2052 FUTURE FORECAST

Imagine the year is 2050... Do you see flying cars or teleportation?Equality or Poverty? A green planet or a Sci-fi utopia? The future has endless possibilities however narrowing down potential scenario’s can help pin point our Lifestyles.

In this report we have identified 11 key must know areas that will aid your brands future development and prepare it for key changes in Retail, design, agriculture, technology and society.

By 2052, according to Our world in data, the global population is set to reach 9 billion, this will in turn affect the earth’s strength to adapt to climate change and the forth coming climate catastrophe we as a species are delving into. Therefore it forces closer to a rise in the cost of living, the societal gap dividing us more than ever. Resources become scarce and a global health crisis begins due to the levels of C02 released into the atmosphere increasing air pollution in overpopulated cities while forced migration is forcing huge cultural shift due to the temperatures rising by over 2 degrees c.

In relation to these uncertainties , the shift in the way we as humans live will experience a monumental shift in all aspects of lifestyle. All of which align very closely to the fashion industry and its future adaptation.

In 2052, We will experience a society built on individuality and creative profiling. We will become more present digitally in the hybrid development of the new world. We will consciously connect forming bonds both digitally and in reality that will thrive of off new technology’s, Due to the rapid development of global societies brand must now be more vocal than ever b before showing their true beliefs and support, becoming united with the generation of equality basing business approaches on these under lying factors.

We hope this report inspires and carrys your business into a successful future.

Linde

“It was never easy to look into the Future, but it is possible and we should not miss our chance.”—Andrei

2017

In Sight touches down on Mars The 5G standard is released. The first soft landing on the far side of the Moon.

2022

A global pandemic arrives, millions of deaths, lock downs and the biggest vaccination programme. The Arctic is becoming free of sea ice.

2023

Driver-less hover taxi’s - Dubai Beijing host winter Olympics. Tech unemployment is rising.

2024

First legged robot on the moon Brain transplants to restore memory China’s first space craft complete. Printing clothes zero cost. Cities ban fossil fuelIndia’s reusable launch vehicle is operational Threat of bio terrorism increase.

2028

A synthetic human genome is completed3-D printed electronic membranes to prevent heart attacks New tube system 3D

India becomes the most populous VERITAS mission to Venus. China’s economy surpasses that of the U.S. The UK population reaches 70m.

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer Resurrection of several extinct species has been achieved Human-like AI is becoming a reality.

Manufacturing jobs have largely disappeared in the West Extreme heat waves are common place in the U.S. Service robots number a billion worldwide Coastal erosion has destroyed of UK. Japan experiences a major volcanic. The ma jority of primate species are disappearing from the wild.

A transitional highway and rail network has emerged An inflection point for human-AI interactions. Genetically engineered “designer babies” for the rich.

Space flight has taken a leap forward. The vast majority of countries have achieved democracy | Global population is reaching a plateau.

2052 2058

Global average temperatures have risen by 3°C Smart clothing is a trillion-dollar industry.

2049 2055

A radio telescope is built on the Moon The end of the oil age | Mars has a permanent human presence by now.

The next Nankai megathrust earthquake occurs, Flood barriers are erected in New York. 2060

Tropical cyclones are wreaking havoc in the Mediterranean | Global extinction rates are peaking | An aging population

SOCIAL CLEAVE

@ Palle Steen Christensen

“Today’s structures, constructs, and labels don’t reflect the changing values of Gen Z. In 2024, alternative voices will challenge the status quo while the call to action for inclusivity and equality will pose a non-negotiable for brands and businesses. This chapter features six emerging trends including pop culture push, inclusive by design, corporate accountability, art-tivism, intimacy introspection, and psychonaut subculture.”

By 2030 there will be 335 million people living in extreme poverty. By 2040 the earth’s population is set to hit 9 billion, by 2028 alone the Uks population will rise to 70 million. India is set to over take china as the most populated country on the planet as chinas population is increasingly aging and India young. This will further present issues such as combating poverty, hunger and homelessness. Changes in climate such as the planets temperature rising by 2 degrees with cause forced migrations along with the rising sea levels and decreasing land space towns will be swallowed

India is set to over take china as the most populated country on the planet as chinas population is increasingly aging

Low wages, child, bonded labour and unsafe working practices still exist. Garments are produced in low-income countries usually where labour laws do not always protect workers. Labour rights violations have traditionally been commonplace in garment supply chains and unfortunately things are not improving.

The newest billionaires have largely come from little money that have jumped through technological loop holes such as bit coin and online trading of virtual currency’s and cheap products and services with monumental mark ups.

The world economy could more than double in size by 2050, far outstripping population growth, due to continued technology-driven productivity improvements Emerging markets (E7) could grow around twice as fast as advanced economies. According to @PWC on average As a result, six of the seven largest economies in the world are projected to be emerging economies in 2050 led by China (1st), India (2nd) and Indonesia (4th). “Given China’s and India’s economic might, they will take on a much bigger role in addressing global issues such as climate change, international security and global economic governance.

Companies would need to design and invest in a business model that incorporates sustainability and reused clothes. This can be done in different ways. For example, some companies give customers the option of leasing clothes.(British council) Issues we can solve in the future include clothing being unter utilised and customers missing out on $460 billion of value each year. (ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION) Creating a circular economy is already apparent to most fashion brands however this has to be met with honesty and complete transparency to fulfil customer expectations and steer away from today’s linear economy trates.

The economy is largely credited by the fashion industry through the creation of jobs it provides and the money it generates. Work force is largely going to be taken over by technology and workers will be part time. Learning new skills and constantly training will be a huge factor. It would be beneficial to address the environmental and social problems created by the fashion industry.

@FASHION UNITED

The environmental crisis we face today will only progress in years to come unless we make radical changes to our way of life. By 2052 the earths surface temperature would have risen by 2 degrees. South Asia will be in particular danger since four of the most heavily populated cities will be located there by 2050. Some parts of the planet will be uninhabitable causing mass forced migration Causing a monumental cultural shift. Societies will merge and climates will differ.

“TECHNOLOGY AND THE NATURAL EARTH COLLIDING”

Sea levels are set to rise by 10 ionch’s by 2050 therefore large land mass including places such as Miami will be deeply underwater. Here comes the emerge of water cities. Water cities are largely being developed in Scandinavian countries such as Denmark. Water cities were already largely developed in Kenya however have been adapted by companies such as Monteflore. These floating communities allow for floating farms, Movable buildings and pieces of city space.

By 2052 the oceans would have increased by 0.1 PH and water pollution will be at an all time high. The fashion industry is accountable for 20% of water pollution. Brands will have to transform their business model to align with the industries strong growth trajectory. Incorporating and adapting their production processes, improving their resource efficiency and improve efficiency to sustainably meet demand.

Brands will offer recycling programmes for old garments, resale project and repair services. An example of this would be Patagonia’sworn wear programme offers a service to fix old garments. The prime issue of over consumption is at the forefront of the change that must be accessed. Brands will have to focus in on quality over quantity.

As we enter the age of hybrid living. New technology’s will lead the way into a future that revolutionises technology so that it aids human lifestyle rather than hinders. The innovation that are happening right now are almost ripped from pages in science fiction. We are of the age of service robots, nano technology and genetic development.

Aspects such as 3D printing have allowed for advances such as printed bones however in relation to the fashion industry 3D printing will become a large scale production process of clothing in the future. By the year 2037 3D printers will be accessible in every home. Smart fabrics will be fully developed by 2040, Clothing that is self cleaning, changes shape and size will revolutionise the wearers daily experience and versatility.

Brands of the future will adopt a design and build strategy that will include cloud based technologies to intelligently transform and aggregate to contextualise products and processing manufacturing data through the supply chain.

This will allow for high quality products to be made in a decreased amount of time with lower environmental implements. (We forum). The future us of robotics down stream rather than in upstream instances such as supply chain will significantly flip the $5 Trillion retail industry. This in turn could take away many retail and factory jobs however save brands millions in wages however this cannot be 100% certain or efficient.

