As the fashion industry prepares for New York Fashion Week in September, trends are already making noise before models hit the runway.
Design insiders and stylists are pointing to fringe detailing on skirts, coats, bags, and sleeves as a standout element expected to shape the Spring/Summer 2026 collections. Long associated with bohemian flair and retro glam, fringe is being reimagined this season as both refined and rebellious.
“Fringe is no longer just about festival aesthetics,” said Amaka Eze, a fashion editor at Mode Lineage. “We’re seeing designers approach it more sculpturally, layering it on tailored garments or using it to disrupt minimal shapes.”
Early lookbook releases and showroom previews hint at dramatic fringe accents from both established names and rising talents. At least five designers on the official NYFW schedule have teased fringe-heavy silhouettes in their invites/digital drops, signalling a deliberate shift toward tactile texture and motion.
Fringe's predicted dominance aligns with a wider desire for expressive fashion in a post-minimalist market. “People want clothing that moves with them, that has personality,” said Leila Jones, a buyer for an independent boutique in SoHo. “Fringe delivers drama without trying too hard.”
If the forecasts are right, this is a material language. Think long fringe on column dresses, micro-fringe on cropped jackets, and leather fringe woven into daywear.
A Full-Circle Moment
In many ways, fringe is a fitting metaphor for this nostalgic resurgence. Back in the 2008–2015 era, fringe was everywhere, from suede jackets worn by indie sleaze icons to asymmetrical hems that echoed Tumblr’s love for theatrical silhouettes. It carried the same sense of movement and rebellion now bubbling back to the surface of today’s trend cycle.
The return of fringe also complements the broader reemergence of fashion signatures from that time: American Apparel-inspired bodysuits, micro-mini skirts, gladiator sandals, oversized knits, and the once-maligned but now revitalised boho aesthetic.
“People are returning to the era of ‘personal style’ over trend-chasing,” said Leila Jones, a buyer at a boutique in SoHo. “They’re styling intentionally, clashing elements sporty, romantic, edgy, and the fringe fits beautifully into that chaos.”
Other Signals From the Era Resurfacing
The forecast for NYFW also includes a handful of throwback-aligned trends:
With nostalgia driving much of the fashion conversation this season, fringe feels less like a fleeting trend and more like a callback to a time when self-expression was at its peak and a preview of how Gen Z and young millennials are remixing the past with purpose.
The week will also spotlight sustainability, with a record number of designers opting for upcycled materials or zero-waste production methods, continuing the industry’s push toward circular fashion.
As NYFW begins, all eyes will be on how fringe is styled and subverted across collections. Will it be the detail that defines the season? The runways and sidewalks will soon reveal the answer.
