Summer 2022 Trends Embracing the Zeitgeist

At the beginning of each season there is always the question: what moves us, what are the driving forces, the inspirations for the new collections? Everyone feels it intensely, taking in influences from all around us. After a difficult 2-years of restrictions and lockdowns the general consensus is to strive towards joy, happiness and optimism. Light qualities and brightness were the guiding principles when selecting the key colours of the season, a kick of freshness in pale grey and its pastel relatives, but also intense blues and greens and pops of bright orange and pink.

No matter what the event this summer, designers have provided lots of fresh and inspiring options. A vernissage with Moyuru, with summer colours from biffi boutique with plenty of sandals, slides and trainers to complete the look. Miuccia Prada reinvents various classic styles such as trench coats, shorts and chino pants with her unique handwriting to bring in a 2022 twist. The star material of this season: there is none, everything is allowed, although denim is a must. The Summer 2022 collections analyses and recontextualises the history of clothing. The memory of a train dress, the rods of a corset or the curve of a bra trace the contours of the clothing, and are stripped back to their basic forms.

Ethical Fashion

Sustainability and ethics are now centre stage, aided by the Ethical Fashion Initiative, a platform linking the world of haute couture and luxury with that of craftsmanship produced ethically in developing countries. Created in 2009, this program is supported by the International Trade Centre, an organisation based in Geneva and jointly dependent on the United Nations and the WTO (World Trade Organisation). Its goal is to “bring authenticity back to the world of fashion, and bring work to Africa”, explains its founder and manager, Simone Cipriani. He has already helped some twenty designers, including Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney, to acquire fabrics, jewellery and accessories from artisans based in Africa and Haiti.

Biffi boutiques turn the spotlight on creativity, sustainability and passion for design in collaboration with Roger Vivier and Wråd . For the entire duration of Milan Design Week, the group’s store in Corso Genova 6 and its windows hosted work inspired by the Viv ‘Run sneakers by the creative director of the footwear brand, Gherardo Felloni. The store also included an installation: Re-engineered humans, created by the ecological brand co-founded in 2015 by Matteo Ward, Silvia Giovanardi and Victor Santiago to announce the launch of the Wråd radically for Biffi capsule boutique. Drawing inspiration from one of his most innovative creations for Spring/Summer 2019 from the Roger Vivier collection, designer Felloni created an overlapping band that incorporates the mesh pattern on the Viv ‘Run sole and the installation is characterised by energy in motion, combined with a refined design aesthetic, in a perfect balance between form and function.

Created in mesh fabric, mesh and neoprene, the sneakers feature a 7.5 cm curved heel hidden inside the sole, inspired by the Choc heel created by Monsieur Vivier in 1959. Exclusively for Biffi boutiques and for the Salone del Mobile, the Viv ‘Runs will be available in a limited edition in orange and pink.

Moving forward into Autumn/Winter designer collaborations and unique twists on style classics look set to continue as customers crave exclusive designs that perform as well as they look.

All images courtesy of Biffi boutiques (Intro image: Bottega Veneta shoes)