New Trends, and why they stick around longer than you think
I’ve been thinking a lot about trends lately, not in the throwaway, fast-fashion sense, but in that slow-burn, ever-evolving way that actually shapes how we create and connect.
Because here’s the truth: trends don’t just pop up and vanish.
They evolve.
They shift.
They leave fingerprints all over our work for years, even if the packaging changes.
And if there’s one trend that’s proven its staying power?
It’s conversational prints.
Why conversational prints aren’t going anywhere
We’ve been living in the era of conversational prints for a while now, where playful motifs, quirky icons, and visual storytelling rule. From fish to punnets of tomatoes to dancing lobsters, the narrative-driven pattern has been front and centre across high street and high fashion. If you haven't yet explored it, you need to. And if you've missed it, where have you been?
And while it’s been a joy to watch (and wear), let’s be honest...not everyone wants a sardine on their chest.
That’s exactly where my twist on the trend came in.
How to work with trends (Without letting them take over)
Trends are tools. They set the scene.
But how tightly you hold onto that scene? That’s up to you.
Personally, I love to spot a trend early, stretch it, bend it, and carry its essence into the next season. I look for the ongoing thread, the thing that keeps it alive and relevant without shouting “That's D&G Fall 2023 ”.
You’ll always find a flicker of trend in my work, but it’s never timestamped.
It’s timeless. It’s relevant now, and it will still make sense in a year.
That’s the sweet spot.
Enter: Florals with a Story
While others have gone maximal, novelty, or obvious, I’ve been taking a different route, one that still speaks the trend’s language but in a more feminine, nostalgic, and artful way.
I started weaving florals into the conversational space.
Not just pretty petals, but intentional florals that:
✿ Tell a story
✿ Anchor the conversational theme
✿ Nod to vintage textile traditions
✿ Offer something timeless in a trend-driven world
It’s given me room to explore ideas that appeal to wider, often overlooked markets, those who want their prints to feel powerful and pretty. Who resonate more with wildflowers and wistful colour palettes than with cocktail olives and cartoonish icons.
It’s worked because it’s different. Still trend-savvy, but not predictable.
Strong themes = Stronger design direction
In fact, bringing in florals has been the key to creating much stronger seasonal themes. Florals give enough flexibility to explore shape, colour, and emotion, while still holding a solid trend backbone.
The trend thread that keeps on running
Here’s how I work with trends:
I never just follow.
I filter.
I translate what’s happening into something that suits both my work and my audience.
I look for the thread that runs through, from blur to bold, from novelty to nostalgia, and I ask:
“How can this evolve into something with depth and direction?”
Last year in Inhouse Creative I directed a theme 'Postcard Patch'. It was fun, layered, full of narrative. But now, the vibe has softened. It’s heading toward something more romantic, considered, crafted.
And florals have been the perfect vehicle for that shift.
And with vintage references being so strong right now, think granny square knits, cottagecore textures, and 70s florals, it’s no surprise that these designs have found their moment again.
They add softness, soul, and a sense of heritage. They anchor a collection while giving you space to play.
Where it’s heading now…
We’re stepping into a space that feels a bit more meadow picnic meets vintage treasure chest. There’s still the story, still the nod to nostalgia, but it’s softer, more crafted, and a little more romantic.
✿ Textiles that feel like heirlooms
✿ Florals that lean more classic than chaotic
✿ Design work that has soul, and stitching, literally or metaphorically
It’s not about scrapping a trend and starting again. It’s about moving it forward.
Florals are back, not in a chaotic, filler way, but with strength and style.
As always they’re doing the storytelling and the selling.
And they’re reaching markets that have been under-served by the usual trend tropes.
That’s the kind of design I teach and create inside my courses, how to spot the trends early, how to evolve them with purpose, and how to build a portfolio that grows with the market instead of chasing it. I have a FREE challenge that will get you creating intentional florals in this way. You can sign up here.
If you’ve felt like the trend wave wasn’t quite your vibe…
Or you’ve been unsure how to stand out when everyone’s doing the same thing…
Trust me: there’s a space for you.
And it might just be covered in florals.
Sign up to my FREE challenge Floral Seasons in Surface Pattern.
And if you're ready to become a floral pattern master and ensure consistent pattern sales sign up to the waitlist of my signature course Complete Compositions.