The pandemic is expected to cause a sea-change in consumers’ attitudes, says Neil Thorpe, Managing Director and Founder, Neil Thorpe Lace Design & Draughting. Consumers will now be driven towards a more mindful consumption, he adds. Thorpe and his team have been developing lace patterns since 1986. They are currently developing new patterns for Spring/Summer 2023 besides creating new lace designs for Fall/Winter 2023-24 for a few esteemed clients. The company mainly excels in creating lingerie lace patterns, which form 80 per cent of its total output.

Natural cotton look being preferred

“The pandemic has compelled consumers to focus on comfort and sustainability,” Thorpe says. Buyers are demanding softer and more environment-friendly garments. “To cater to this, we are creating more designs having a natural cotton look with more ethically accepted yarns like modal,” he states. The color scheme for the season is determined by the company’s consumers on the basis of their target markets. Buyers are opting for fabrics with a natural look in biege, white and cream tones. These give the garment an impression of being environmentally conscious, Thorpe explains.

Elaborating on the most preferred yarns of the season, Thorpe says, lighter yarns are in demand due to their environment-friendliness and natural patterns. However, lighter lurex yarns have fallen out of favor as they give the garment a plastic look. His firm is developing a new range of super soft, environmentally certified fibers, as there is a need for a wider selection of sustainable yarns, says Thorpe. It is also discovering optimal lapping techniques for smooth processing of latest yarns on the lace machine.

Floral and delicate designs in vogue

There is still some demand for small geometric patterns amongst younger consumers, says Thorpe. Yet, he believes, trends for the next seasons lean more towards floral designs. There is growing demand amongst consumers for timeless designs like florals. However, the floral patterns are given a modern twist by varying their sizes and experimenting with designs of edges and using new techniques.

As evident by the growing popularity of crochet and pinhole embroidery patterns, consumers are opting for heavier patterns. However, their affinity for delicate designs also persists, adds Thorpe. They are using the lapping technique to create designs with these lightweight yarns, he adds.

In terms of machine performance, the firm often gets feedback from customers. It welcomes new developments in the industry to boost operations. It seeks a wider, more readily available supply of sustainable yarns to meet the demand for more conscious fashion. The firm seeks an improved yarn that does not slip or loop on being combined with elastane, adds Thorpe.