Product Forecast

Men's Footwear,
Accessories & Jewellery
Forecast A/W 23/24:
Creative Reset
Creative Reset champions fun and ingenious designs that
are rooted in a sense of purpose. Mood-boosting
minimalism, multipurpose modularity and exuberant
upcycling all have a place here

Ana Correa
03.08.22 · 10 minutes

The Elder Statesman

Creative Reset: introduction
Minimalist and ef cient designs will be coupled with a sense of fun, and fun will be
coupled with serious intent, as designers and brands align their creativity with a
greater sense of purpose.

The chaos of the past two years has seen creativity valued anew, both as a salve for
stress and a solution for complex problems. By 2024, it will be an essential tool for
businesses to adapt and succeed in a world of monumental challenges and
opportunities.
The next two years will see more consumers downsizing with a ʻjust enoughʼ approach
to money and belongings, and more brands ʻdemocra-sizingʼ with personalised
products and services that reduce waste, as mass customisation becomes more
accessible and affordable. Creative curiosity and lateral thinking will be championed as
business strategies, and unexpected collaborations will lead to unique outcomes that
break preconceived codes. Uncertainty and discovery will be embraced as necessary
sparks in the design process, and human, natural and artificial intelligence will be
recognised as equally important and increasingly interconnected.
In this era of intentional creativity, designers will work collaboratively with other
professions, honing their ingenuity to make simpler and smarter products and
services. As the writer Kim Bellard puts it: “To add is expected, to subtract is to
design.” Designers will also be treating joy as an ʻactive ingredientʼ in their products –
not as a novelty, but as a way to bring positivity into the everyday. Indeed, happiness
will be more widely viewed as a KPI, necessary for the health, prosperity and
resilience of people, businesses, and ultimately the planet.
JW Anderson
Keywords : energetic, dopamine brights, modular hardware, reductive design,
monochrome, gender-inclusive, supportive, luxe-cycled, space travel

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 Galactic Cobalt Black
19-3952 TCX 120-28-32 19-4203 TCX 153-19-00
Tranquil Blue Circular Grey
17-4139 TCX 114-57-24 17-5104 TCX 000-64-00
Luscious Red Optic White
17-1663 TCX 010-46-36 11-4800 TCX 037-93-00
Bitter Lemon Oat Milk
13-0650 TCX 049-86-36 14-1208 TCX 030-69-10
Beacon Orange Mindful Mauve
* All colour names are speci c to WGSN
17-1464 TCX 020-54-37 17-3014 TCX 147-55-21
Luminous Pink Malachite
18-2436 TCX 154-51-37 19-5421 TCX 078-33-24
Optic White add a clean and graphic edge, which is
offbeat palette with the introduction of near-neon
This edit, taken from our Footwear & Accessories

key for the season's monochrome story, updated

Colour Forecast, presents a dopamine-inducing,

hyper-brights. Foundation tones of Black and

Creative Reset A/W 23/24

with pops of red.

Colour

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Methodolog y
WGSNʼs forecasts are guided by our STEPIC methodology, which analyses changes in
society, technology, the environment, politics, industry and creativity. These six
pillars inform the themes covered in our three annual macro forecasts (Future
Drivers, Future Innovations and Big Ideas), which are then filtered down to form the
three seasonal trends for our category-specific forecasts.
Here is how Creative Res et relates to our broader forecas t themes for 2024:

STEPIC p illars : Industry, Creativity

Future Dr ivers 2024: Direct to Essentials, The Case for Creativity
Future Innovations 2024: No to ʻNormalʼ, Subtracting Adds Value, Collective
Intelligence, Energised!
Big Ideas 2024: Democra-sized, Code-Breaking

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Dopamine minimalism
The concep t: the Dada art movement and
2024's Energised! future driver lead this
direction, which sees dopamine-inducing
colours, prints and patterns add a maximalist
touch to minimalist silhouettes.
Des ign direction: design with a reductive Building Block
mindset and pivot this story to add newness to
# CollectionEssentials, using colour or print as
the main components to update simple,
commercial shapes. This can be seen in the
collaboration between French house Maison Outsiders Division Pyer Moss
Margiela and Boston-based brand Eastpak.
Make sure styles are grounded in minimalism
and have a grown-up, mature quality to move
the narrative away from # JoyfulExpression.
Details : colour-blocking is an easy way to
achieve this look and inspires collage cutouts, Erickson Beamon
like the modular jacket with detachable
pockets by Spanish brand Outsiders Division.
Consider coloured chain hardware on bags and
jewellery, revamp checkerboard prints to
update eyewear, and introduce hyper-texture.