“Construction will become a synchronized sequence of manufacturing processes, delivering control, change and production at scale.”This will also link to construction and factory building.

Marine Serre has always used face coverings (like this up cycled sweater from fall 2020) in her collections, evoking everything from the traditional burka to balaclavas worn by protesters worldwide— something which has provoked both praise and criticism. @VOGUE Illustration by Christina Zimpe

The state will remain the predominant form of policy. Perhaps the biggest challenge facing states in the coming decades concerns developing trust and fluid responses to change. Three main areas will shape the nature of political life in the coming years are: demographics, economics, and geopolitical.

Due to the impending climate crisis, young people are wanting to vote younger than ever to create a bright future for not only them but their children and future generations to come. In relation to future technology’s, Laws stating the control of mutant technology’s regarding robot control, voting, societal use and labour laws.

Social behaviours in the last two years have been hugely controlled due to the pandemic and this is set to carry on in future years.

Political dressing is set to trend through the period of 2022 to 2050 due to gen z resilience too fight for not only equality but a sustainable future. Many large designers are already showing small examples of activist fashion in their runway shows for example Tommy Hilfiger and his white bandaners symbolising exclusivity. (The conversation). From the earliest examples of political fashion in 1908 when Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence created the most iconic women’s rights symbol for the suffragettes movement to the white suits worn by democratic women of today that pay tribute to this movement, fashion will continue to provide a symbol for social and political debate. (Ambush)

Fashion can be used to send messages, communicate opinion and create political shift. Gender politics will is thriving into 2020 the question is will this topic be resolved in the future as gender fluidity and non binary gandering has evolved.

EMERGING SOCIAL GAP DESIGN FOR DIGITAL COLLAB WITH NATURE

EMERGING SOCIAL GAP ACCESS ABILITY

New technology has the potential to eliminate entire categories of jobs but, equally, may generate entirely new jobs and innovations. The societal blend of humans and technology is not fully developed however will be by 2052.

For the first time in history, more people will be living in urban than rural areas, a trend that is expected to continue over the coming years. Although cities drive economic growth, they are more unequal than rural areas, with the extremely wealthy living alongside the very poor. Inequality is extremely deadly for the future of our world. The monumental concentration of power, money and influence of the few at the very top has pernicious effects on the rest of society. The world’s wealthiest 1% use double the carbon emissions of the bottom 50%.

Will fashion be accessible to everyone?

Since the pandemic began a new billionaire has been created every 26 hours. The reason being the new found crypto currency trading trend has taken unemployed individuals by storm. The prospect of owning digital assets has never looked more enticing. Bitcoin exploded into 2020 with each coin surpassing $60,000. This plus other crpto currency’s took the crypotocurrencys market capitalization to over $1.5 trillion.

Through social trading, marketing of goods and services with monumental mark up ratios young entrepreneurs are taking the market by storm especially in terms of fast fashion. The question being how long can this go on due to the increasing demand for sustainable fashion and the death of throw away fashion opposing the affordability and general average wage gap increasing.

Linking largely to accessibility and affordability, future fashion will ride off of the back of sustainability focusing largely on smart fabrics and longevity. This sort of clothing may be expensive to manufacture therefore its about finding the balance of cost so that sustainability is affordable and accessible to everyone.

COLLAB WITH NATURE SUSTAIN ABILITY

The fashion industry produces 6% of the worlds carbon emissions. If nothing changes, by 2050 the fashion industry will use up a quarter of the world’s carbon budget. Material alternatives will become popular. For example there are materials such as Pinatex, leather made of pineapple fibre.

By 2050 brands will have aimed to be 100% transparent and those that do not will become unpopular and loose dramatic sales. Trends and values will be customer led according to @supply compus with brands creating sustainable and ethical products that meet the demands of Gen z.

