About this report

Men's Knit & Jersey SS28 Trend Report

Trend DNA is Slayteq's Spring/Summer 2028 trend report for men's knitwear and jersey. Across 107 pages it maps 6 chapters and 24 trend directions, each built out as a mood world, a design edit of AI-generated garments, a Trend DNA breakdown of colour, fabric, silhouette and construction, and a prompt pack you can use directly in the Slayteq studio.

SS28 is about the tension between softness and technology.

  • 01 / SOFTENFine gauge, sheer surfaces and second-skin constructions.
  • 02 / GROUNDCraft textures, washed surfaces and tactile natural yarns.
  • 03 / ESCAPERiviera prep, resort dressing and holiday knitwear.
  • 04 / EXPERIMENTTechnical construction, saturated colour and new proportions.

96 designs · 24 colour stories with Pantone TCX references · 24 prompt packs · free to read, no account needed.

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Men's Knit & Jersey SS28 Trend Report — cover

Colour

SS28 master palette for men's knit and jersey

A 60 / 25 / 15 split of core, accent and statement colours with indicative Pantone TCX references. Each trend direction adds its own six-colour story. See the palette on page 4.

60% Core

  • Sandstone · PANTONE 16-1235 TCX
  • Winter White · PANTONE 11-0507 TCX
  • Sage · PANTONE 16-0421 TCX

25% Accent

  • Dress Blues · PANTONE 19-4024 TCX
  • Blue Atoll · PANTONE 16-4535 TCX
  • French Vanilla · PANTONE 12-0722 TCX

15% Statement

  • Vibrant Yellow · PANTONE 13-0858 TCX
  • Pink Flambé · PANTONE 17-2034 TCX
  • Pistachio Green · PANTONE 13-0221 TCX

What's inside

6 chapters, 24 trend directions

Chapter 01 The New Lightness — SS28 men's knitwear trend chapter opener

Chapter 01 · page 5

The New Lightness

SHEER / SEAMLESS / WEIGHTLESS / PRECISE

Directions: Gentle Futurism · Soft Structure · Future Past · Quiet Precision

Gentle Futurism mood board — The New Lightness, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 01 · The New Lightness · DIRECTIONAL · RISING

Gentle Futurism

The future arrives at a whisper, worn close to the skin.

WEIGHTLESS / TRANSLUCENT / SERENE / TECHNICAL

Colour story: Airy Blue (14-4122 TCX), Blue Atoll (16-4535 TCX), Misty Jade (13-6008 TCX), Orchid Hush (15-3507 TCX), Glacier Gray (14-4102 TCX), Double Cream (12-0715 TCX)

Designs: Gossamer Gradient Crew, Second-Skin Pointelle Tank, Featherweight Knit Track Jacket, Orchid Haze Baselayer Polo

Mood: Serene / Weightless / OtherworldlyColour: Blue → Jade → OrchidMaterial: Sheer / Seamless / Bio-BasedSilhouette: Second Skin / Longline / ArticulatedDetail: Bonded / Raw Edge / Invisible Zip

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: sheer fine-gauge (18–21gg) merino-cotton and cotton-nylon; mesh pointelle jersey; seamless whole-garment knit with engineered ventilation zones; matte technical viscose-poly second-skin jersey; bio-based seaweed/lyocell-blend ultra-light knits.

Silhouette: sheer fine-knit long-sleeve tee; seamless engineered-rib tank baselayer; zip-through featherweight knit track jacket; longline gossamer-gradient pullover; knitted hybrid polo-baselayer with bonded collar.

  • Weightlessness: Hyperlight construction turns knitwear into a gossamer second skin.
  • Material: Sheer 18-21gg gauges, seamless whole-garment knits and bio-based seaweed-lyocell blends.
  • Silhouette: Close-to-body baselayers and longline gradient pullovers, mapped not compressed.
  • Market Signal: Sheer, see-through fabrics and menswear purples keep measurably climbing.

This theme maps directly to Future Snoops' SS28 performance preview — 'Weightlessness', translucent membranes, hyperlight constructions, tailored baselayers and gossamer-gradient colour — and to the 'Re-Sensitized' and 'Material Science' macros pairing sensory tactility with bio-based fibre innovation. WGSN's SS28 Offline Blue and Serene Green, alongside Colour of the Year 2027 Luminous Blue, give it a confirmed colour spine. Heuritech's measured growth in sheer, see-through fabrics and rising menswear purples supports the sheer fine-knit read. This is knitwear as second skin: technical, quiet and futures-facing.

  • Gossamer Gradient Crew — 18GG SHEER · MERINO-COTTON · AIRY BLUE TO GLACIER GRAY OMBRÉ · PANTONE 14-4122 TCX
  • Second-Skin Pointelle Tank — MESH POINTELLE · SEAMLESS · MISTY JADE · PANTONE 13-6008 TCX
  • Featherweight Knit Track Jacket — MATTE TECH · SECOND SKIN · GLACIER GRAY · PANTONE 14-4102 TCX
  • Orchid Haze Baselayer Polo — 21GG · BIO LYOCELL · ORCHID HUSH · PANTONE 15-3507 TCX

Mood world · p.6Design edit · p.7Trend DNA · p.8Prompt pack · p.9

Soft Structure mood board — The New Lightness, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 02 · The New Lightness · DIRECTIONAL · RISING

Soft Structure

The blazer forgets its canvas and learns to breathe.

TAILORED / UNLINED / ARCHITECTURAL / SOFT

Colour story: Winter White (11-0507 TCX), Angora (12-0605 TCX), Pebble (14-1112 TCX), Desert Sage (16-0110 TCX), Skyway (14-4112 TCX), Atmosphere (16-1406 TCX)

Designs: Milano Blazer-Cardigan, Links Polo Suit Top, Double-Face Tank Waistcoat, Crease-Front Jersey Set

Mood: Composed / Quiet / ArchitecturalColour: White → Sage → AtmosphereMaterial: Milano / Interlock / BondedSilhouette: Slim-Straight / Shoulder-True / LonglineDetail: Hidden Placket / Corozo / Tubular Hem

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: 14-16gg full-milano cotton/lyocell for self-supporting fronts and lapels; Double-face interlock jersey (cotton/modal) with clean-finished, no-facing edges; Crepe-twist high-twist cotton yarn for dry, tailored-hand jersey; Bonded fine-gauge knit-to-knit panels replacing canvas/fusing; Silk/cotton links-links for matte, ripple-surface polo suiting.

