TRENDS // WOOL LAB - A/W 2016-17

The Woolmark brand is the world’s best-known textile fibre brand and is owned by The Woolmark Company, the world’s leading wool textile organization. The value of the brand is well established and highly regarded across the world in the apparel, interior textiles and home laundry sectors. To learn more about the company and brand, go here. 

The Wool Lab, a seasonal guide to the most inspiring wool trends and best products, is created to inspire and inform fashion professionals regarding the infinite potential of Merino wool. A trendbook and a sourcing guide, the tool is the result of extensive research undertaken by The Woolmark Company through its global network to select the best wool products worldwide and identify the emerging trends emerging from fashion, design, art, pop culture, music and other fields.

The Wool Lab is created each season in collaboration with the world’s most innovative and quality-oriented spinners and weavers. It is a collection of the most beautiful wool products, commercially available, and in line with the leading fashion and textile trends.

Below is a preview of their Autumn/Winter 2016-17 trends. You can view and order the entire seven inspirational themes here for both Womens and Mens.

For Autumn/Winter 2016/17 The Wool Lab showcases seven inspirational themes and we have highlighted three of the seven themes, Adrogyne, Normdecor and New Makers.

An inspirational tool, the latest edition of The Wool Lab dedicates four out of seven themes to womenswear, as wool fabrics continue to become increasingly popular outside of traditional mens tailoring.

Menswear is by no means left out, with two themes representing not only the versatility of the fibre but also the breadth of styles available in contemporary menswear.

    ANDROGYNE    

INSPIRATIONS

A modern man moves with the times in order to 

remain an expression of refinement and charm. 

The tradition of the made-to-measure ‘man’ suit

is also fascinating for classy women who interpret 

perfectly this timeless elegance.

MATERIALS

100% Wool, Wool/Mohair, Wool/Silk
STRUCTURES & PATTERNS

Glenn check, Pinstripe, Houndstooth
COLOURS

Grey, Blue, Black & White

Sample wool fabric swatches from The Wool Lab AW16/17:

    NORMDECOR    

INSPIRATIONS

The mix-and-match between ornate fabrics and feminine silhouettes comes to be the rule to create a refined and fashionable style. By taking inspiration from different fashion eras and cultures, the contemporary and cosmopolitan woman redefines her concept of elegance through wearing structured but comfortable clothes with deluxe touches.
MATERIALS

100% wool, also blended with silk, lurex, viscose, mohair, alpaca
STRUCTURES & PATTERNS

Jacquard, Embroideries, Prints, Taffetas, Fake fur (Byzantine), Panno, Voile, Trimming
KNITWEAR

Jacquard, Milan stitch, Compact knit

Sample wool fabrics swatches from The Wool Lab AW16/17:

    NEW MAKERS    

INSPIRATIONS

Eclectic people combine new and old ways of being and thinking, looking for innovative forms and materials and at the same time drawing on traditional handcraft skill. This theme combines 3D geometries with a patchwork of textile ideas.
MATERIALS

100% Wool, Wool/Silk, Wool/Linen, Wool/Nylon
STRUCTURES & PATTERNS

Patterned fabrics, 3D effect, Multilayers, Laser cut, Structures, Thin & thick fabrics
YARNS & KNITWEAR

Slubby yarns, Chunky yarns, Patterned Jersey, Piquet
COLOURS

White shades, Soft colours, Grey & black

Sample wool fabrics swatches from The Wool Lab AW16/17: