How Are Trend Colors in the Apparel Industry Decided? ~ Introducing the Key Trend Colors for 2025-26 AW ~

Hello! I’m Kimura from the trend blog.

Do you know how trend colors in fashion are decided?

“Color selection” is an important element involved in every phase, including product planning, promotions, and VMD (visual merchandising). 

In this article, we’ll explain how “trend colors” in fashion are determined, and also share the latest trend color information for the 2025-26 autumn/winter (AW) season. 

 🎯 The process until a trend color is decided

Trend colors in fashion are determined systematically and strategically, not by intuition.

They are formed through the following flow and then introduced to the market. 

 STEP 1 Research and analysis by trend forecasting organizations 

The starting point of trends is the research and reports from specialized trend forecasting organizations. 

Based on global data, cultural trends, and psychological analysis, these organizations forecast social trends two to three years ahead and present “key colors” and “theme colors” accordingly.

These kinds of information play an extremely important role as the basis for color selection for apparel brand MDs, designers, and material manufacturers.  

STEP 2 Interpretation and proposals by designers and brands

Luxury brands and forward-thinking designers reinterpret forecast colors through their own worldviews and present them as collections. Through runway shows and exhibitions, media and buyers begin to take notice, and color starts to spread. 

STEP 3 Proposals from exhibitions and material manufacturers

Thread, fabric, and processing manufacturers also develop materials and propose samples based on each key color at this stage. International trade shows such as Première Vision (Paris) also serve as places where color palettes for the next season are shared.

STEP 4 Expansion and penetration into the mass market 

Mass-market brands (ZARA, H&M, Uniqlo, etc.) roll out products incorporating trend colors, spreading them across the market. Through in-store promotions and social media campaigns, awareness is formed that “this color is in for the season.”

🖌 Key trend colors for autumn/winter 2025-26 *Latest update as of May 2025

The five key colors for 2025-26 AW announced by WGSN × Coloro are below. All were selected around themes such as “technology,” “emotion,” and “a return to nature.”

🟥 Cherry Lacquer 

Coloro code: 010-36-34 

Pantone code: 19-1534 TCX (approx. Merlot) 

Tone: Deep, lustrous red (wine-red family) 

Impression: Passion, classic, richness 

Recommended materials: Leather, velvet, lustrous silk, and taffeta 

Usage suggestion: Ideal for hero items such as jackets and bags. Pairs well with dark green and Bordeaux. 

ApparelX recommended products

・SLK200 pure silk crepe 20 momme #109 Bordeaux

A premium 20 momme satin crepe silk textile made in Japan, available in 36 colors. It can be used not only as lining for fur coats and jackets, but also for dresses, blouses, and more.

・3770 polyester velvet #GAR #RUB

A polyester velvet that is resistant to wrinkling. A glossy type made with super-bright thread. It has excellent drape, so it can be used for a wide range of items.

🟨 Celestial Yellow 

Coloro code: 040-86-27 

Pantone code: 12-0824 TCX (approx. Sunlight) 

Tone: Soft, gentle pastel yellow 

Impression: Hope, dreamlike, soothing 

Recommended materials: wool gauze, brushed cotton, chiffon 

Usage suggestion: Great for knits, kidswear, and relaxing wear. Pairs well with greige. 

ApparelX recommended products

・22146 80s cotton chiffon #18 Yellow #24 Yellow

A chiffon fabric made of 100% cotton with an impressive natural textured look. It is a lightweight, softly voluminous thin material with a gentle hand and moderate sheerness.

・117 30-count combed jersey, soft finish  #9 Champagne #107 Pale Banana #332 Mellow Yellow #427 Pastel Yellow

A jersey textile with strength and little fuzz.

It has a wide range of color variations, so matching it with other trims should be easy.

 🟦 Retro Blue 

Coloro code: 120-52-20 

Pantone code: 18-4027 TCX (approx. Blue Mirage) 

Tone: Nostalgic blue with a muted feel 

Impression: Nostalgia, reassurance, intellectual Recommended materials: wool, tweed, denim, Jacquard 

Usage suggestion: For sets and shirts. Pair with brown for a vintage feel. 

ApparelX recommended products

・1SG022 REFABLISH®︎ denim  #3 Blue #4 Light blue

We developed an original thread that blends cotton sourced through the Better Cotton Initiative with recycled polyester made from PET bottles. By twisting the thread into a two-ply yarn, it gains strength, softness, and volume.

To make the most of the benefits of cotton and polyester, the fiber ratio was carefully chosen. It dries easily and is less likely to wrinkle even after washing. Since no indigo dye is used, there is no need to worry about fading, and care is easy.

・3850 kersey-pattern Jacquard lining #204 saxe blue

This is a kersey-pattern Jacquard lining. It is a soft, luxurious material.

🟧 Neon Flare 

Coloro code: 038-40-36 

Pantone code: 17-1464 TCX (approx. Orange Popsicle) 

Tone: Vibrant orange that seems to shine with light 

Impression: Vitality, creativity, pop feel 

Recommended materials: nylon, glossy jersey, PVC, etc. 

Usage suggestion: As an accent for activewear and accessories. Pair with purple for a 90s vibe.

ApparelX recommended products

・182 Shantung 10 #106 Mandarin #107 Carrot

A standard rayon lining fabric with a lustrous, grosgrain-like texture. We stock over 100 colors, and it can be used for both bags and accessories. 

Feature: Acrylic coating on the reverse side

・GINGA-046 0.6 mm transparent color sheet #8 Orange

This color-transparent sheet has beautiful vivid colors. Recommended for pool bags, tote bags, pouches, and more. It won’t fray even when cut raw, so no edge finishing is needed. If paired with a patterned lining, the pattern will show through, creating a different mood to enjoy.

⬛️ Future Dusk 

Coloro code: 129-35-18 

Pantone code: 19-3921 TCX (approx. Blueberry) 

Tone: Midnight blue leaning toward blue-purple to navy 

Impression: Mystery, futuristic feel, digital mood 

Recommended materials: lustrous satin, metallic, technical materials 

Usage suggestion: For dresses, coats, and costumes that stand out on screen. Pair with silver to enhance the futuristic feel.

ApparelX recommended products

・SLK160 pure silk satin 16 momme #145 dark navy

A premium 16 momme satin silk textile made in Japan, available in 45 colors. It can be used not only as lining for coats and jackets, but also for dresses, blouses, and more.

・1254 40d nylon ST 2.5-layer laminate #30 Midnight #501 Aquamarine 

A 2.5-layer laminate is applied to a base fabric with excellent stretch in the weft direction, making it a medium-thickness material that can be used on its own. It features a moderate firmness and the fine, distinctive look unique to nylon.

It offers a good balance of breathability and waterproofness, and also has excellent windproof performance. In addition, its water-repellent function remains after 10 washes.

💡 2025-26 AW trend color combination pattern proposals

These are practical “color combination pattern proposals” based on the 2025-26 autumn/winter trend colors.

For each color, we’ve organized base colors, accent colors, and neutral colors so they can be used in product development and visual design.

Cherry Lacquer

A deep, lustrous, heavy red. Ideal for classic, mode-inspired color combinations.

Celestial Yellow

A calm pastel yellow that feels hopeful. Natural and emotional.

Retro Blue

A blue with a sense of reassurance and nostalgia. Also suitable for trad and genderless proposals.

A vibrant orange full of energy. Perfect for futuristic, pop-inspired combinations.

A mysterious blue-purple with a digital feel. Suited to advanced, cosmic moods.

✍️ Summary 

What did you think? The trend colors for autumn/winter 2025-26 are not just fashion trends; they are like a mirror of society, expressing the mood of the times and people’s psychology through color. After the pandemic, our lifestyles and values have shifted significantly, and the role expected of fashion has also changed.

What many brands are now expected to do is understand the meaning and background of these colors, interpret them from their own unique perspective, and elevate them into products. Trend forecasting organizations such as WGSN, Coloro, and Pantone provide what is essentially a “shared vision,” but that is only the starting point. What kind of materials and patterns should be used to express the color? Which target should it be aimed at? How should it be fused with the brand’s world view? ... This is where each brand’s own storytelling emerges. The trend toward “reading color from a brand perspective” through original interpretation and variation development is growing stronger, and this is becoming a factor that enhances consumer empathy and visual impact. Brands that handle color skillfully can create products that are not just stylish, but also carry value and emotion, which in turn leads to brand differentiation and improved loyalty. 

This autumn/winter season, rather than simply following trend colors, I think bringing them into your own brand as colors you can talk about will help strengthen the way you communicate your brand identity.

ApparelX offers a wide variety of products to support each brand, so please take a look.