Spring / Summer 2026 collection

Trends in embroidery and textile decoration (Text and photos : Reiner Knochel)

Spring and summer – simply the best time of the year for many people. Warm summer feeling, great nature, happy mood, relaxed vacations, long walks in the forest, city trips with friends… All in all, lots of positive vibes and we enjoy the lightness and the beautiful things around us.

Spring/summer 2026 will surprise us with many collections that present light, soft and yet strong fashion. And thus make a clear statement in challenging times.

Is there a design element that represents these summer aspects better than flowers? They will literally appear in every collection. Bright, delicate, in beautiful pastel shades, both printed and machine-embroidered or made in luxurious hand embroidery.

Ultra-fine pleated fabrics, mesh designs and lattice structures are a major trend theme. Inspiration comes from marbles, but also from corals, seaweed and marine plants. Materials to which biodegradable yarns such as COTTY BIO and SULKY viscose are an excellent match.

Embroidered letters, logos and numbers will appear on thousands of T-shirts, sweatshirts, but also on jackets and pants. Sometimes inspired by graffiti or by signatures and handwriting, but never too classic. Let’s find great ideas for surprising and innovative graphics !

gestickt mit Gunolds POLY in neonrot

Gestickte 4 von Feline Vierkant, Modefachschule Sigmaringen auf Effektstoff von Frizza Italy. Transfer-Konfetti von madebykasia

Attractive logo design by Patrick Pfeiffer in cooperation with funny iris, Sigmaringen Fashion College

Cutting edge technology and AI meet classic textile techniques – we present two exceptional founders: GRDXKN 4D printing by Bastian Müller provides grip and protection for functional fabrics and clothing – and the material simply looks great when it is also finished with classic machine embroidery. NODETY by Dr. Marc Gumpinger is a node-based software that can be used to quickly and easily create embroidery and knitting designs that can be used immediately in practice.

Let’s get back to the big topic of natural looks and the pleasant feel of embroidery yarns made from cotton and viscose. Embroidery is used to make clothing even more valuable. Fabrics made from high-quality natural materials that are biodegradable are lovingly used – why are many brands still using polyester embroidery thread for “finishing”? It would make much more sense to use the naturally elegant sheen of cotton or the silky, elegant shimmer of viscose…

Many cotton fabrics are coated, e.g. with metallic-looking surfaces, and are also embroidered with fresh, cool embroidery in contrasting colors. If, on the other hand, the fabrics are elegant and pure linen, wool or hemp, the contrast comes from luxuriously shimmering iridescent metallic yarns or yarns with an opal effect.

Soft summer leathers are either coated to achieve shimmer and luxurious shine, or hairy goatskin is used to emphasize the natural beauty of this noble material.

Following the famous 3R slogan “reuse – repair – recycle”, many brand manufacturers are rethinking their approach. Customers can return clothing with stains or holes to have them mended. Or unsold items are restyled and pimped with embroidery and textile decoration. AND, consumers really appreciate this and are willing to pay for this service. Here are a few examples of how embroidery and transfer printing can give defective goods a second life: