Hey before I ask you guys for opionions just have to introduce myself to the UK subforums here on tshirtforums. Am v new to the industry but learning every day
Back to the topic; what trends of t shirts do you think will become popular within the next 1/2 years here in the uk? I get the immpression brand wise people stick to the majors (Gio Gio, Superdry etc) that are mass produced hence cheap and always on sale i.e. value for money
Do you think the affliction inspired skulls ans gothic designs will cross over here from the US? I mean it happened to a degree with Ed Hardy. Ive been based in 4 major cities in England and there does to be a growing number of ppl spending more per branded garment from premium labels like Ed hardy, Elvis Jesus (upo and coming), amplified etc
I think skulls are becoming a staple part of tshirt fasion. As long as you find new ways of presenting them. For instance I noticed teenaged girls wearing skull motifs that has little bows on the side of the skull head and had hearts in the place of eyes and also had lipstick mouths.
I'm putting skulls in my next line but I'm making them look less threatening.
havent you noticed that the upper end of t shirt market in this country are less likely to go for loud/garish/bold designs comapred to the US where things like all over prints, bright colours, large logos tend to appear on even premium streetwear brands (Affliction, Konquest Clothing, Ed Hardy etc) and sell well
Just been doing market research into England and whilst it is true loud designs sell well the buyer tends to be more of the high st buyer (top shop, ASOS, topman, zara, river island etc) rather than the premium buyer who in this country sticks to upmarket couture brands (Armani, Viv Westwood, etc)
havent you noticed that the upper end of t shirt market in this country are less likely to go for loud/garish/bold designs comapred to the US where things like all over prints, bright colours, large logos tend to appear on even premium streetwear brands (Affliction, Konquest Clothing, Ed Hardy etc) and sell well
Just been doing market research into England and whilst it is true loud designs sell well the buyer tends to be more of the high st buyer (top shop, ASOS, topman, zara, river island etc) rather than the premium buyer who in this country sticks to upmarket couture brands (Armani, Viv Westwood, etc)
I've noticed that the louder colours that maybe clash a little more (that's my sujective view) tend to be on the cheap side of things. I'm a fan of the clean and simple design.
How do you conduct your market research? I's it just a case of walking around shops or do you have a more methodical approach?
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Attempting to compete with mainstream commercial enterprises and the designs they are currently purveying isn't a practical proposition, as they will always utilise cheap labour in other countries and use the money saved on production to offer higher profit margins to retailers. There are always underlying reasons other than design elements, as to why particular products are pushed into mainstream focus.
Speaking from a design perspective, many of the tees that are selling out there at the moment are complete and utter trot. People generally behave in a 'herd instinct' and just buy what everyone else is wearing. In that context, individuality just goes straight out of the window. The t-shirt trend for 2010 will be whatever the marketing departments of the big players decide it will be.
Interesting thread, a subject we are all doubtless pondering...
I think 2010 fashion in the UK will be a late starter due to the bad weather. No-one is yet ready for the new (Spring) when it feels like we've not yet got rid of the old (Winter).
What will really decide the big 2010 trends will be if we have a good Spring or not. The fluoro/neon/nu rave trends we saw a couple of years ago were down to a banging wave of good weather, and unfortunately i don't think this will happen again in 2010. I think things will still have an 80's flavour, with the large baggy T's we've seen in '09, but themes will be more subdued.
As for US styles crossing the pond, i think garments will definitely cross over, such as the baggy T's mentioned, but designs won't. UK design tastes are a lot different to US design tastes and UK consumers demand a more contemporary style, whereas the US seems to be somewhat stuck in the full colour 'Airwaves' style.
But it's definitely something to keep a close eye on, because as we all know, anything could happen!
Big Love,
TSD xx
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Interesting thread, a subject we are all doubtless pondering...
I think 2010 fashion in the UK will be a late starter due to the bad weather. No-one is yet ready for the new (Spring) when it feels like we've not yet got rid of the old (Winter).
What will really decide the big 2010 trends will be if we have a good Spring or not. The fluoro/neon/nu rave trends we saw a couple of years ago were down to a banging wave of good weather, and unfortunately i don't think this will happen again in 2010. I think things will still have an 80's flavour, with the large baggy T's we've seen in '09, but themes will be more subdued.
As for US styles crossing the pond, i think garments will definitely cross over, such as the baggy T's mentioned, but designs won't. UK design tastes are a lot different to US design tastes and UK consumers demand a more contemporary style, whereas the US seems to be somewhat stuck in the full colour 'Airwaves' style.
But it's definitely something to keep a close eye on, because as we all know, anything could happen!
Big Love,
TSD xx
I think another reason why the US are "louder" (as in oversized prints, front+back prints, distressed/mineral washed fabrics, rhinestones etc) compared to here is simply because its alot cheaper to produce those types of designs in the US due to the greater choice of machinery + plant needed available to clothing companies there (screen printing equip + inks, DTG printers, CAMs machines etc).
In the UK we simply do not have as much choice availeble and therefore the market is less competitive meaning higher production costs = more miminal, less complex designs.
Interesting theory about the weather influencing trends to an extent btw though I think the above is more of a factor.
I think another reason why the US are "louder" (as in oversized prints, front+back prints, distressed/mineral washed fabrics, rhinestones etc) compared to here is simply because its alot cheaper to produce those types of designs in the US due to the greater choice of machinery + plant needed available to clothing companies there (screen printing equip + inks, DTG printers, CAMs machines etc).
In the UK we simply do not have as much choice availeble and therefore the market is less competitive meaning higher production costs = more miminal, less complex designs.
Hey hotmale4yu
Hmmm that's an argument i've never even heard before and i've been involved in the t-shirt industry for a very long time. We've never ever felt that we couldn't produce certain designs/looks/effects due to a lack of machinery/equipment in this country making it more expensive/difficult.
Being a designer, restrictions have never been placed on me along the lines of your theory, to dictate what i can and can't design.
For a long time my company offered these loud prints, rhinestones etc, but the UK just doesn't want the same kind of design as the US consumes. Its more bout the personality behind the designs rather than the technicality.
The UK has a much more wry understated sense of style than the open, heart-on-the-sleeve US style. And when they do want all out in your face design, its usually because they are being ironic, so again, the design 'personality' is different.
But i was really interested by your argument, and hearing something totally new, so thanks for your post hotmale4yu, i'd be really intrigued to know if anyone else echoes your assertions, because if so, it would be a real eye opener.
Discussion is so refreshing!
Big Love,
TSD x
__________________ teeshirtsdirect.com A UK-based online retailer specialising in custom printing garments to order. Albums / Website
Couple of really interesting points made here. I have been designing for t-shirts and screenprinting since around 2005 but have only just made the leap to try and launch a brand, hoping to drop a first line this spring.
I know at the moment in London the on the pulse tee brands are A.IN.T (Art in Transit) and Trapstar. These are fairly new brands who are on the frontlines of the streetwear culture. I'm not sure if 2010 trends will follow the styles they use but I dont think it will vary much. If anything like somebody mentioned before I think designs will deffinatly be more subtle but not necesserely simple. I think Large prints creative prints will continue, I dont think the big A2 screened prints are finished at all.
My prediction would be less multicolour prints and more strong one or two colour designs. I think colour may not be completely subtle but used to more effect instead, out with the 80's CMYK prints and in with clever use fluro lime greens and oranges used more simply alongside strong dark linework or graphics and dark garments. I think T-shirt colours are also going to be effected by the mood of 2010 as mentioned above, People are not going to be walking around with white or pastel colour tshirts in miserable weather. I can picture Darker fabric colours being popular - Black, Charcoal greys, Army greens, Deepbrowns ect.
Just an idea anyway. Have a look at A.IN.T and Trapstar, might help you to understand what im rambling on about.
British T Shirt trends for 2010? 
Re: British T Shirt trends for 2010? 