Etnia Barcelona

Spanish eyewear brand Etnia

Barcelona relaunched its
iconic chess collection with a
bolder aesthetic in energising
MM6 X Eastpak @muleboyz
bright tones

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Fluid careers
The concep t: office-appropriate silhouettes
get a gender-inclusive refresh, as approaches
to fit, labelling and categorisation become less
restrictive.
Des ign direction: this is about designing items
without a gender in mind, and styles should
Trevi Coliseum
align with minimalist #WorkLeisure clothing.
Elevated modular qualities are important for
flexible lifestyles, so create versatile items
that can transition from office to home, like the
core bags and accessories by Argentinian @arcs.london Fear of God
brand Piet. Tap into the flexible lifestyle of the
# FutureCommuter with practical details, like
the skateboard attachment at French label
Hermès.
Piet
Details : consider adaptable hardware, and
focus on contemporary, functional and fashion-
conscious silhouettes, as seen in the Clark Clip
On collection by Italian brand Trevi Coliseum,
featuring an optical frame with detachable
magnetic sun lenses that can also be
personalised. For eyewear, make sure inclusive
fits are a key consideration, and for jewellery,
focus on recycled metal core styles, like
Dior Homme
chains, that will work for everyone.
# TwoMileWear styles remain key for so French fashion house Dior and German brand
accessories and footwear. Birkenstock collaborated for the men's A/W 22
collection, creating a big buzz around the
Hermès Louis Vuitton
ultimate and genderless luxury clog

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Ground control
The concep t: with the race for commercial
space tourism underway, inspiration from
space exploration will inspire intergalactic
aesthetics.
Des ign direction: otherworldly details will be
key for motif updates across all categories.
These should include planetary designs and Casetify

cosmic constellations, as seen in the watch by

London-based brand Swan & Edgar, which
includes Earth, Mars and the moon with a
starry background. For eyewear, focus on Balenciaga x Nasa
oversized shapes with protective qualities, like Moon Boot

shield frames. Use the key seasonal colour

of Galactic Cobalt.
Mater ials : extreme volume is key for
conveying a futuristic look, so focus on padding
Philipp Plein
with eco-friendly insulation for bags and
footwear, where the # IndoorOutdoorBoot is a
key profile influenced by the Moon Boot. For
solids, prioritise recycled space-fever metals,
and consider introducing mirrored and
iridescent effects. Intergalactic metallics
should also feature in designs.
Innovation: Australian designer Marc Newson
collaborated with US brand Nike to create the
modular Zvezdochka sneaker. Made with @captvart Swan & Edgar Marc Newson

resistant TPU, this was originally designed for

astronauts at the International Space Station.

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Grunge romance
The concep t: romanticism meets grunge and
goth aesthetics, as alternative dressing
becomes more mainstream.
Des ign direction: use this theme to evolve
# PopPunk styling for a wider demographic,
using refined punk hardware and motifs.
Oxidised, gunmetal and silver metals are
central to this look, and work to update
# ChunkyChains and # Jewellerification details.
Roberto Cavalli
Enhance this romantic yet rebellious direction
with # SentenceSlogans, as seen in the D'heygere
baseball hat by LA-based streetwear brand
Pleasures. As pearl necklaces and strands Paris-based brand D'heygere
uptrend for the men's market, pair with cutout plays with the idea of romance
by adding hardware to hold
apparel. owers in its bags and
@pleasures
Mater ials : opt for responsibly sourced jewellery

leathers and plant-based alternatives, and

elevate with statement hardware and modular
details, referencing the belt-and-bum-bag
hybrid by Italian designer Roberto Cavalli.
@hattonlabs
Enhance the sentimental value of signet rings
with protective stones like this season's black
onyx. Prioritise recycled metals.

