A Day in the Life of Cotton’s Trend Forecasters
Meet Cotton Incorporated’s Product Trend Analysts, who travel the world in search of the latest trends to create innovative forecasts for a wide range of clients.
“It’s my job to be my client’s eyes and ears to everything that’s going on in fashion around the world,” says Lauren Deatherage, one of 6 trend analysts at Cotton Incorporated. “We travel 8 to 10 weeks a year, and often to a dozen or so countries in the process. We are the only group we know of to put together trends solely in-house – we do everything, from fabric development to street scenes, even the soundtrack to the presentations.”
Lauren and her colleagues take turns traveling around the world, looking for inspiration and the latest trends. They’ll take home samples of new, innovative fabrics, take pictures of trendsetting locals on the street, and immerse themselves in the culture around them. Back in New York, they’ll do research on a wide range of subjects, from politics to the environment, all of which can have an effect on fashion trends.
All that information goes into the forecasts, which are done anywhere from 18 to 24 months ahead of selling season, in a process that takes about 6 months to complete. The completed trends are then presented to clients around the world, who look to incorporate the forecasted colors, fabrics, or silhouettes into designs for their consumers.
“Ultimately, our job is to show our clients the best ways to use cotton – and the newest ways to use cotton,” adds Lauren.
Watch the webisode for a sneak peek, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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