Silhouette: Knitted unlined blazer-cardigan (single-breast, patch pocket); Boxy-but-slim knit shirt with collar-stand in rib; Full-milano polo with johnny collar, worn as suiting layer; Straight-leg interlock jersey trouser with pressed-crease look; Longline fine-gauge tank as waistcoat substitute.

  • Tailoring: Suiting logic is rebuilt stitch by stitch, holding a line without a single woven panel.
  • Material: Full-milano, links-links and bonded knit-to-knit panels replace canvas and fusing.
  • Silhouette: Slim-straight blazer-cardigans and pressed-crease jersey trousers, ending at the hip.
  • Market Signal: Buyers flagged ultra-light, deconstructed, collarless tailoring as the season's defining shift.

Tailoring logic migrates into knit: the ultra-light, deconstructed, unlined, collarless direction buyers flagged as the defining shift at Milan Menswear Spring 2027 is rebuilt in full-milano, links-links and bonded jersey, so the garment holds a line without any woven structure. The theme sits inside Future Snoops' Re-Sensitized macro — tactile materials and sensory calm over optimisation — and the wider SS28 framing of structured clarity and premium architectural minimalism. For SS28 menswear knit this means knitted blazers, polo-suiting and jersey trousers that read tailored at three metres but soft at touch.

  • Milano Blazer-Cardigan — 14GG FULL-MILANO · COTTON/LYOCELL · ECRU · PANTONE 12-0605 TCX
  • Links Polo Suit Top — LINKS-LINKS · SILK/COTTON · DESERT SAGE · PANTONE 16-0110 TCX
  • Double-Face Tank Waistcoat — DOUBLE-FACE INTERLOCK · BONDED · WINTER WHITE · PANTONE 11-0507 TCX
  • Crease-Front Jersey Set — HIGH-TWIST CREPE · PRESSED CREASE · ATMOSPHERE GREY · PANTONE 16-1406 TCX

Mood world · p.10Design edit · p.11Trend DNA · p.12Prompt pack · p.13

Future Past mood board — The New Lightness, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 03 · The New Lightness · BUILDING

Future Past

Yesterday's track stripes, re-run on tomorrow's fibres.

RETRO / ATHLETIC / ENGINEERED / NOSTALGIC

Colour story: Antique White (11-0105 TCX), Glacier Gray (14-4102 TCX), Classic Blue (19-4052 TCX), Pale Banana (12-0824 TCX), Baked Clay (18-1441 TCX), Orange Peel (16-1359 TCX)

Designs: Signal Stripe Polo, Bio-Tricot Track Cardigan, Ringer Archive Tee, Velour Panel Crew

Mood: Nostalgic / Optimistic / KineticColour: Blue → Clay → OrangeMaterial: Tricot / Jacquard / VelourSilhouette: Slim / Cropped / High ArmholeDetail: Tipping / Ring Zip / Archive Label

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: Bio-based nylon/cotton plated jersey with subtle 70s-tricot sheen; Recycled polyester/cotton jacquard for engineered retro stripes; Circular-knit velour (cotton/modal) for track-top revivals; Fine-gauge merino/Tencel with liquid drape and heathered archive mélange; Openwork transfer-stitch jersey mimicking vintage sports mesh.

Silhouette: 70s ring-collar knit tee with contrast tipping; Zip-through fine-gauge track cardigan with chest stripe; Irregular horizontal-stripe knit polo (boxy-slim hybrid); Long-torso jersey tank with racer armhole, retro athletic proportions; Panelled velour crew with raglan colour-blocking.

  • Archive: Seventies sportswear codes are re-issued with future-facing conviction.
  • Material: Bio-nylon tricot sheen, recycled jacquard stripes and circular-knit velour.
  • Silhouette: Ringer tees, chest-stripe track cardigans and boxy-slim polos on a vintage athletic block.
  • Market Signal: Irregular stripes on polos and knitted tops are up double digits, led by menswear.

Retro-futurism resolved for 2028: WGSN's framing of Radiant Earth as making products feel reassuringly nostalgic and confidently future-ready is effectively this theme's thesis. It bridges Future Snoops' Future Keepers macro — heritage worship, with 55% of US adults prizing discontinued products and paying 32% premiums — and Material Science's bioengineered fibre innovation. In menswear knit it lands as archive sportswear codes: 70s track knits and irregular stripes on polos and knitted tops, up 10% in Q3 per Heuritech and predominantly menswear-led, re-issued in technical, next-gen yarns.

  • Signal Stripe Polo — RECYCLED JACQUARD · ENGINEERED STRIPE · CLASSIC BLUE MULTI-STRIPE · PANTONE 19-4052 TCX
  • Bio-Tricot Track Cardigan — BIO-NYLON PLATED · TRICOT SHEEN · GLACIER GRAY · PANTONE 14-4102 TCX
  • Ringer Archive Tee — HEAVY BIO-COTTON · TIPPED RINGER · ANTIQUE WHITE · PANTONE 11-0105 TCX
  • Velour Panel Crew — CIRCULAR VELOUR · RAGLAN PANEL · BAKED CLAY · PANTONE 18-1441 TCX

Mood world · p.14Design edit · p.15Trend DNA · p.16Prompt pack · p.17

Quiet Precision mood board — The New Lightness, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 04 · The New Lightness · DIRECTIONAL · RISING

Quiet Precision

Luxury measured in millimetres, spoken in monochrome.

