The amalgamation of different textures
. Instead of the traditional pairing of color, black and white, or white and brown, maximalism is all about layering on. Patchwork is all about the creative and artistic combination of color, mixing, and matching. The amalgamation of different textures to create something bright and full of life, the very essence of spring.
Patchwork is the very essence of maximalism. This trend is about mixing and combining various colors on a single cloth. Though complex to master when gotten right, a good piece of patchwork will stand out anywhere. Patchwork started as a means of austerity to extend the life of torn clothes. However, the influence of hippie culture that had traditional patchwork as a fashion style caught on with mainstream and high-end designers, and the technique has become a fashion favorite. Used by designers such as Natalia Goncharova and Norman Hartnell, patchwork has become an established fashion technique in the world of fashion. Famous designers like “Alice + Olivia, Diane Von Furstenberg and Libertine took patchwork clothes and elevated them” (Lanquist, 2018). Patchwork garments can be found in many clothing stores such as Zara and Maje and Sandro-Paris.
Spring is the season of rebirth, regrowth, and rejuvenation. It is when flowers begin to bloom after months of winter. Spring and summer are the seasons of color, and patchwork is the embodiment of creative, spontaneous, and freedom in the use of color. Spring is a time for outdoor and fun activities, and patchwork is the trend for this. According to Lindsey Lanquist (2019) of StyleCaster, “flowy patchwork dresses, patchwork maxi skirts and other similarly dreamy, similarly bohemian things you might wear to the park, or a picnic, or some other kind of outdoor activity.” Spring patchwork commonly uses bright color patches in the garment to bring out the colors of spring. Yellow, light blue, pink, bright red, and white are the most commonly used colors in spring patchwork. These colors are the bright colors seen in nature, for example, in flowers and leaves.
Patchwork will be a trend during spring because of how it embodies nature during spring. Spring is a season for outdoor activities, color, and life, and patchwork expresses all these qualities. Also, with fashion moving more and more towards appreciation for creativity, novelty, and defiance of old norms of fashion, patchwork will find a niche for itself because it has all the characteristics. It is not a rigid trend because designers can come up with many different patchwork designs that appeal to the wide customer base. This trend can be used for all types of clothing, from hats, shirts, dresses, shoes, and trousers. The trend can be used for children’s clothing, young adults, adults, and even older people. This dynamism and range of applications for patchwork will see it trend during spring.