, we are in the inspiration and ideation phase, brainstorming and researching to come up with unique and sustainable designs. Our goal is to continue to create versatile pieces that offer both style and comfort for petite women who struggle to find clothing that fits their unique frames! Siobhan: I really love the print that I made for you with the idea and concept and especially the colours with the blue shades and the gold colours. Was there a reason why you wanted the print in a blue colour?  Linda: Thank you for the compliment on the print, Siobhan! I’m glad to hear that you love it. I also wanted to thank you

Interview with my client Linda Weiterlesen »

Collage with abstract and natural elements: a blue marbled bodysuit, crystal, icy textures, and serene lake scene. Text reads "AW 24/25" and "Coloro 129-35-18.

Colour of the Year 2025: Future Dusk

WGSN and Coloro have announced their colour of the year 2025. Future Dusk has a mystical character and plays with the themes of escapism and change. It is a hue between blue and purple. The colour is with the code Coloro 129-35-18. Purple has always been a colour that speaks to mystical themes – being a colour of spirituality. Future Dusk has a relation to that but goes deeper in a way that includes technical themes that play a role in our life and will be much more present in the future. We are already experiencing deeper connections to tech themes compared to the world before Corona – everything made a jump with people working at home and seeing each other digitally even more – giving the world even a stronger sense in regard to globalisation. Future Dusk touches on topics like AI generated content – as well giving a secure and calm vibe in contrast – as blue is known to be a calm, cold and grounding colour. In this world that is progressing digitally rapidly fast and inflation is taking it’s place – colours have an influence – what kind of print is being used. What kind of colours people are wearing. It has an immediate impact on how people feel. Blue has always been a colour that has an calming effect and stands for a reliable and confident expression. For prints blue is a good combination with other colours – depending on the shade it can be combined with many other colours and can give a print design just the calm composition that is needed to reassure the customer in this uncertain world. Click here to find out how to work with me on new prints for your swim or activewear collection including Future Dusk as a calming but still mystical colour – making the customer curious to buy your clothes. Photos: Canva Finding the right colour for prints can be a long process and development. Trends can help to make this decision easier and faster. Whether you are looking for a pattern that is an addition to your current swim or activewear collection or you are looking for new prints for your upcoming collection – I’ve got you. I work in Illustrator and Photoshop with hand-drawn and digitally-drawn flowers and other elements. Are you wondering how to translate this trend into print design ideas? Let me help you with a custom print for your brand – click here to contact me and learn more about working together. Giving an idea of what topics and elements could relate to this trend: futuristic elements, the mystic trend theme, marble prints, including gradients vs sharp edges in abstract prints, and transparencies using dark colours. Write me an email at in**@**************ld.com to book a free inquiry call.

Colour of the Year 2025: Future Dusk Weiterlesen »

A collage from Premiere Vision July 2024: Left shows a person indoors with industrial background. Middle features green floral fabric samples. Right displays a text panel.

Print Trends

Première Vision Juli 2024 Lass mich dir von meinem Besuch bei der Première Vision im Juli 2024 erzählen. Es war eine unglaublich inspirierende Zeit in Paris – die ganze Stadt sprühte vor Kreativität und Energie. Man konnte spüren, dass Paris in einem besonderen Rhythmus vibrierte, während überall Vorbereitungen für die Olympischen Spiele im Gange waren.   Ein Besuch auf der Première Vision ist jedes Mal ein besonderes Erlebnis – nicht nur für Designerinnen, sondern auch für kleine Marken und Gründerinnen, die ihre eigene Kollektion entwickeln möchten.     Gerade als Markeninhaberin oder jemand, der plant, sein eigenes Label aufzubauen, ist es essenziell, Recherche zu betreiben und den Produktionsprozess genau zu verstehen. In diesem Jahr gab es acht Themenwelten, in denen man alles entdecken konnte, was man zur Entwicklung seiner Kollektionen braucht – von Produktion und nachhaltigen Stoffinnovationen bis hin zu Textildesigns und Trendimpulsen. Besonders spannend fand ich die Talks zu nachhaltigen Materialien. Vor allem im Bereich Swimwear, in dem traditionell Polyester und Nylon dominieren, gewinnen nachhaltige Alternativen zunehmend an Bedeutung. Ein Beispiel ist Econyl, ein recycelter Nylonstoff, der aus Abfällen aus Deponien und Ozeanen gewonnen wird. Ebenso interessant ist Repreve, ein Material, das aus recycelten Plastikflaschen hergestellt wird. Beide Stoffe zeigen, dass nachhaltige Swimwear nicht nur möglich, sondern auch ästhetisch und funktional überzeugend ist. Wenn du wissen möchtest, wie eine Zusammenarbeit mit mir aussieht, lies gerne einen meiner letzten Blogbeiträge – dort erzähle ich von einem Projekt mit meiner Kundin Linda. Collage von der Première Vision Juli 2024: links eine Person in industrieller Umgebung, in der Mitte grüne florale Stoffmuster, rechts eine Texttafel.

Print Trends Weiterlesen »

A collage from Premiere Vision July 2024: Left shows a person indoors with industrial background. Middle features green floral fabric samples. Right displays a text panel.

Premiere Vision July 2024

Let me tell you about my visit at Premiere Vision in July 2024. Such an exciting time in Paris – taking all this creative energy and visiting Premiere Vision. You could feel the city vibing in a different pace – preparing everything for the upcoming Olympic Games.  Visiting Premiere Vision can be such an inspiring event for designers but also for small brands.  As a brand owner or someone who is planning to start their own brand it is essential to do research and be familiar with the production process.    This time there were 8 universes to discover what you need to develop your collections.  From manufacturing, sustainable fabric selections and textile designs.  I found the talks about sustainable fabrics very fascinating. Especially in swimwear where fabrics like polyester and nylon are mostly used there are alternatives and sustainable swimwear fabrics have gained more popularity. Econyl is one of these sustainable fabrics and it is made from regenerated nylon collected from landfills and oceans. Another fabric is Repreve, that is made out of recycled plastic bottles. Do you want to know how it is working with me? Check out one of my last blog posts with my client Linda here.

