As you are reading this, the 2013 Pre-Fall collections are underway to be revealed over the next several weeks. Until they are revealed, one can only go on speculation based on past observations, many which have been made in prior articles.

What is essential to note is that the majority of creative expression released to the public over the past few years has been aiming towards a direction where a hybrid of ideas and influences are cobbled together in a quest to find new forms of expression as we search for our identity in the new century.

 he assembly of pieces and parts goes beyond this exploration, fitting in with sensible maximizing of material usage that has been encouraged from both an economic and ecological perspective. Design companies are less likely to have waste when they find use for odds and ends from production, and this satisfies concerns that cover areas our culture has put more focus on.

This is encouraged by more recent grassroots design where recycling of materials has found its way even up to the level of couture as exemplified by designers such as Maison Martin Margiela; when design approaches reach the height of luxury they are harder to dismiss.

We have many opinions and perspectives the industry looks to empathize with. The defensiveness our culture has been under due to environmental stressors is finding expression in the hardness of cut and obsession with geometry. Our confusion is expressed by the diffusion of pattern, use of degrade and vagueness in modern print that obscures rather than clarifies our perceptions. We look forward with new materials and look back with old cuts. And often we find these blended, capturing our true complexity of our emotional state.

There is no clear trend direction but a myriad selection to pick and choose. And we may not necessarily bow to those as we take the reins on putting our personal stamp on the creative process. The anticipated explosion of 3D printing will further support personal initiatives of expression. Will we find common threads despite this? Perhaps, as conformity is long supported in our society and falling in line lessens the isolation many feel in our seemingly social yet actually isolated technological world.

We yearn to belong and to be supported in who we are. And right now we’re not sure of whom we are. But we are trying on many hats, putting pieces together and seeing what feels right, and fashion currently reflects that. And it will be interesting to see how 2013 Pre-Fall communicates our current sentiments, for they are being designed with us in mind…piece by piece.