In an exclusive interview, Carla Buzasi, CEO of WGSN, a globally renowned trend forecasting agency, shared her insights on the future of the fashion industry. “After thorough analysis and prediction, sustainability and AI are emerging as pivotal trends shaping the global fashion landscape,” she stated.
The 2024 WGSN Fashion Future Conference took place on October 23 in the Keqiao District of Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. The event, themed “Reshape,” attracted global industry leaders and representatives from the textile sector, all gathered to discuss transformative changes and future trends in fashion.
Sun Ruizhe, president of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, emphasized, “Fashion is a pursuit of happiness and beauty for all humanity.” He highlighted that the current wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation is rapidly progressing, leading to a fundamental reshaping of the fashion industry’s underlying logic and ecosystem. “To advance the global fashion industry, we must create platforms for communication through openness, refine the development ecosystem through collaboration, and strengthen innovative momentum through creativity.”
The connection between fashion and textile is undeniable, and predicting fashion trends is a focal point for the industry. At the conference, the “2025 Fabric Trends” report revealed that “regeneration” is the key term, with expectations for the emergence of more renewable materials in the future. Attendees advocated for leveraging modern technology to transform old fabrics into new fashion items, promoting a circular economy.
Buzasi pointed out that in today’s world, people are increasingly leaning toward healthy and sustainable lifestyles. She noted that future trends would see clothing fabric brands opting for synthetic biological materials to minimize environmental pollution and energy consumption. Additionally, technology and creativity are becoming tightly woven together, particularly in how AI is empowering the fabric sector by fostering new materials and enhancing smart shopping experiences.
Simone Bianconcini, former artistic director of the Italian luxury brand Gucci, contributed his perspective by stating that luxury items are integral to the fashion industry. He highlighted that luxury consumers seek a unique value and personalized service in their purchases. Bianconcini believes that sustainable development is essential for the future of luxury, encompassing innovation in fabrics and recycling.
Contemporary consumers’ diverse demands are also accelerating transformation in the fashion sector. According to the “2025 Future Consumer Trends” analysis presented at the conference, consumers are likely to become more introspective and engage in emotional spending. For instance, an increasing number of Chinese consumers are embracing new travel experiences such as city walks, short getaways, and rural tourism to enrich their lives.
Garment and luggage design should reflect these evolving consumer needs, as illustrated by Ma Ruiguo, president of Samsonite Greater China. He noted that younger consumers are leaning toward travel bags that are smaller, more colorful, stylish, and made from sustainable materials. “Therefore, from the earliest stages of product design, it’s crucial to consider consumers’ needs and utilize innovative technology and concepts to develop more lightweight, durable, and fashionable products.”
The conference venue, Keqiao, boasts the title of “the largest textile distribution center in the world,” known as China Light Textile City, and nurtures a comprehensive textile industry chain. Notably, Keqiao has hosted the “Keqiao Fashion Week” for the past decade and has introduced fashion platforms like the China-Italy Future Fashion Innovation Center, cultivating over a hundred mid-to-high-end creative design talents.