Milan @chainedandable Dior Men

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Monochrome codes
The concep t: classic and graphic monochrome
combinations acknowledge the need for a
stripped-back and seasonless, reductive
design approach.
Des ign direction: this is a key direction for
colour – use pops of red to evolve S/S 23's
Balmain
Monochrome Basics. Enliven prints with
stripes, checkerboards, heritage logos and
abstract shapes that will work in standalone or
mixed combinations. For eyewear, nod to the
appeal of character details via Louis Vuitton Dunhill
# SupersizedFrames.
Mater ials and details : for leather and leather
alternatives, consider matte and shine
contrasts, and introduce exaggerated
whipstitching. Maximise your material @wooyoungmiof cial

investment by expanding into small modular

accessories, and start to introduce eco-black
dyes and pigments alongside undyed mono
whites. In keeping with the pared-down
aesthetic, use recycled silver hardware. For
jewellery, combine black onyx with mother of
pearl.

@prada @marcjacobs @iamsisyphe

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DIYW (do it your way)
The concep t: this new take on DIY embraces
individuality, customisation and sustainability,
as the industry adopts a code-breaking
approach to designing in a different and more
resourceful way.
Mira Mikati
Des ign direction: this is about creating
circular, fun and visually engaging products
that have meaning and are not considered
throwaway. A great example is the work of
Japanese designer Yui Narita, who focuses on
mending worn and old items, including classic
L.L.Bean tote bags. Bold mood-boosting Ian Charms Young Emperors

colours, hyper-texture, over-the-top

embellishment, and playful off-kilter and
@paupausapin
novelty shapes all have a place here.
Mater ials : maximise the value of existing French Instagrammer @PauPauSapin provides
materials and move upcycling and deadstock in daily sneaker content with inspiring
backgrounds, and shows tips on how to add
a new luxe-cycled direction. Market the personalised details
uniqueness of one-of-a-kind products,
highlighting their investment potential as
future classics.
One to watch: the personalised necklaces by
LA-based brand Ian Charms showcase small
stories and include a combination of random
charms.

@heavn Yui Narita The Elder Statesman

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1 234
Action points
Recognise that less is more
Acknowledge the need for stripped-
back and seasonless, reductive design,
looking to colour or print as the main
ingredients to update timeless and
minimalist silhouettes. Rethink ways of
working by designing for disassembly,
exploring digital sampling, or reducing
waste with # MadeToOrder production
methods
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Create designs that speak to
everyone
Embrace the concept of saying no to
'normal' to move beyond one-size-fits-
all thinking and gender binaries.
Explore inclusive silhouettes, and make
sure products are democra-sized for all
ethnicities, genders, sizes, ages and
abilities. This will be key for
#WorkLeisure looks and nostalgia-
infused themes, which are set to
become more accessible to a wider
audience
Push creativity and rethink
waste
Embrace creative expression to design
in a different and more resourceful way.
Look into scalable strategies for
upcycling and deadstock, taking this in a
more luxurious direction to ensure
long-term appeal. Focus on visually
engaging and playful silhouettes, using
energising materials and details that are
mood-boosting in colour and form
Engage in the space race
Explore life in orbit as space
exploration enters a commercial phase.
Use this as an opportunity to make use
of emerging material innovations,
including futuristic volume, space-fever
metals, intergalactic details and
colours. Use the metaverse to engage
consumers in out-of-this-world
experiences
In uences
Yui Narita
Yui Narita
Yui Narita is a designer based in
Osaka, Japan, whose work
focuses on mending pre-existing
items. He also runs a small shop
with Brown Tabby, which carries
one-of-a-kind products from
original brands, and also offers
repair and remake services.
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Piet
Piet
Founded by two Argentinian
designers, the brand's "less is
better" motto is reflected in its
timeless, minimalist accessories
made with high-quality materials
in neutral, monochrome tones.
All of the collections are
handmade limited editions, with
high attention to detail.
Moon Boot
Moon Boot
Driven by the current interest in
space tourism and uptrending
# SkiLodge styling, the
legendary Moon Boot is making
a major comeback. Established
in 1969 by Giancarlo Zanatta and
inspired by the moon landing,
the boot appeals to different
generations with its bold
aesthetic, surreal constructions,
and a playful, gender-neutral
spirit.
@heavn
Heaven by Marc Jacobs
Returning to his grunge roots,
NYC-based designer Marc
Jacobs launched Heaven by
Marc Jacobs in 2020. Mainly
targeted at Gen Z, the aesthetic
mixes edgy and childlike
elements from the # 90s and
noughties, which are highly
coveted by this generation. The
label includes apparel,
accessories and footwear, and
features trending # motifs like
daisies, teddy bears and hearts.
Dior Men
Birkenstock x Dior
Unveiled during its 2022 men's
winter show, Parisian fashion
house Dior collaborated with
German label Birkenstock to
create a luxury clog. Reworking
Birkenstock's staple styles, Dior
opted for elegant materials,
including felt and suede, in
trending neutral tones. The logo
industrial buckle, which has
become a key feature of the
house, adds a subtle statement
to the minimalist, gender-
inclusive design.
The WGSN trend matrix 2024
Connecting the dots between our STEPIC foundational research, here are the six Future
Drivers, 12 Future Innovations, six Big Ideas and three Forecast trends that will shape the
world in 2024.

STEPIC Future Drivers Future Innovations Big Ideas Forecasts

Living With Intent

The Caring Economy Care Taking

Home-Making

Society
Two-Faced Tech

The Everything Net Fluid States

It's All Real Care Culture

Technology

Multi-Species Thinking

Planet Provocation Provoking Protopias

Environment
Designing Protopias

NatureVerse
Contemporary Commons
Politics
New Narratives People-Power Shifts

Cultural Power

Industry
No to ‘Normal’ Creative Reset
Direct to Essentials Democra-sized

Subtracting Adds Value

Creativity

Collective Intelligence
The Case for Creativity Code-Breaking

12 Energised!
The WGSN macro forecast 2024
The timeline for WGSN's suite of 2024 trend reports, moving from business strategy to
consumer and product strategy.

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WGSN's forecast reports are created by our global team of experts
Forecas t lead team
Helen Palmer, Head of Materials and
Textiles
Sara Maggioni, Head of Womenswear
Nick Paget, Senior Strategist, Menswear
Erin Rechner, Head of Kidswear
Jane Collins, Senior Strategist, Footwear
and Accessories
Jenny Clark, Head of Colour
Gemma Riberti, Head of Interiors
Reiko Morrison, Head of CMF, WGSN
Consumer Tech
Yvonne Kostiak, Senior Strategist, Active
Charlotte Browning, Strategist, Active
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Hannah Watkins, Head of Prints &
Graphics
Graham Krag, Strategist, Prints &
Graphics
Charlotte Casey, Senior Strategist,
Knitwear
Olivia Barnes, Strategist, Materials,
Textiles and Knitwear
Contr ibutors
APAC
Anastasia Sinjiashvili, Production Lead
Alison Ho, Consumer Researcher
Wingo Xue, Fashion Editor, WGSN China
Kelly Lai, 3D CAD Technician
Kexin Zhang, Fashion Editor, WGSN
China
Lupi Yao, Trend Director, WGSN China
Ying Sun, Editor, WGSN China
Sara Cai, Insight Editor, WGSN China
Yvonne Lei, Localisation Manager,
WGSN China
Dawn Sun, Localisation Editor, WGSN
China
Xiaonan Li, Localisation Editor, WGSN
China
Qian Wang, Localisation Editor, WGSN
China
Jessica Jiang, Fashion Editor, WGSN
China
Afr ica
Raeesa Brey, Researcher
Amer icas
Sofia Martellini, Strategist, Youth and
Womenswear
Lucila Saldana, Strategist, Footwear and
Accessories
Ana Correa, Strategist, Footwear and
Accessories
Isabela Bez, Content Consultant,
WGSN/Use Fashion
Gustavo Cereja, Content Executive,
LATAM
Natalia Vargas, Client Services Analyst
Aus tralia and New Zealand
Yianni Giovanoglou, Client Services
Specialist