Premiere Vision July 2024 Weiterlesen »

A collage with silver star confetti, pastel pink-gold marbled swimsuit, silhouette of person by a curtain, ocean sunset with a crescent moon, and golden stars on black, labeled "SS24.

Mystic Print Trend SS24

This is a special print trend that I fell instantly in love with. Because I am a big fan of astrology this trend is one that is close to my heart and I am about to make many prints out of it. It is a trend regarding the stars, the moon, the sun and the universe. It touches on astrological themes and is related to a mystical feeling. As the stars are so far from us we can only imagine how they would look close up. This trend emerged from people feeling stressed, having anxiety, it is a longing for calmness and a sense of bringing nature closer again. It is a trend that is not specifically tied to one season, it is something that occurred in the past and will be seen in the future because it is a topic that is present at all times. Prints that are suitable for this trend: Colours that can be naturally combined with this topic are blue, yellow, even gold and silver – giving the print a mystical feeling. But also calm colours like a terra cotta peach. Because this is a summer trend I do also recommend using bright colours with for example white backgrounds. Aesthetics that I recommend for prints are: making use of elements, like stars, the moon, clouds, structures like marble that excite and give a sense of magic and mystic. Fine lines in contrast to abstract colours. Playing with items and categorising in star signs is a wonderful way to give your customer something customised and special. Are you excited about this trend and want to have prints that are magical and will bring you in more sales? But you are unsure what the prints could look like? Lets talk – write me an email at in**@**************ld.com and see how we can work together.

Mystic Print Trend SS24 Weiterlesen »

Collage of The London Textile Fair 2023. Top left: colorful fabrics on racks. Middle: purple event flyer. Top right: busy interior of the venue. Bottom left: Trendhub overview brochure. Bottom right: exterior of Business Design Centre.

The London Textile Fair 09/2023

This year I visited the London Textile Fair in September 2023 What I learned from my visit at the London Textile fair last month: **Networking:**it can be an amazing opportunity to speak to people in the fashion industry and make contacts. Even if at this stage it won’t benefit you, you never know what can come from it down the way, work or collaboration on textile collections. Also a big plus is just chatting with people you don’t know – it definitely gave me practice going more out of my comfort zone. **Trends:**this was unexpected and made me very happy – finding the trend seminar held by BDA London. At the seminar, I learned about upcoming trends in fashion and in textile & prints for AW 24/25 for womenswear and menswear. It’s not just about trends but also learning what is happening in the fashion and textile & print industry so I can give my clients the best advice and pass on what I’ve learned. **Research:**researching what kind of studios show there, looking up the program and researching the names. Maybe there could be a collaboration in the future. Seeing what kind of fabrics are on the market, how are they displayed? Are there a lot of visitors? Although there are also a lot of opportunities to research this online, it was a good way for me to gain more knowledge of fabric, suppliers and trends. Is it worth visiting? It really depends if you are close to London or not and if you are a brand or a freelancer. For brands I think it could be a great way to get into contact with different suppliers to source fabric and get more info on what kind of fabrics are on the market. If you are a small brand it might be good to see fabrics in real life and make yourself common with fabrics that might work for your collection. Many suppliers at the fair have a concentration fabrics without prints. For only prints, I would recommend visiting the London Design Fair, Paris Prints or Premiere Vision. But Premiere Vision is quite a different story and a very special print fair that I wouldn’t miss going to. Find my experiences on one of my last blog posts here. Are you a swim or activewear brand looking for a new print? Let’s talk about what kind of print could be suitable to make your brand more visible to new customers. Write me an email to in**@**************ld.com to learn more about how we could work on your next textile design.

The London Textile Fair 09/2023 Weiterlesen »

Vibrant exhibition hall with colorful abstract panels and wooden structures on a blue floor. People are seated nearby. Bright, modern atmosphere.

Premiere Vision Paris February 2022

Premiere Vision Paris!! I was there!! Attending the show as a visitor Two days Paris – what felt like a dream after ages of not travelling abroad because of Covid. I took all my courage (it felt so strange travelling with all the restrictions and my bad conscience about taking the risk.) just booked a flight and went. It was amazing. Amazing seeing so many prints, printed fabrics and print studios showcasing and selling their prints. It was emptier than usual and people from India and China did not attend the show that much. Hopefully next time in July everything will be more back to normal. I talked to so many new people, made so many new contacts and it was really wonderful and inspiring to see all those beautiful prints and fabrics. The fair had three different halls and also a lot more fabrics, textiles and accessories besides printed fabrics and print designs. There was a whole section about sustainability and natural dying methods. There were fashion talks about trends, fabric sourcing, sustainability and much more. They even had a job board where you could see boards of jobs in design, sales and marketing and you could check out the pr code that took you to the job offer website. All in all, I am so happy to have made this journey and this experience. This lovely photo was taken with It´s Monday at their stand – loved meeting Debora and Anna from Barcelona!! #theartandheartoffashion #printstudios #printedfabric #printdesigner #textiledesigner #surfacedesigner #freelanceprintdesigner  #surfacepatterndesign #repeatpattern #designer #fabricpattern #contemporaryart #patterninspiration #patternlove #printlife #digitalprint #designer #patterninspiration 

Premiere Vision Paris February 2022 Weiterlesen »