PRECISE / SEAMLESS / MONOCHROME / REFINED

Colour story: Bright White (11-0601 TCX), Oyster Mushroom (13-4201 TCX), Wind Chime (14-4002 TCX), Stonewash (17-3917 TCX), True Navy (19-4030 TCX), Green Ash (13-0117 TCX)

Designs: Engineered Polo, Seamless Mock Tee, Double-Face Blouson, Green Ash Fine Crew

Mood: Calm / Exacting / AssuredColour: White → Stonewash → NavyMaterial: Full-Fashioned / Seamless / Double-FaceSilhouette: Trim / Articulated / Sharp ShoulderDetail: Hidden Placket / Tonal / Zero Bulk

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: 18gg cotton-silk full-fashioned ultrafine knits; WHOLEGARMENT/seamless 3D-knit merino-cool blends; Double-face milano and interlock knit-tailoring cloths; Ice-cotton (cool-touch) compact jersey for elevated tees; Micro-rib links-links structures with matte finish.

Silhouette: Knit-tailored polo shirt with clean-finished collar; Ultrafine crewneck worn as shirt replacement, trim fit; Double-face knit blouson/overshirt; Seamless mock-neck tee, precise slim cut; Fine-gauge cardigan with hidden placket.

  • Engineering: Construction itself becomes the luxury signal, immaculate and near-invisible.
  • Material: Full-fashioned 18gg cotton-silk, seamless 3D merino-cool and double-face milano.
  • Silhouette: Trim knit-tailored polos and seamless mock-necks with a sharp shoulder line.
  • Market Signal: Cream anchors the neutral base as proportions turn measurably slimmer.

Quiet Precision is the technical evolution of quiet luxury, consistent with Trendalytics' SS27 data showing cream as a foundational neutral, softened corporate tailoring and a shift to slimmer proportions. For SS28 knitwear, engineering itself becomes the luxury signal: full-fashioned fine gauges, seamless whole-garment knits, and immaculate milano and links-links structures in near-monochrome. The mood aligns with Offline Blue's digital-detox calm and WGSN's reliable-new-neutral mindset.

  • Engineered Polo — 18GG COTTON-SILK · FULL-FASHIONED · TRUE NAVY · PANTONE 19-4030 TCX
  • Seamless Mock Tee — WHOLEGARMENT · MERINO-COOL · WIND CHIME GREY · PANTONE 14-4002 TCX
  • Double-Face Blouson — DOUBLE-FACE MILANO · INVISIBLE ZIP · OYSTER MUSHROOM · PANTONE 13-4201 TCX
  • Green Ash Fine Crew — 18GG LINKS-LINKS · MATTE · GREEN ASH · PANTONE 13-0117 TCX

Mood world · p.18Design edit · p.19Trend DNA · p.20Prompt pack · p.21

Chapter 02 Sun-Faded Living — SS28 men's knitwear trend chapter opener

Chapter 02 · page 22

Sun-Faded Living

RIVIERA / RESORT / SALT-WASHED / EASY

Directions: Summer House · Prep Riviera · Crafted Coastal · Carefree Craft

Summer House mood board — Sun-Faded Living, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 05 · Sun-Faded Living · SAFE BET · PEAK

Summer House

A long weekend that never ends, knitted in sea light.

BREEZY / COASTAL / PREPPY / SUNLIT

Colour story: Cloud Dancer (11-4201 TCX), French Blue (18-4140 TCX), Island Paradise (14-4620 TCX), Buttercup (12-0752 TCX), Peach Fuzz (13-1023 TCX), Emerald (17-5641 TCX)

Designs: Porto Mesh Polo, Limone Crochet Camp Shirt, Regatta Cricket Vest, Cabana Terry Shirt

Mood: Easy / Sunlit / ConvivialColour: Blue → Buttercup → PeachMaterial: Mesh / Crochet / TerrySilhouette: Boxy / Cropped / Resort-PrepDetail: Camp Collar / Shell Button / Tipping

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: Open-mesh fine-gauge cotton/silk for see-through polos; Crisp linen/cotton tape yarn for camp-collar knit shirts; Airy crochet-look cotton for open-stitch shirting; Terry-back cotton jersey (towelling) for cabana pieces; Compact mercerised cotton for Breton stripes and tennis knits.

Silhouette: Open-mesh knit polo, camp or johnny collar, boxy-cropped; Crochet camp-collar shirt worn open over swim; Cricket/tennis V-neck vest with tipped rib; Breton boat-neck striped tee, relaxed; Terry-jersey short-sleeve cabana set (shirt + short).

  • Holiday: The Riviera wardrobe matures into a complete holiday-knit offer.
  • Material: Open-mesh silk-cotton, crisp linen tape yarn and terry-back towelling jersey.
  • Silhouette: Boxy-cropped mesh polos, crochet camp shirts and Breton boat-necks over swim.
  • Market Signal: Fine-gauge mesh polos and rugby styles drew singular praise from spring buyers.

The Riviera coastal-prep peak, and the most directly runway-grounded theme of the season. Milan Spring 2027 coverage confirms the leading indicators: fine-gauge mesh knit polos particularly praised, rugby styles, linen-mix knits, white suiting and sage, apricot and sun-faded-denim accents, building on SS26-27's preppy revival, butter yellow and Mediterranean blues. For SS28 this matures into a full holiday-knit wardrobe — mesh polos, boat-neck Bretons and crochet camp shirts — colour-anchored to WGSN/Coloro's Positively Yellow and Offline Blue.

  • Porto Mesh Polo — OPEN MESH · SILK/COTTON · ISLAND PARADISE AQUA · PANTONE 14-4620 TCX
  • Limone Crochet Camp Shirt — OPEN CROCHET · CAMP COLLAR · BUTTERCUP YELLOW · PANTONE 12-0752 TCX
  • Regatta Cricket Vest — MERCERISED COTTON · TIPPED RIB · CLOUD DANCER WHITE · PANTONE 11-4201 TCX
  • Cabana Terry Shirt — TERRY-BACK JERSEY · SHELL BUTTONS · PEACH FUZZ · PANTONE 13-1023 TCX

Mood world · p.23Design edit · p.24Trend DNA · p.25Prompt pack · p.26

Prep Riviera mood board — Sun-Faded Living, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 06 · Sun-Faded Living · SAFE BET · PEAK

Prep Riviera

Old-club polish sails into Mediterranean blue.

