A fashion trend board is a curated collage of images, materials, colors, and textures that represent a specific fashion trend or design direction (vs a moodboard, which is used to capture the feeling of a collection – more on that below).

Trend boards typically include photographs, sketches, magazine clippings, fabric swatches, and sometimes even written descriptions to relay the key elements and mood of the trend.

Fashion Trend Board Examples

1. Gorpcore Trend Board

Here’s a Gorpcore trend board by Philippa Cooper (LinkedIn) featuring a well-curated mix of outdoor brands’ takes on functional, technical, outdoor-inspired gear.

2. Menswear Trend Board

Centered on sportswear-inspired logo graphics, this board by Anna Keo (Instagram)  shows a streetwear-meets-varsity vibe. Bold color blocking, oversized silhouettes, and strong logo placements make it a solid reference for branding and design.

3. Intimates Trend Board 

This quick trend board by Lucrecia De Los Santos Adon (LinkedIn) highlights the rise of harness-inspired lingerie across both indie and mainstream brands.

4. Denim Trend Board

This final trend board by Jacqueline Diane (Website) explores the two-toned / pieced-together denim trend. It works well because it clearly shows the contrast panels, including variations in style and colors.

Mood Board vs Trend Board: What’s the Difference?

A mood board, like the one on the left by Stacked Studio (Website), is meant to capture the overall feeling or aesthetic of a collection. It’s more emotional and abstract — often using photos, colors, textures, and patterns to spark inspiration and set the tone for the design process.

In contrast, a trend board, like the one on the right by Jacqueline Diane (Website), is more focused. It highlights a specific trend with garment images, fabric swatches, sketches, and callouts that show key elements like color palettes, silhouettes, materials, and details.

What Software do Fashion Designers Use to Create Trend Boards?

Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)

Adobe‘s design software suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, is the go-to choice for many fashion designers. Photoshop is excellent for editing and manipulating images, while Illustrator is great for creating vector graphics and illustrations. InDesign, on the other hand, is ideal for assembling all the elements of a trend board into a polished layout. 

Presentation Apps (Powerpoint, Keynote, Canva)

I know, it takes some time (and $$$ on subscription fee) to get used to the Adobe Suite, so a more practical option to creating inspiration boards is using presentation apps like PowerPoint, Keynote, and Canva. 

Where to Find Inspiration for Fashion Trend Boards

1. Forecasting Platforms: Fashion trend forecasting platforms like WGSN and Pantone are great resources for staying ahead in the fashion industry. 
   
   Pro Tip: Trend forecasting platforms can be expensive! This is why I created a list of 91 free (and cheap) trend-forecasting resources + websites. You can also hit play on this episode of my podcast with Wendy Bendoni (who used to be a trend forecaster for WGSN) on how to predict trends.
   
2. Runway Shows and Fashion Weeks: Runway shows and fashion weeks showcase high fashion collections that kickstart fashion trends. Attending or following these events allows you to witness firsthand the latest creations from top designers. And ofc, not everyone can attend these shows, so instead, you can check out well-known runway websites such as Tagwalk and Vogue Runway.
3. Fashion Magazines: Fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar are timeless sources of inspiration – offering editorials, photography, and articles that showcase the latest trends and styles.
4. Trade Shows: Trade shows are industry events where fashion industry professionals gather to display and discover the latest products and trends. Events like Première Vision bring together textile and fabric enthusiasts, while others like MAGIC focus on clothing and accessories. 

Despite all the trend resources out there, it’s a fashion designer’s job to create trends. And oftentimes, inspiration for this is pulled from anywhere but the fashion industry. Look beyond the runway and get ideas from other industries like automotives, architecture, and interiors. 

The natural world around you is another source of amazing inspiration just waiting to be interpreted into the next big trend.

Remember, creating an effective fashion trend board isn’t just slapping together some nice pictures – it requires thoughtful organization and selection of representative images that embody your design vision.