Cocooned – Wrapping the Season in Soft Power

Softness takes the lead for Autumn/Winter 26/27 as outerwear evolves into a form of soft power. “Cocooned” explores a world where comfort meets confidence – where plush fabrics, quilted volumes, and warm, expressive palettes redefine how we protect, nurture, and empower through design.

This story champions the tactile. It’s about wrapping up, slowing down, and finding reassurance in materials that feel both comforting and considered. The result? Outerwear that doesn’t just shield from the cold – it speaks of safety, optimism, and creative resilience.

The Mood

At the heart of Cocooned lies the idea of emotional protection. Silhouettes are padded, oversized, and gently sculpted, echoing the feeling of being embraced. There’s a touch of childhood nostalgia – reminiscent of blankets, duvets, and hand-stitched quilts – reimagined through a modern, directional lens.

Designers draw from interiors for inspiration, merging home comfort with outdoor practicality. It’s a story about texture, about feeling, and about creating clothing that comforts as much as it captivates.

Key Design Directions

  • Sculptural Padding: Exaggerated puffers and duvet coats evolve with crafted details – bow ties, quilting lines, and stitched volume replacing sporty nylon minimalism.
  • Tactile Fabrics: Velvety cord, brushed cotton, matte satins, and padded jacquards introduce depth and hand-feel, bringing sensory richness to outerwear.
  • Floral Dimension: Quilted and appliqué florals add softness and visual warmth – an unexpected bridge between outdoor utility and home-grown creativity.
  • Home Comfort Crossover: Outerwear silhouettes borrow from homewear: deep hoods, wrap shapes, robe-like ties, and pillow-like padding blur the indoor-outdoor divide.

Colour Direction

A refined palette that balances nostalgia and calm:

  • Ochre Mustard – warm and optimistic
  • Dusty Rosewood – tender and emotive
  • Sage Green – restful and grounded
  • Powder Blue – softly serene
  • Deep Moss – rooted and protective

Together, these hues form a comforting equilibrium between handcrafted familiarity and modern polish — ideal for outerwear, accessories, and cosy mid-layers.

The Consumer Shift

Families are prioritising comfort and connection over trend-driven dressing. For parents, value now means versatility and longevity; for children, it’s all about feel-good design that encourages play and security.

Cocooned taps into this emotional need. It’s about creating pieces that children love to wear – and that parents trust for both warmth and wearability. As sustainability conversations mature, emotional durability becomes just as vital as material quality.

Why It Matters

Cocooned invites brands to redefine outerwear as an act of care. The trend offers endless scope for innovation – from tactile hybrids that merge streetwear with soft furnishings, to fashion pieces that double as emotional comfort.

Trendology Insight: Design Takeaways

  • Think Tactile: Prioritise materials that invite touch – from brushed cottons to quilted velvets – bringing emotional warmth into functional outerwear.
  • Design for Comfort & Longevity: Oversized, padded silhouettes can transcend seasons when designed with modular details, tonal palettes, and crafted finishings.
  • Bring Homewear Influence Outdoors: Merge the soft, cocoon-like comfort of interior textiles with the practicality of outerwear – a key hybrid direction for AW26/27.

Comfort is the new confidence – and Cocooned is where softness meets strength.

Explore More

Discover the full AW26/27 Trend Bites series – our latest insights into colour, texture, and design direction for the next generation of kidswear.

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