PREPPY / NAUTICAL / POLISHED / SUNFADED

Colour story: Dress Blues (19-4024 TCX), Mykonos Blue (18-4434 TCX), French Vanilla (12-0722 TCX), Pistachio Green (13-0221 TCX), Winter White (11-0507 TCX), Terra Cotta (16-1526 TCX)

Designs: Riviera Mesh Polo, Regatta Cable Crew, Club Argyle Vest, Tipped Rugby Knit

Mood: Polished / Nautical / AssuredColour: Navy → Mykonos → PistachioMaterial: Mesh / Cable / MercerisedSilhouette: Trim / Short Body / Defined ShoulderDetail: Gold Button / Tipping / Johnny Collar

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: fine-gauge open-mesh cotton for polos; 12–14gg silk-cotton and cotton-cashmere jersey; sun-faded garment-dyed cable cotton; crisp mercerised cotton crepe yarn; airy linen-cotton for tipped ribs.

Silhouette: slim-to-regular johnny-collar knit polo; waist-length Fair Isle or argyle sweater vest; sun-faded cable crew, slightly cropped; knitted rugby shirt with woven collar; deep-V fine-gauge pullover worn bare.

  • Revival: The preppy renaissance docks on the Riviera with gold buttons and navy conviction.
  • Material: Open-mesh mercerised cotton, silk-cotton jersey and sun-faded garment-dyed cable.
  • Silhouette: Johnny-collar polos, waist-length argyle vests and knitted rugbys, trimmer and shorter.
  • Market Signal: Mesh polos, sun-faded cable crews and rugby shirts are named the season's must-haves.

The strongest confirmed commercial knit story of the SS27 buy, aimed straight at SS28 volume. WWD's Milan SS27 retailer report names fine-gauge mesh knit polos, johnny-collar knits, sun-faded cable crews and rugby shirts as must-haves, framed by a preppy revival of gold buttons, navy blazers and Mediterranean blues. It builds on two seasons of knit-polo momentum — Hermès, Zegna, Louis Vuitton and Amiri all championed the category at SS26 — and Style Arcade's SS27 'Dandy Knit' data confirms Fair Isle vests, waist-length sweater vests and deep-V knits gaining fast. Knitwear is the engine of this trend, not an accessory to it.

  • Riviera Mesh Polo — OPEN MESH · NAVY TIPPING · IVORY WITH NAVY TIPPING · PANTONE 11-0507 TCX
  • Regatta Cable Crew — GARMENT-DYED CABLE · SUN-FADED · SUN-FADED MYKONOS BLUE · PANTONE 18-4434 TCX
  • Club Argyle Vest — FINE-GAUGE INTARSIA · ARGYLE · PISTACHIO WITH NAVY ARGYLE · PANTONE 13-0221 TCX
  • Tipped Rugby Knit — LINEN-COTTON · WOVEN COLLAR · TERRA COTTA AND FRENCH VANILLA STRIPE · PANTONE 16-1526 TCX

Mood world · p.27Design edit · p.28Trend DNA · p.29Prompt pack · p.30

Crafted Coastal mood board — Sun-Faded Living, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 07 · Sun-Faded Living · SAFE BET · PEAK (CROCHET) WITH CRAFT-TEXTURE LAYER STILL BUILDING

Crafted Coastal

The shoreline keeps whatever the hands have made.

ARTISANAL / OPENWORK / EARTHEN / RELAXED

Colour story: Straw (13-0922 TCX), Antique White (11-0105 TCX), Baked Clay (18-1441 TCX), Sage (16-0421 TCX), Copper (16-1325 TCX), Driftwood (18-1210 TCX)

Designs: Tidepool Crochet Camp Shirt, Sunset Stripe Tee, Driftwood Tape Cardigan, Net-Stitch Beach Pullover

Mood: Grounded / Handmade / UnhurriedColour: Straw → Clay → SageMaterial: Crochet / Slub / BoucléSilhouette: Boxy / Airy / Open-StructureDetail: Scalloped Hem / Shell Button / Raw Edge

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: open-work crochet in dry organic cotton; slub cotton-linen jersey; textured cotton bouclé and tape yarn; hand-feel macramé and net-stitch panels; undyed or botanically dyed marl cotton.

Silhouette: boxy open-crochet camp shirt; relaxed granny-square or striped crochet tank; oversized coastal cardigan in tape yarn; sunset-stripe slub jersey tee; net-stitch beach pullover worn over trunks.

  • Shoreline: Folk craftsmanship meets resort ease in knits native to the land.
  • Material: Open-work crochet, slub cotton-linen, tape-yarn bouclé and botanically dyed marls.
  • Silhouette: Boxy crochet camp shirts, granny-square tanks and net-stitch pullovers worn over trunks.
  • Market Signal: Crochet tops dominated recent resort runways while mills tool for artisanal texture.

Craft-coded resort knit is validated on three fronts. Future Snoops' SS28 'Skin-Contact' palette is rooted in folk craftsmanship and materials native to the land, while the 'Future Keepers' macro trend cements the wider craft, preservation and nostalgia agenda. On the runway, crochet tops took over resort across SS26–SS27, and Style Arcade logged macramé lace and sunset-stripe tees within its 'Surf Safari' story. Pitti Filati's 'LINK' research theme — craft signs connecting cultures and eras — confirms yarn mills are tooling for artisanal texture into SS27/28.

  • Tidepool Crochet Camp Shirt — OPEN-WORK CROCHET · DRY COTTON · STRAW · PANTONE 13-0922 TCX
  • Sunset Stripe Tee — SLUB JERSEY · GRADIENT STRIPE · CLAY-COPPER-SAGE GRADIENT STRIPE · PANTONE 18-1441 TCX
  • Driftwood Tape Cardigan — UNDYED TAPE YARN · BOUCLÉ · UNDYED ANTIQUE WHITE · PANTONE 11-0105 TCX
  • Net-Stitch Beach Pullover — NET STITCH · HAND-LINKED · SAGE · PANTONE 16-0421 TCX

Mood world · p.31Design edit · p.32Trend DNA · p.33Prompt pack · p.34

Carefree Craft mood board — Sun-Faded Living, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 08 · Sun-Faded Living · SAFE BET · PEAK

Carefree Craft

Craft lets its hair down and heads for the beach.

