Textures and visual interests headline the current textile landscape — from fashion to lifestyle interiors.

Fashion designer Christine Cheryl Benet reveals how this year’s trends champion innovation and sustainability. She is a consultant of the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in diverse projects related to textile, fashion, and jewelry.

“Brands are moving towards more conscious methods of materiality,” she explains. “There has been a heightened appreciation of handicrafts, arts, and do-it-yourself .”

Independent natural dye artist Diana Katigbak, who specializes in indigo dyeing, likewise notes how today’s consumers are more aware of the impact of textile waste on society and climate.

“They demand more transparency from the retailers they buy from,” she adds. “There is a thrust for change in business practices and a need for textile material innovation.”

To guide the general public, the experts rounded up the latest trends per the forecasting company WGSN. Comprised of over 250 data scientists, WGSN curates an immense online library of insights and inspirations in fashion, retail, and the entire lifestyle industry.

Environment-friendly and biodegradable print alternatives lead the shift to a circular economy. Eco-conscious customers desire natural solutions, from cultivated bacteria to flower printing.

Heirloom crafts reign. As traditional cross stitch and embroideries make a grand comeback, deadstock fabrics — from vintage linens to cotton — are repurposed as base cloth.

In this endeavor, Benet, the proponent of the Bachelor in Textile Design (BTD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), promotes commitment to culture and community.

“Work with local artisans who use traditional techniques to authentically create embroidered styles,” she recommends.

“Textiles have been a large part of the Philippine cultural identity,” Katigbak, the program coordinator of BTD, emphasizes. “Many indigenous weaves represent cultural groups in the different regions of the country.”

For structure, highlights include applique cutworks and interlaced constructions. Benet expounds that this process echoes the goal of circularity as it enables the use of a single material to increase recyclability.

When it comes to surface design, sensory experience takes center stage. An added tactile dimensionality to everyday items embeds a level of comfort. Bejeweled products and beaded embellishments elevate texture.

Meanwhile, mono-material composition makes for a contemporary approach. Layering of fabrics and using threads of the same fiber composition strengthens recyclability.

“There is power in quilting for genuine storytelling,” Benet assures.

Textile also serves as an artist’s canvas. Paint splashes and imperfect details posit distinct looks and finishes, whereas expressive stitching calls for freeform decoration and DIY opportunities.

In shaping the industry’s future, Benet, the former Benilde Environment Studies Cluster associate dean and Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) program chairperson, sheds light on the importance of textile education in the Philippines.

“Textile is one of the most commonly used mediums in everyday living, from garments to upholstery. The Filipinos need to have a heightened awareness of materiality to be more discerning in designing and purchasing products,” she states.

Katigbak states how it addresses the need to focus on material development to be competitive in the local and global industry.

“Innovation of local natural fibers that are abundant in our country allows design breakthroughs appropriate for the needs of the Filipino way of living,” the educator says. “It is an edge we can offer the global supply chain.”

The fashion experts emphasize the importance of a heritage program, which recognizes sustainability for future generations.

“Young creatives offer a perspective that can drive textile design and craft into the future,” Katigbak affirms. “Their unique experiences and beliefs will be reflected in their works when given an environment that allows them to explore their curiosities.”

“Educating the youth and expanding their awareness of the cultural history and significance of textiles in society will be beneficial in improving the thought processes behind creative textile outputs that present future-proof solutions to the current problems of the industry,” she says.

For more information about BTD, visit benilde.edu.ph/undergraduate-textile-design/.