Kidswear print fabrics for Autumn/Winter 2025-26 by WGSN

For the Autumn/Winter 2025-26 season, WGSN’s forecast for kidswear prints and fabrics is defined by the overarching theme of ‘Strategic Imagination.’ This season moves away from simple dopamine bright toward a more nuanced mix of shadowy darks, analogue nostalgia, and sensory textures.

The following trends summarize the key visual and tactile directions for AW 25/26:

1. Print & pattern trends

Prints this season bridge the gap between digital futurism and handmade charm.

• Circus act: A major theatrical trend featuring bold, high-contrast stripes (mixing thin and thick bands) and retro argyles. Motifs include whimsical circus tents, performers, and ‘cheeky’ charms that evoke a sense of escapism.
• Analogue nostalgia: Focused on ‘future keepsakes,’ this trend uses oversized checks, ginghams, and hand-drawn, loosely traced illustrations. It feels warm, sentimental, and intentionally imperfect.
• Alt-retro geometrics: Drawing from 1960s and 70s aesthetics, expect exaggerated shapes like circles, triangles, and rectangles in bold pattern clashes. These are often updated with 3D effects or surface relief.
• Speckled skins (The New Animalia): Traditional leopard print is taking a backseat to cow prints and appaloosa spots. These are often rendered as ‘painterly’ or speckled markings to look as realistic as possible without ethical concerns.
• Suggestive amd mystical florals: Florals are evolving into ‘Gothic’ or ‘Mystical’ territories. Look for scattered pastoral florals mixed with spiritual symbols (moons, stars, ancient wisdom) and organic spirals.

2. Fabric & material innovations

The focus is on ‘haptic’ (touch-based) luxury and sustainable performance.

• Tactile ‘cocooning’ surfaces: Bouclé, faux fur, and heavyweight knits are essential for creating a sense of comfort and security. Sherpa and teddy textures remain dominant for outerwear.
• Naive opulence (silk & satins): For premium kidswear, silk is appearing with ‘imperfect’ finishes like hammered, crumbled, or slubbed textures. Ethical Ahimsa (Peace) Silk and recycled silk blends are the preferred sustainable choices.
• Elevated utility: Functional fabrics like durable twill, drill, and canvas are updated with "chalky" finishes. Techniques include low-impact washing, overdyeing, and crosshatched two-tone weaves.
• 3D quilted synthetics: Recycled nylon and ripstop feature contemporary quilting patterns and "crinkled" effects to add depth and a "lived-in" feel to activewear.

3. Seasonal color palette

These five key colors drive the print narratives for AW 25/26:

• Future dusk (Color of the Year): A moody, celestial blue-purple used for futuristic and night-sky prints.
• Cherry lacquer: A deep, subversive shadowy red that works perfectly for high-shine satins and rebellious patterns.
• Retro blue: A warm, offbeat blue that anchors the nostalgic and analogue trends.
• Neon flare: A kinetic, synthetic coral used as a pop in circus and geometric prints.
• Celestial yellow: A glowing, luminous yellow that connects to the mystical and nature-focused themes.