JOYFUL / CROCHET / VIBRANT / PLAYFUL

Colour story: Buttercup (12-0752 TCX), Island Paradise (14-4620 TCX), Living Coral (16-1546 TCX), Green Ash (13-0117 TCX), Sachet Pink (15-2216 TCX), Papyrus (11-0107 TCX)

Designs: Granny-Square Camp Shirt, Riviera Mesh Polo, Gelato Co-ord, Boardwalk Cardigan

Mood: Joyful / Breezy / UninhibitedColour: Buttercup → Coral → PinkMaterial: Crochet / Mesh / Space-DyeSilhouette: Boxy / Cropped / EasyDetail: Picot / Scallop / Contrast Edge

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: Hand-crochet and crochet-effect machine knit in dry cotton, granny-square and shell-stitch motifs; Open mesh/net knit with large-eyelet transfer stitch for polos and tanks; Pointelle fine-gauge cotton for lightweight crews and cardigans; Space-dye and multi-colour twist cotton for irregular hand-made stripe; Towelling/terry jersey for beach-club sets.

Silhouette: Camp-collar crochet shirt, boxy, half-buttoned; Open-mesh knit polo, relaxed with ringer stripe; Knit shorts and matching top co-ord set; Cropped-ish breezy cardigan worn open over bare chest or tee; Scoop/deep-armhole crochet tank.

  • Joy: Craft trades reverence for sunshine, stripes and vacation ease.
  • Material: Hand-crochet granny squares, large-eyelet mesh, pointelle and space-dye twists.
  • Silhouette: Half-buttoned camp shirts, relaxed mesh polos and knit-short co-ords.
  • Market Signal: Mesh polos and crochet run straight through recent runways into everyday resortwear.

The joyful, vacation-coded face of craft: crochet, granny squares, open mesh and stripe play in sun-saturated brights — the volume commercial story of the season. The evidence base is strong: mesh knit polos and crochet ran through the SS27 runway context, SS26 press logged crochet-inspired openwork and Armani mesh knits, 2026 summer knit trends centre pointelle, sheer knits, knit shorts in pistachio, brown and red and colourful cardigans in butter yellow, ice blue and baby pink, and SS27's Resortwear Expansion pushed knit polos into everyday wear. Future Snoops' Abundant Brights palette and WGSN's flourishing SS28 mood give it the colour licence.

  • Granny-Square Camp Shirt — HAND CROCHET · GRANNY SQUARE · PAPYRUS MULTI · PANTONE 11-0107 TCX
  • Riviera Mesh Polo — OPEN MESH · TRANSFER STITCH · ISLAND PARADISE · PANTONE 14-4620 TCX
  • Gelato Co-ord — SPACE-DYE COTTON · CO-ORD · SACHET PINK · PANTONE 15-2216 TCX
  • Boardwalk Cardigan — POINTELLE · FINE GAUGE · BUTTERCUP · PANTONE 12-0752 TCX

Mood world · p.35Design edit · p.36Trend DNA · p.37Prompt pack · p.38

Chapter 03 Tactile Memory — SS28 men's knitwear trend chapter opener

Chapter 03 · page 39

Tactile Memory

WORN / REPAIRED / HANDMADE / HUMAN

Directions: Love Worn · Delicate Legacy · Crafted Naturals · The Workshop · Re-wilding

Love Worn mood board — Tactile Memory, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 09 · Tactile Memory · SAFE BET · PEAK

Love Worn

Every fade is a memory the garment refuses to forget.

FADED / MENDED / HEIRLOOM / WASHED

Colour story: Vanilla (12-0712 TCX), Faded Denim (17-4021 TCX), Terra Cotta (16-1526 TCX), Rose Cloud (14-1313 TCX), Mosstone (17-0525 TCX), Redwood (18-1443 TCX)

Designs: Sun-Bled Cable Crew, Darned Deck Cardigan, Patina Pocket Tee, Ombré Mend Polo

Mood: Tender / Weathered / SentimentalColour: Vanilla → Terracotta → RedwoodMaterial: Garment-Dyed / Slub / Enzyme-WashedSilhouette: Relaxed / Shrunken / Vintage BlockDetail: Darning / Patch / Frayed Edge

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: Garment-dyed cotton cable and half-cardigan stitch knits with frosted seams; Slub/flammé recycled cotton jersey with visible nep and irregularity; Sun-faded piece-dye ombré fine-gauge cotton (dip-bleach effect); Hand-feel linen/cotton knit with intentional dropped-stitch mend zones; Enzyme-washed heavy jersey (300gsm+) with pigment-dye patina.

Silhouette: Garment-dyed shrunken cable crew (worn slightly short); Faded boxy pocket tee in heavy pigment-dye jersey; Patch-mended vintage-block cardigan with mismatched buttons; Ombré sun-bleach knit polo, relaxed collar; Loose-knit beach sweater with visible darning details.

  • Patina: Garments arrive pre-loved, engineered to age like heirlooms.
  • Material: Garment-dyed cables, enzyme-washed heavy jersey and dip-bleached ombré cotton.
  • Silhouette: Shrunken cable crews, patch-mended cardigans and faded boxy pocket tees.
  • Market Signal: Buyers singled out garment-dyed cable knits in sun-faded rust, brick and terracotta.

Emotional durability: garments designed pre-loved. The theme maps directly onto Future Snoops' Future Keepers macro, where preservation rivals innovation and repair carries generational hand-me-down value, and it was already visible commercially at Milan Menswear Spring 2027, where buyers singled out cable-knit sweaters in garment-dyed finishes and sun-faded, dusty palettes of rust, brick and terracotta. For SS28 knit this means washed, mended, patched and sun-bleached sweaters and jersey engineered to look — and age — like heirlooms.

