SCRAP CHIC: SS26
Trend forecast for SPRING SUMMER 2026
CONCEPT
Scrap Chic SS26 reimagines landfill-bound waste as luxury. The trend challenges the excess of fast fashion by turning trash into statement pieces. Worn denim, textile scraps, and everyday objects like soda cans and metal tabs are reconstructed into intricate, textured garments. Scrap Chic celebrates circular design and creative reuse, reframing discarded materials as symbols of innovation and high fashion reinvention.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Scrap Chic responds to the environmental crisis driven by fast fashion. Overproduction, landfill waste, carbon emissions, water depletion, and micro plastic pollution from synthetic fabrics are detrimental to our environment. By reclaiming discarded textiles and overlooked materials, the trend transforms waste into intentional design, proving that what burdens the industry can also become its most powerful creative resource.
COLOR CARD
The color card includes colors that define the trend. The chosen colors complement the upcycled aesthetic by reflecting the materials and environmental themes at the core of the trend.
Rustic Red: A rich, earthy red.
Artisanal: A sage green that represents growth, renewal, and nature. .
Tab Silver: A cool, reflective hue included in the repurposed metals that are often used in this trend.
Denim Dream: A classic indigo blue that refers to worn denim.
Walnut: A deep, organic brown that connects the trend to nature and natural processes.
Wheat: A soft, neutral tan that symbolizes raw fibers like burlap and natural cotton.
MATERIALS AND TEXTURES
Scrap Chic materials focus on sustainability and reinvention. Raw burlap and recycled fabrics bring organic texture, while upcycled denim is a consistent and staple material used throughout the trend. Industrial elements like aluminum, bottle caps, watch faces, and other reclaimed metals add reflective moments that contrast beautifully with softer, organic materials. Even unexpected materials like cardboard are transformed into couture forms.
PATTERNS AND DETAILS
The details of this trend are defined by intricate, resourceful embellishments that combine craftsmanship with concept. Woven details highlight the artisanal quality of the trend, while repurposed watch faces and industrial metals become accessories and structural elements. Repetition and circular motifs created from soda tabs, cans, watch faces, and connected hardware reference the cyclical nature of sustainability. By layering raw textiles with industrial materials, the trend visually expresses harmony between opposites and the reinvention of the old into the new.
SHAPES AND STRUCTURES
Scrap Chic silhouettes balance both structure and fluidity. Rigid, corset inspired forms crafted from metal and tightly woven materials highlight the tailored potential of reclaimed objects, while oversized, layered pieces introduce movement and wearability. Sculptural accessories made from industrial scraps complete each look. Layering and unconventional shapes create an avant-garde feel between softness and rigidity, which emphasizes individuality and experimentation.