Taking superhero style to the runways, Fall 2009 shows featured masks with varying degrees of intensity.
Fashion East showed the mask style with steel glasses, Lydia Delgado showed a black bow that covered the eyes, Richard Nicoll showed a nylon eye mask with clasps, and Francis Montesinos showed a mask adorned with a jewelled eye.
Further covering the face, as Trend de la Creme pointed out, Marta Montono showed a fully covered face with embroidered eyes, Roberto Piqueras with a full nylon face covering, and Ashish and Francis Montesinos showed the most dramatic offerings, with a full jewelled face covering, and a astronaut-like globe covered in flowers.
So channel your favorite masked avenger in the style of Fall.
Shielded Styles
Masks Make a Major Fashion Statement for Fall 2009
Trend Themes
1. Masked Fashion - The integration of masks as a fashion accessory creates opportunities for designers to innovate with fabric, embellishments and styles.
2. Tech-mask Mashup - Combining face masks with technology, such as integrating air filtration and music, creates opportunities for new product offerings for health, entertainment and fashion.
3. Sustainable Masks - Innovative use of sustainable fabrics like bamboo, cotton and hemp in mask production create more eco-friendly options for consumers to adopt as a fashion statement.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - The fashion industry can leverage the popularity of masks as a fashion accessory to create new product lines that cater to individual preferences and unique styles.
2. Healthcare - Healthcare industry can innovate with mask technology that incorporates air filtration, music therapy or aromatherapy, offering health benefits beyond just blocking pollutants.
3. Sustainability - Sustainability industry can capitalize on a growing trend of eco-consciousness by developing sustainable, reusable and washable masks that help reduce waste and pollution.