  • Sun-Bled Cable Crew — GARMENT-DYED CABLE · FROSTED SEAMS · TERRACOTTA · PANTONE 16-1526 TCX
  • Darned Deck Cardigan — LOOSE-GAUGE LINEN · VISIBLE DARNING · FADED DENIM BLUE · PANTONE 17-4021 TCX
  • Patina Pocket Tee — 320GSM JERSEY · ENZYME-WASHED · REDWOOD · PANTONE 18-1443 TCX
  • Ombré Mend Polo — FINE-GAUGE COTTON · DIP-BLEACHED · ROSE CLOUD FADING TO VANILLA · PANTONE 14-1313 / 12-0712 TCX

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Delicate Legacy mood board — Tactile Memory, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 10 · Tactile Memory · DIRECTIONAL · RISING

Delicate Legacy

An heirloom's lace, worn now without apology.

FRAGILE / POINTELLE / INHERITED / SHEER

Colour story: Pristine (11-0606 TCX), Orchid Pink (13-2010 TCX), Cloud Blue (14-4306 TCX), Celadon (13-6108 TCX), Wood Ash (14-1108 TCX), Brick Dust (17-1424 TCX)

Designs: Heirloom Pointelle Crew, Filet Shirt Archive Rose, Ladder Scoop Tank, Lace-Yoke Grandpa Cardigan

Mood: Fragile / Intimate / TimelessColour: Pristine → Orchid → CeladonMaterial: Pointelle / Filet-Crochet / CashmereSilhouette: Slim / Close-Fit / LonglineDetail: Picot / Scallop / Hand-Linked

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: 18gg+ pointelle/transfer-lace merino-silk for sheer-effect crews; Hand-crochet granny-square and filet-crochet cotton panels; Ultra-fine cotton/cashmere with second-skin hand for close-fit tees; Ladder-stitch and drop-needle open-rib cotton for vertical transparency; Fine bouclé/gimp yarn for doily-texture vests.

Silhouette: Sheer pointelle long-sleeve crew, second-skin fit; Filet-crochet short-sleeve shirt with heirloom motif; Ladder-rib fitted tank with deep scoop; Fine-gauge cardigan with lace-transfer yoke, grandpa-style; Crochet-panel tee (solid jersey body, craft inserts).

  • Heirloom: Lace-transfer heritage moves onto the male body as quiet luxury.
  • Material: 18gg merino-silk pointelle, filet-crochet panels and ultra-fine cotton-cashmere.
  • Silhouette: Second-skin pointelle crews, ladder-rib tanks and grandpa cardigans with lace yokes.
  • Market Signal: Crochet and sheer-knit momentum extends into fine-gauge, skin-adjacent menswear.

Heirloom fragility as menswear luxury: pointelle, lace-transfer stitches and hand-crochet heritage moved onto the male body. The theme fuses Future Snoops' Future Keepers — craft and generational wisdom as value — with Re-Sensitized's tactile, emotional slowness, and extends the crochet and sheer-knit momentum tracked through SS26-27 menswear runways and Pitti Filati's research direction into fine-gauge, skin-adjacent knits. The palette aligns with Fashion Snoops' Skin-Contact SS28 direction and WGSN's Flourish Pink.

  • Heirloom Pointelle Crew — 18GG POINTELLE · MERINO-SILK · ORCHID PINK · PANTONE 13-2010 TCX
  • Filet Shirt Archive Rose — FILET CROCHET · HEIRLOOM MOTIF · PRISTINE IVORY WITH BRICK-DUST MOTIF · PANTONE 11-0606 TCX
  • Ladder Scoop Tank — DROP-NEEDLE RIB · DEEP SCOOP · CELADON · PANTONE 13-6108 TCX
  • Lace-Yoke Grandpa Cardigan — COTTON/CASHMERE · LACE YOKE · CLOUD BLUE · PANTONE 14-4306 TCX

Mood world · p.44Design edit · p.45Trend DNA · p.46Prompt pack · p.47

Crafted Naturals mood board — Tactile Memory, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 11 · Tactile Memory · SAFE BET · PEAK

Crafted Naturals

The yarn speaks first, undyed and unhurried.

UNDYED / TACTILE / TRACEABLE / HONEST

Colour story: Angora (12-0605 TCX), Birch (13-0905 TCX), Cornstalk (16-1315 TCX), Mocha Mousse (17-1230 TCX), Baked Clay (18-1441 TCX), Burnt Olive (18-0521 TCX)

Designs: Artisan Crochet Camp Shirt, Basket Crew, Clay Waffle Henley, Noil Pointelle Tee

Mood: Honest / Tactile / GroundedColour: Birch → Mocha → ClayMaterial: Crochet / Basket-Stitch / NoilSilhouette: Regular / Relaxed / True ShoulderDetail: Hand-Linked / Corozo / Picot Edge

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: Undyed organic cotton/linen 7gg crochet and pointelle; GOTS cotton-paper yarn blends with a crisp dry handle; Hand-loomed-look basket and waffle stitch mid-gauge; Raw silk-noil and cotton-noil jersey with nubbed surface; Garment-washed heavyweight organic jersey with natural fleck.

Silhouette: Open-crochet camp-collar shirt; Textured basket-stitch crewneck, regular fit; Waffle-knit henley, easy straight body; Pointelle short-sleeve knit tee; Relaxed knit-tailored polo cardigan (button-through).

  • Fibre: The season's strongest fibre-first story puts precious natural yarns in the lead.
  • Material: Undyed organic cotton-linen crochet, paper-yarn blends and nubbed silk-noil jersey.
  • Silhouette: Basket-stitch crews, waffle henleys and open-crochet camp shirts, honest and unfussy.
  • Market Signal: Artisanal texture and lightweight craft knits are confirmed as the safe commercial core.

This is the strongest fibre-first story of the season. WWD flagged crochet, lightweight knits and artisanal textures rooted in authentic craftsmanship as key for Spring 2026 menswear, while its Spring 2027 textile coverage reports precious natural yarns leading sourcing. The theme aligns directly with Future Snoops' Future Keepers macro of skilled craft and intergenerational technique, and with WGSN's Radiant Earth, described for fashion specifically through textured knits. Undyed, traceable, hand-feel knitwear is the safe commercial core of SS28.

