Introduction

As an outerwear retailer or wholesaler, you know that planning for what you are going to be stocking in upcoming seasons is essential. You may not have a crystal ball, but you still need to be able to anticipate the trends in outerwear that buyers will be clamouring for, all the way up to the autumn/winter, 2025/26 season.

Of course, you also need to factor in the various elements of design and production logistics.

Lead time is everything, but the last thing you want is to order garments that won't sell. At LotoGarment we don't have a crystal ball either, but we do have the experience and expertise (gained from more than 20 years of manufacturing outerwear for customers in over 40 international markets) to help you make the best choices when it comes to fashions that will sell during the next year and beyond. So, let's take a look at how we can give you a clearer view of what stock to buy in future.

How LotoGarment Looks Ahead – Our R&D Department.

Start life At LotoGarment, the items we create don't come out of nowhere. All our garments begin as a thought in the head of somebody in our Research and Development Department. We set up R&D in 2019 with one member of staff, and we've since expanded it to a team of four full-time in-house designers. Between them, they come up with around 30 new styles every season in collaboration with our select group of freelancers based in Germany and the UK.

These overseas partners are an important part of the equation. They are immersed in the European outerwear fashion market, and their insights help us to keep our finger on the pulse of the industry, anticipating the emerging trends that are likely to become popular in the months and years ahead.

We've invested in the latest CAD pattern-making software so that our designers can quickly and accurately turn their sketched ideas into fully realised prototypes. By coupling our trend forecasting capabilities with our capacity for rapid manufacturing, we have the flexibility to respond quickly when new trends take off, so we're always in a position to bring you the latest outerwear fashions in months or even weeks. Needless to say, we are more than happy to work with you to bring your own designs to life, too. If you already know what you want, then we can help you turn it into reality faster.

Capacity

Capacity is another important part of the manufacturing equation, which is why ours is constantly expanding. There's no point anticipating trends if you can't mass-produce garments and ship them to customers all over the world quickly. That's why we made the decision to invest in a new factory. It's not that we weren't already investing in our original facility. We've been upgrading capacity in our original factory since it was built in 2003, and now our 400 skilled machinists are capable of producing more than 600,000 garments a year. However, our increasing popularity among retailers and wholesalers means that we've sometimes found ourselves coming close to our production limit.

We needed to increase capacity, and we did. The new 10,000-square-foot factory floor adds another 300,000 garments per year to our potential output, but that's not all. Thanks to our established long-term relationships with trusted subcontractors (who we regularly inspect to ensure they meet our exacting quality control standards) our total manufacturing capacity is three million items per year. That means we're able to respond quickly when wholesalers and retailers need the latest styles fast.

Ski Wear

With minimum order quantities of 1000 items, our OEM and ODM skiwear gives you a highly cost-effective way of stocking some of the most up-to-date designs you can find.

For example, this is one of our newest women's skiwear jackets. Not only does it offer a very contemporary quilted style with a fake down filling for more ethically achieved warmth, but we've also made it from 100% recycled polyester that's PFC-free, and water-resistant to 10k/5k.

The quilted look of puffer jackets has been popular for a few years now, and those in the know think they will continue to be sales leaders for quite some time; but design-wise, it's important not to get stuck in a rut. The traditional ribbed look is nice and all, but our designers used two types of quilting to come up with something that's unusual and enticing that still performs well. This is the essence of fashion. You're always looking for strong variations on a solid theme!

This ladies snow jacket is a lovely example of the kind of bold and colourful designs they can achieve too, the sort that buyers usually associate with higher-end brands, so why not offer them? There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to stock equally attractive clothing made to the same high standards. Once your customers realise that great-looking designs don't need to cost the earth, you may even be able to raise your prices accordingly.

Outdoor Wear

This men's outdoor jacket is another new addition to the range. It offers the kind of lightweight protection that isn't likely to go out of fashion anytime soon and it can also be made of recycled polyester on request. Recycling is increasingly important to customers, but they don't want to compromise on performance. That's why it is waterproof to 8,000mm for premium protection in heavy rain, and it's also breathable, because customers value the opportunity to stay comfortable when they're pushing hard through stormy weather. The neat zippers and contrasting colours are bound to be popular. Take a look at the detailing…

Kid's Wear

It's no secret that fashionable parents are always keen to have their children looking just as good as them when they're enjoying the great outdoors. With that in mind, we pay just as much attention to looking ahead with our children's ranges as we do our adult lines.

