Trend Trajectories

A motif as old as time, jewellers are once again turning to eyes for inspiration, playing on their associations with protection and wisdom.

Laden with symbolism, made into deities, and one of the first creatures ever to be painted by people, horses have a unique place in the world’s cultural history.

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s ubiquity in 2023 has turned our minds to her trademark polka dot.

The recent death of high priestess of plaid Vivienne Westwood, and the V&A’s current celebration of Scotland’s proudest textile, has turned attention once again to tartan.

Recently, there’s been a definite move to the dark side, as a distinctly Gothic mood descends like a dense, bat-filled mist.

Nothing says glamour with a touch of drama like an animal print. From Hollywood to the high street, this is why leopard, tiger and zebra prints remain enduring favourites everywhere. Now these prints are infusing interiors with their big statement style.

You’d think nobody would want to embrace a snake motif, what with the unavoidable association with original sin. But in spite, or maybe because of, their dark side, the allure of all things serpentine persists.

Some motifs rise and sink in our collective consciousness, the inevitable consequence of a complex web of social and cultural factors. Part of the forecaster’s remit is to spot the ebb and flow of this popularity; here we look at the feathery appeal of birds.

Some motifs rise and sink in our collective consciousness, the inevitable consequence of a complex web of social and cultural factors. Part of the forecaster’s remit is to spot the ebb and flow of this popularity; here we look at the sinuous appeal of seaweed.