  • Artisan Crochet Camp Shirt — OPEN CROCHET · UNDYED ORGANIC · ECRU ANGORA · PANTONE 12-0605 TCX
  • Basket Crew — BASKET STITCH · MID-GAUGE · BIRCH · PANTONE 13-0905 TCX
  • Clay Waffle Henley — WAFFLE STITCH · SHELL BUTTONS · BAKED CLAY · PANTONE 18-1441 TCX
  • Noil Pointelle Tee — SILK-NOIL · POINTELLE · MOCHA MOUSSE · PANTONE 17-1230 TCX

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The Workshop mood board — Tactile Memory, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 12 · Tactile Memory · DIRECTIONAL · RISING

The Workshop

Knitwear with sawdust in its seams, made rather than manufactured.

BENCHMADE / RUSTIC / VISIBLE / UTILITARIAN

Colour story: Ecru (11-0809 TCX), Terra Cotta (16-1526 TCX), Mocha Mousse (17-1230 TCX), Insignia Blue (19-4028 TCX), Burnt Olive (18-0521 TCX), Freesia (14-0852 TCX)

Designs: Loom-End Chore Cardigan, Potter's Tank, Indigo Mend Crew, Tool-Roll Polo

Mood: Honest / Rustic / IndustriousColour: Ecru → Terracotta → OliveMaterial: Slub / Tape Yarn / Moss-StitchSilhouette: Boxy / Square / Dropped ShoulderDetail: Whip-Stitch / Horn Button / Loom-End Hem

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: Dry-hand undyed cotton/linen slub yarns, 5-7gg matte; Paper-touch cotton-blend tape yarn for structured summer knits; Garment-dyed heavy cotton jersey (280-320gsm) with pigment-wash patina; Hand-loom-look basket and moss-stitch cotton in melange twists; Recycled cotton/hemp mouline, traceable and bio-based.

Silhouette: Boxy workshop overshirt-cardigan in shacket proportions; Straight-body 5gg crew with dropped shoulder, cropped to high hip; Knitted work vest / gilet with patch pockets; Relaxed tee-shape jersey popover with woven chore-coat details; Elongated artisan tank layered over tees.

  • Maker: The atelier becomes the aesthetic: bench-made, tool-adjacent, honest.
  • Material: Dry-hand slub cotton-linen, paper-touch tape yarn and pigment-washed heavy jersey.
  • Silhouette: Boxy overshirt-cardigans, knitted work vests and artisan tanks in square proportions.
  • Market Signal: Washed-out neutrals and lived-in natural textures build the commercial on-ramp.

A maker-atelier story: knitwear that looks bench-made, tool-adjacent and honest, built on hand-loom textures, visible construction and undyed or vegetal-dyed yarns. It sits directly on Future Snoops' Re-Sensitized macro — a return to the human instrument and tactile materials — and on Future Keepers, where preservation and heirloom value drive purchase (55% of US adults now value retired products more highly). Pitti Filati's craft-forward positioning, framing weaving as identity through its Pitti Loom campaign, reinforces the yarn-level case. The SS26 runway's Polished Boho direction — washed-out neutrals, casual knitwear, natural textures and lived-in energy — provides the commercial on-ramp for the theme.

  • Loom-End Chore Cardigan — 5GG SLUB · COTTON-LINEN · ECRU · PANTONE 11-0809 TCX
  • Potter's Tank — GARMENT-DYED · HEAVY JERSEY · TERRACOTTA · PANTONE 16-1526 TCX
  • Indigo Mend Crew — 5GG MOSS STITCH · MEND PATCH · INSIGNIA BLUE · PANTONE 19-4028 TCX
  • Tool-Roll Polo — PAPER-TOUCH · TAPE YARN · BURNT OLIVE · PANTONE 18-0521 TCX

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Re-wilding mood board — Tactile Memory, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 13 · Tactile Memory · DIRECTIONAL · RISING

Re-wilding

Let the garden grow over everything you own.

OVERGROWN / BOTANICAL / IRREGULAR / EARTHED

Colour story: Treetop (18-0135 TCX), Fern Green (17-6153 TCX), Foliage (16-0237 TCX), Tobacco Brown (17-1327 TCX), Sky Blue (14-4318 TCX), Prism Pink (14-2311 TCX)

Designs: Overgrowth Crew, Erosion Tank, Meadow Intarsia Shirt, Rootline Cardigan-Coat

Mood: Feral / Grounded / RegenerativeColour: Fern → Foliage → TobaccoMaterial: Bouclé / Hemp / Plant-DyedSilhouette: Oversized / Uneven / LonglineDetail: Fringed / Raw / Hand-Whipped

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: Bouclé/loop-yarn cotton blends with irregular moss surface; Nettle, hemp and linen-blend rustic yarns with a dry handle; Ladder-stitch and drop-needle open knits with eroded effect; Plant-dyed slub jersey with uneven dye take-up; Tape-yarn crochet-look macro knits with fringing.

Silhouette: Oversized moss-stitch crewneck with uneven hem; Open ladder-knit tank/vest layered over jersey; Botanical intarsia relaxed short-sleeve knit shirt; Longline fringe-hem cardigan-coat; Loose plant-dyed heavy jersey tee.

  • Overgrowth: Knitwear turns feral, with moss surfaces and eroded open stitches that read as living texture.
  • Material: Nettle, hemp and plant-dyed slub yarns with bouclé undergrowth and tape-yarn crochet.
  • Silhouette: Oversized and organically asymmetric, from uneven-hem crews to fringe-hem cardigan-coats.
  • Market Signal: Elevated boho, crochet and handcrafted texture keep climbing across spring menswear.