This padded toddler's jacket for girls illustrates this perfectly. It's bright and cheerful, with a chevron design that sits halfway between retro and futurist. An alternative version is available with smaller chevrons all over, and our R&D team have been careful to leave out choking hazards like small buttons (because some toddlers will chew on anything!) for extra peace of mind. They've also treated the outside with a high-performance Teflon fabric protector for better waterproofing and less frequent washing. A benefit that anyone with small children will surely appreciate!

We've designed the jacket to be both practical and attractive, with 2k waterproofing, comfy insulation (courtesy of a polyester taffeta lining), and good looks that parents with children of two years and up will be proud to swaddle them in.

This is the kind of vibrant green that probably shows up on satellite images, which is just as well because toddlers love to wander off and parents love to keep track of them. This is one piece of clothing that offers the perfect blend of protection and comfort for small bodies that are more than likely going to fall over and get wet on the slopes. But now they won't! They'll just be dry and comfy. It also features adjustable straps and reinforced knees to provide extra protection while they're out on the slopes.

For more heavy-duty protection when the family goes skiing, parents are sure to want to invest in this blazingly colourful set of ski pants.

Insulated Jacket

Looking at this gorgeous new women's down puffer jacket, we think you'll agree that with its timeless appeal it has every chance of still being popular in two years' time – and probably a lot longer. The integrated hood combined with the high zip-up neck give the wearer a huge amount of protection from the elements.

Its three-quarter length gives good wind and waterproof protection to the upper legs, and the use of a similar, complementary tone at the back is very pleasing to the eye. The use of fake down means that it will still keep customers warm, but without the ethical concerns that more and more of them are expressing these days.

Work Wear

The workwear market is an interesting one. Even though it doesn't change as radically as the fashionwear side, you still have to reckon with the fact that when two workwear garments have the same specification in terms of comfort, water resistance, and windproof qualities, all else being equal, the better-looking item is the one that is more likely to sell.

That's what our research and development team had in mind when they created this functional and attractive men's high-visibility jacket. Once they had covered the necessities, such as 5k waterproof protection, and 3.000 breathability from the polyester fleece bonded to a polyester outer shell, they were then free to make it a little more appealing than the average Hi-Vis. So, while it's certified to EN 20471 Class 2 (Hi-Vis), is comfortable in poor weather, and has a front opening zipper and zippered chest pocket, workers will also appreciate its stylish good looks.
 

Hunting Wear

There's no reason why hunters should be limited to boring-looking outdoor protection either. Camouflage can look stylish too, and our designers know that better-looking gear for customers means they generate more sales for retailers and wholesalers like you.

This winter hunting jacket for men is a good example of that.

It fulfils all the requirements in terms of keeping hunters warm and dry, but its innovative use of autumnal colours elevates it above and beyond the level of typical run-of-the-mill designs. The orangey brown colour scheme will help fashion-conscious hunters to blend in perfectly with woodland backgrounds when the leaves have left the trees, and they won't feel embarrassed to be seen wearing it on the way home from a successful hunt either.

The design team have given this coat exceptional water-repellent qualities by using a coating of BIONIC FINISH®ECO EN20471. Day-to-day practicality meets exceptional good looks. Such a shame that we've designed it to go largely unnoticed in the woods!

Colour Forecast

As you think about developing outerwear for autumn/winter 2025/26, you won't just be considering the shape and features of your outerwear range. You'll also be trying to anticipate what colours are likely to be popular. This kind of forecasting is considered something of a dark art because you're only listening to the predictions of industry insiders. They can't tell the future, but paradoxically by putting out their predictions, they can help to influence it. So, whose influence will reign supreme?

You can't know for sure, and you can't know whether the buying public will take their recommendations seriously, but you can do your research and make yourself aware of what they're saying now. For instance, here's what colour experts Hallie Spradlin and Joanne Thomas of Fashion Snoops think will be dominating the autumn/winter 2025/26 season.

They are calling this first palette 'Savoury Brights,' drawing some of their inspiration from the culinary world. This reminds us of the colour scheme of one of our recent additions to the range, this ladies' camping jacket. It seems to draw some inspiration from Urgent Orange and Steel (or maybe Sophisticated Sage, below) and shows what a pleasing combination they can make. There's still a long way to go to 2025/26, so perhaps we're ahead of the curve with this one?

This second collection of shades is called 'Practical Neutrals,' a more muted collection of colours which Spradlin and Thomas see as symbols of sustainability. They don't shout as loudly as the first palette, conveying a more subtle message through their quiet earthiness.

The pair have dubbed their last collection of choices 'Artisanal Midtones,' and although there is more vibrancy here it still draws its inspiration from elements of nature.

Whether or not you end up considering any of these hues for your own lines, it's good to know that the people working at the heart of the fashion industry are dropping a few clues about what they think will sell in the months ahead. It's up to us as garment creators to use them for inspiration in our designs.

Fabrics and Technologies

All the good looks in the world aren't going to matter if the end product doesn't feel comfortable and fails to live up to customer expectations. Outdoor clothing needs to repel water, keep out the wind, keep the wearer warm in low temperatures, offer enough pocket storage, and last a long time. Whatever designs you come up with for the Autumn/Winter 2025/26 season, you can be sure that the garments we make for you will meet all of those standards, just like these men's snow pants do.

They are waterproof to 8k/5k thanks to the use of 100% nylon twill taslon and TPU lamination. The fabric surface has a fuzzy peach-like texture that feels great to the touch, and the printed surface is 100% polyester. These pants have an embossed lining, with 300T pongee used on the
upper part of the mesh phone pocket for toughness and a tricot lining for warmth. So, they are practical, they look good, and they will certainly last.

Urban Outdoor Gear

The trend toward outdoor gear aesthetics crossing over into urban streetwear has been going for a few years now and doesn't show any sign of letting up at all. You can bet money on the fact that hiking gear is going to continue playing its part in influencing what people wear on the street. The reason is clear. Brands like the North Face have aligned themselves with tough outdoor pursuits like Arctic trekking so that now people who wear their down jackets feel rugged and outdoorsy by association.

What this has done for every other retailer is create a space for urban streetwear that is influenced by outdoor gear. Even though customers may not pay as much for your brand as they would for a Canada Goose jacket, you still have the opportunity to make sales by stocking high-quality outdoor gear like this example.

Look at the ribbing on this men's quilted jacket. Our design team has made something pleasantly out of the ordinary simply by contrasting differently sized rectangles to form a quilted pattern that is pleasing to the eye and a lot more interesting than some of the designs you see on so-called premium brands like the ones we mentioned.

While you can't always compete with businesses with strong established brand identities, you can carve out a niche for yourself by insisting on premium quality (which you can see clearly in the pictures below) and taking a few design risks – which could end up making you trendsetters for next season instead of trend followers!

Water resistant, wind resistant, and good looking. What more could a happy customer ask for?

Sustainability

More and more customers don't consider themselves happy customers unless they know that your company is committed to ethical manufacturing standards. It's not just young people either. These days it's a consideration that spans the generations. People of all ages will find another brand if your suppliers turn out to have poor labour practices, don't respect the environment, or they or their suppliers mistreat animals.

To address the latter concern, many of our jackets use fake down, and for those that do use down from geese, we make sure that the materials are ethically sourced. We are certified to the Responsible Down Standard version 3.0, which includes a guarantee of the chain of custody for goose feathers.

We also hold and maintain certifications that testify to our recycling standards and good labour practices. So, if your customers ever ask you for proof of your ethics, you can easily point them towards the above link.

Thanks mainly to things like social media, more and more people are willing to campaign about these sorts of issues, which is only right, and we as retailers and manufacturers must listen to what they want. If we don't, they will simply vote with their wallets and find someone who does.

Quality Control

We know that retailers and wholesalers need to have confidence in the products they buy from us. We've built our reputation on generating this kind of confidence through strict quality control. We've set up systems that apply our high standards to our own suppliers, and we operate an exacting system of checks in our factories.

We always hold preproduction meetings for each style, and it's here that they hand over all the related files and details of the requirements for each particular garment.

When the first piece has been made it's inspected so that we can identify any defects or potential problems in the manufacturing process.

Products are next inspected at the half-finished stage. We also hold inspections at random on the production line in order to weed out any defects at that stage.

The final inspection takes place before shipment to ensure that your garments only leave the factory in good condition.

It's also worth mentioning here that we also monitor the subcontractors that we use, to ensure that they meet the same high standards.

Conclusion

We think you will be happy to discover that Lotogarment is the best partner for retailers and wholesalers. Our repeat customers certainly are, and with our ongoing commitment to increasing quality and capacity, our ability to serve you proudly is only going to get better.

We've been going strong for 20 years and intend to be here in 20 more. Our values and commitment have got us this far because we focus on ethical management, honesty, and the never-ending quest for perfection in all that we do.

Get in touch with us today, and our staff will be happy to hear your requirements and answer your questions. Together we can make 2024 your best year ever.