There’s nothing quite like touching down in New York, the city that never sleeps, never slows down, and definitely never stops inspiring. We’ve just wrapped up a whirlwind trip meeting an incredible mix of women’s and menswear apparel and accessories brands, showcasing New York our fashion fabrics along the way.
One thing we noticed from this trip is that jacquard is having a major moment. From emerging designers to established names, we saw brands leaning confidently into richly expressive designs, statement textures and heritage-inspired archival references. With many brands planning to introduce more jacquards than previously into their upcoming collections.
Florals remain a firm favourite for the US market, Customers embracing the extravagant, beautifully composed designs that continue to prove popular each season.
A recurring theme this trip was archival designs and fabrics which capture an authentic, story-rich aesthetic. Our archive room at the mill is often a key topic of conversation, housing books and hand painted artworks spanning generations. The appetite for boho-inspired and heritage-rooted visuals remains a strong trend for spring summer, especially when translated as luxury jacquards.
Another standout category was textured jacquards. Our Boucle quality was a favourite with it’s soft texture achieved through a blend of yarns including cotton Boucle, wool and chenille. A tactile quality that suits transitional and unstructured silhouettes.
Another quality which was apricated on this trip, mimics artisanal embellishment while being woven entirely as one construction, achieving depth and elevated luxury.
Customers loved how these fabrics deliver visual drama without the weight or complexity of traditional embellishment.
This season, we saw real appetite for classic patterns re‑imagined with a modern twist, such as stripes, heathered herringbone and mottled check. The cotton-rich handle gives a cool, tactile feel, while the polyester blend adds durability, making one of our core qualities ‘Cecil’ a fantastic choice for contemporary daywear.
Colour remains a key commercial driver for the US market, and our ability to custom colour continues to be one of our most valued services. We offer designs in a range of colourways to help inspire and demonstrate possibilities, but everything is woven to order. This means customers can recolour any of our designs using shades from our stocked colour range, allowing them to build the exact palette they need for their collections.
A notable trend this season was aqua influencing many colour stories we developed for clients.
Above all, there was a genuine appreciation for the craftsmanship behind British‑woven textiles, a story we’re proud to carry with us wherever we go.
It was incredibly rewarding to see how much customers value our jacquard expertise and ongoing commitment to innovation in luxury British weaving.
Whether you’re looking for 100% noble fibre, mixed blends or accessible polyesters, our team is fully equipped to support you. We’re versatile and ready to custom develop fabrics tailored to your exact vision and it’s a privilege to bring them to life. Our strongest partnerships are built on collaboration, sharing concepts early, problem solving together, and developing fabrics that feel truly unique to each brand.
Exciting updates we’ve been sharing with customers recently is the progress happening back at our mill. We are currently in the process of replacing and upgrading our looms. A major investment that will allow us to continue to deliver fabrics of the highest quality and maximise our design potential.
One of the most rewarding parts of travelling is stepping into stores and spotting Stephen Walters fabrics transformed into finished garments. There’s something truly special about knowing the journey it took to get there. These fabrics pass through so many hands designers, technicians, weavers, finishers and seeing them come alive is a proud moment for the entire mill.
Where to Find Stephen Walters Luxury Fabrics This Season
A Fabric Affair, New York | 16-17 July
Milan Unica, Milan | 7-9 July
Private appointments are also available at our mill-based design studio and showroom just outside London, or one of our team would be happy to visit you directly.
If you’d like a deeper dive into trends, custom development options, or upcoming innovations, we’re always here to talk fabrics.
Contact: Sales@stephenwalters.co.uk