DESIGN FOR DIGITAL META FASHION

The design for digital trend drives innovation for young men and women in gen z to create digital avatar outfitting. The meta verse will be worth $800 billion by 2024 which is set to triple by 2050. Production of digital goods emits 97% less Co2 than that of real clothing.Moreover, augmented reality would allow designers to create pieces that have never been possible before, such as dresses made out of fire

Ruby Gloom is one of the first digital influencers binding the physical and digital worlds. The popularity of meta buying will increase by 79% lowering the physical purchases.

CREATIVE RESET

Scenario By 2050 clothing is more than design and style it is a means of life. It is a physical aid of life that protects us from the environment. As technology and innovation progress clothing will be able to not only adapt to the environment such as temperature and insulation advances, garments will change colour, size, wear ability and texture. Some technology will be in bedded such as heart rate monitors, phones, speakers and micro chips to aid our daily lifestyle through practicality.

The idea of having a second skin with body enhancing attributes. In the present we have comfort and support enhancing garments however in 30 years time we could have strength and speed enhancing skins with skeletal elements to fit and support your body like a glove. Due to climate conditions changing these suits coul potentially allow us to with stand increased or decreased temperatures or uninhabitable environments. Brands such as off-white have begun creating second skin like garments however I think the sports brands such as adidas or nike will take this forward into the future.

These suits or adaptable clothing may become a necessity due to the climate change putting practicality over fashion design. People may pay more for quality over quantity in the future.

@MICHAEL NORRIS

Innovation into colour changing garments that react to heat or light are already in the loop however techfabrics are being developed so that the wearer can control the colour and temperature insulation of a garment for example Polymer sheath laced garments. Alchemie, a British textile dyeing” operation that has developed waterless processing tech, alongside smart finishing procedures. COP26 conference has now presented a bill to require more transparency on the environmental impact of fashion goods sold – from raw materials to shipping.

Fitness and health are key drivers of the wearables industry. As we see fitness trackers fizzle out of style, tech clothing will take its place. Motion sensors embedded in clothing can measure performance and technique in sports activities. Intelligent shirts, pants, and jackets not only look good, but could also help people prevent heart failure, manage diabetes, relax their muscles, and improve their overall quality of life. Due to these benefits, smart clothing has grown into a market that’s set to reach $5.3 billion by 2024. 3D Printing could revolutionize the fashion industry. 3D Printed clothes can respond to the environment, Clothes that can change their shape and design are possible to print. Other advancements such as Smart socks for diabetes And Biometric coach clothing will be adopted largely by the sports giants such as Adidas.

@AXEL ARIGATO

@LI

INFINITY INFLUENCERS

Scenario By 2050 the fashion industry would have fully evolved in the meta verse including virtual shopping experiences, marketing and virtual runways. Designer brands have brand specific avatars and half of the modelling industry has shifted to digital. At this time technological advances have marginally progressed.

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THIS WOMEN ISN’T REAL?

The line between the physical and digital is becoming increasing blurred, with the creation of the meta-verse the consumer is able to create an augmented version of them- selves and utilise the digital space as an escape from reality. Whilst some will reflect as true-to-life, many will experiment with different identities and expressions. Brands will begin to familiarise with synthetic media and focus will be on inspiring creative brand. Vertual styling, Instore VR + AR experiences, NFT investment (Link to visual store / website display), Street wear influenced silhouette’s, colour scheme and design.

Digital meta influencers are Free to create virtual looks through nfts and digital creation including Virtual styling, In-store VR + AR experiences. They range from rendered bodies to human models that are digitally masked

As many as 56% of social media influencers are working in the met averse ( a Market tech news 17.1.22) 60% of influencers viewing themselves as creators in virtual worlds.

MEET LIL MIQUELE ...

Lil is a 19yr old Meta influencer living in LA. Shown in social situations with her friends, enjoying days at the beach, cocktails with the girls and road trips all through a rendered body. She promotes her styling and fashion looks through instagram, Collaborating with brands such as bailey prado. Websites such as meta influencer are already promoting becoming a metapreneur through an influencing to earn platform.

Front rows and after parties are in, but tickets are out. Your digital outfit matters more than ever. Seasons aren’t relevant yet and fashion is without limits. Welcome to the meta fashion week. In world realism meta fashion is becoming a trend however fast-forward to 2050 it will be 100% through the digital. NFT clothing collections will be viewed through an emersive VR experience.

META EVENTS & ADVERTISING

NECESSITY TAKES HOLD

@UNIQLO

Scenario By 2050 we have progressed to reverse that impacts of climate change monumentally not all together. The trend cycle has been broken and clothing is bought on the merit of sustainability and longevity. Accessibility and equality is prominent, swapping, and re purposing of used garments is currently happening more than ever before. Recycling worn out clothing through large scale success of textile-to-textile recycling processes are being used. Reduction in Overproduction and mindless consumption.

TRANSPARENCY @VIETNAM INVESTMENT REVIEW

@TALA

Forbes estimates that Generation Z are willing to spend an extra 10-20% on a sustainable product. Based on the fashion united survey 60 percent of gen Z are driven by a brand reducing its footprint and 45 percent are influenced by eco-friendly materials. Sustainable materials of the future will create full circularity whether that is by ensuring they are compostable to recalling old clothing to be reused or mended. Bottega Venetta was on eof the first brand to introduce vegan leather in 2012 and since leather alternatives such as mushroom leathers have arrision. Pineapples, bananas, onion skins and coffee grounds also found its way into the fibres of fabrics of the future along side spider silk, sweat crystals and rose petal silk.

Projects such as the post carbon lab founded by Dian-Jen Lin and Hannes Hulstaer. This is a” trans disciplinary design research studio with a focus on sustainability. Responding to the urgent need of change within the fashion industry, they have created pioneering microbiological processes of Bacterial Pigment Dyeing and Photosynthesis Coating as proactive and regenerative pathways toward climate-positive fashion.” (Luxider). Packaging and plastic coatings must be drowned out in future years to lower the fashion industries plastic pollution. The fashion industry accounts for 34.8% of global micro plastic pollution through land fill and water.

Water pollution and dye usage is a key focus of the future linking to the transparency of a brand and the story it can create around the production of their garments. Reverting to natural dyes made from roots and herbs such as ginger and beetroot that don’t contain harmful. Utilising the world around us will be key in 2050 due to the worlds exploitation to global warming the fashion industry will no longer be able to afford to green wash.

Our skin is the largest organ of the body therefore can soak up toxic dyes and impact other parts of the body such as the heart through dye poisoning. Brands such as Ever lane use dyes such as indigo or osage orange both are naturally sourced dyes. This is something that consumers will look for in brands transparent journeys and will be a key factor of purchase. Brands such as Pangaia have created a new process of dying using bacteria called colourifix. By engineering microbes in a lab, using less energy and less water. It includes no harmful chemicals, These engineered microbes grow in a fermenter on renewable feedstock, including simple sugars, salt and plant byproducts (Pangaia). This is a key development and monumental step forward in the textiles industry.

2700 litres of water are used to create one shirt and 0.5 million tones of micro fibres are released into fresh water each year these are the figure that the fashion industry as a whole must Fashion industry alone is producing 20% of the world’s wastewater. A survey conducted by McKinsey identified That 66% of U.S. consumers now consider sustainability when making a luxury purchase.

@PANGAIA

Invest in smart fabrics such as Goretex.

Adopt a neural aesthetic with a technological edge to blend with adapting Silhouettes.

Research into smart fabrics and technology that will aid your customers lifestyle.

2Connect with the meta verse and the digital world that will be fully developed by 2050.

Engage with meta influencers to engage your online audience.

Invest in digital in world advertising and nft collection creation to boost your social reach and increase online engagement.

Create strong connections with your audience through creating transparency in merchandising, online and through advertising.

Focus on innovative fabrics that are kind to the planet and will reduce the fashion industry’s global warming impact.

Consider the mark your brand leaves on every aspect of the planet including the waters. Gen z favour honesty and effort to prevent pollution, use this to your advantage.

Invest in natural dying processes.

Collide with political and social inequality and create community, brand relationship and deep connections.