Re-wilding extends the nature-repair narrative running through SS27/28 forecasting, from c2fashionstudio's Symbiotic Futures with its mycelial networks, erosion surfaces and growth-decay cycles, to Future Snoops' Re-Sensitized macro of tactile, sensory, off-grid living. In knitwear it reads as overgrown texture: irregular gauge, botanical intarsia and tape-yarn undergrowth surfaces. The palette is grounded by WGSN/Coloro's SS28 Serene Green and Radiant Earth. WWD's Spring 2026 menswear coverage of elevated boho, crochet and handcrafted texture is the leading commercial indicator for this direction.

  • Overgrowth Crew — BOUCLÉ MOSS STITCH · COTTON BLEND · FERN GREEN · PANTONE 17-6153 TCX
  • Erosion Tank — DROP-NEEDLE LADDER · OPEN KNIT · SKY BLUE · PANTONE 14-4318 TCX
  • Meadow Intarsia Shirt — LINEN INTARSIA · BOTANICAL · FOLIAGE GREEN · PANTONE 16-0237 TCX
  • Rootline Cardigan-Coat — HEMP BOUCLÉ · FRINGE HEM · TOBACCO BROWN · PANTONE 17-1327 TCX

Mood world · p.56Design edit · p.57Trend DNA · p.58Prompt pack · p.59

Chapter 04 New Performance — SS28 men's knitwear trend chapter opener

Chapter 04 · page 60

New Performance

UTILITY / STRUCTURE / ENGINEERED / MODERN

Directions: Soft Utility · Office Elements · Brutalist Luxe · Reframing Nature

Soft Utility mood board — New Performance, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 14 · New Performance · SAFE BET · PEAK

Soft Utility

Function loses its armour and finds its ease.

FUNCTIONAL / SOFTENED / MODULAR / WEARABLE

Colour story: Sage (16-0421 TCX), Deep Lichen Green (17-0517 TCX), Warm Sand (15-1214 TCX), Faded Denim (17-4021 TCX), Military Olive (19-0622 TCX), Tangerine (15-1247 TCX)

Designs: Cargo Knit Shirt, Field Half-Zip, Terry Utility Vest, Recon Polo

Mood: Capable / Calm / ConsideredColour: Sage → Olive → TangerineMaterial: Plated / Interlock / TerrySilhouette: Athletic / Relaxed / PanelledDetail: Snaps / Drawcords / Bartacks

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: Cotton/Cordura-touch plated jersey with natural face, technical back; Merino/Tencel fine-gauge 14-16gg with moisture-wicking finish; Double-knit interlock/spacer jersey for pocket-bearing structure; Garment-washed heavyweight loopback terry (400gsm); Rib 2x2 with elastane recovery for cuffs, hems and fitted bodies.

Silhouette: Knit cargo overshirt with bellows chest pockets; Fine-gauge zip-through track polo, slim through body; Utility vest in double-knit with 4-pocket front; Relaxed jersey field tee with shoulder reinforcement panels; Half-zip mock-neck popover, mid-weight, hip-length.

  • Utility: Cargo pockets and adjustable hardware migrate off ripstop and onto lush, refined knits.
  • Material: Plated cotton jerseys with technical backs, wicking merino-Tencel and heavy loopback terry.
  • Silhouette: Clean athletic-relaxed cuts, from bellows-pocket overshirts to half-zip popovers.
  • Market Signal: Utility detailing is a named spring key trend, gorpcore's quiet wearable successor.

Utility recoded through softness: cargo and pocket functionality migrates onto fine and mid-gauge knits and lush jersey rather than ripstop. The leading indicators are explicit — Utility Details (multiple pockets, adjustable features, technical finishes on refined garments) is a named SS27 menswear key trend, and Trendalytics' SS27 recap flags the Modern Explorer macro merging hyper-functional cargo details with leisure. Heuritech's menswear knit analysis supports the fabric base: performance knits blending natural fibres with recycled synthetics, rib for stretch and recovery, and moisture management. For SS28, WGSN's mood of reassuringly nostalgic, confidently future-ready design lands here as gorpcore's quiet, wearable successor.

  • Cargo Knit Shirt — DOUBLE-KNIT INTERLOCK · BELLOWS POCKETS · SAGE · PANTONE 16-0421 TCX
  • Field Half-Zip — 14GG MERINO/TENCEL · HALF ZIP · MILITARY OLIVE · PANTONE 19-0622 TCX
  • Terry Utility Vest — LOOPBACK TERRY · GARMENT WASHED · WARM SAND · PANTONE 15-1214 TCX
  • Recon Polo — PLATED JERSEY · FLATLOCK SEAMS · FADED DENIM BLUE · PANTONE 17-4021 TCX

Mood world · p.61Design edit · p.62Trend DNA · p.63Prompt pack · p.64

Office Elements mood board — New Performance, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 15 · New Performance · SAFE BET · PEAK

Office Elements

The knit clocks in and the tie never returns.

POLISHED / CORPCORE / TAILORED / BREATHABLE

Colour story: Bright White (11-0601 TCX), Classic Blue (19-4052 TCX), Sky Blue (14-4318 TCX), French Vanilla (12-0722 TCX), Prism Pink (14-2311 TCX), Glacier Gray (14-4102 TCX)

Designs: Boardroom Polo, Ledger Vest, Meeting-Ready Knit Blazer, Oxford Jersey Shirt-Tee

Mood: Composed / Crisp / AssuredColour: White → Classic Blue → VanillaMaterial: Superfine / Ice-Cotton / MilanoSilhouette: Trim / Tucked / NeatDetail: Tipped / Placket / Full-Fashioned

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: 18gg superfine merino and cotton/silk for polished polos and vests; Ice-cotton cool-touch compact smooth jersey for shirt-replacement tees; Micro-pointelle and openwork fine knits for breathable office layers; Crepe-twist cotton for dry, suiting-adjacent knit surfaces; Silk-touch viscose-blend interlock for fluid knit shirting.

Silhouette: Fine-gauge long/short-sleeve polo with rigid shirt collar; V-neck sweater vest, slim, cropped to belt line, over tee; Full-milano knit blazer-cardigan, unstructured; Boxy jersey dress-shirt tee with centre-front placket illusion; Tipped skipper polo tucked into pleated trousers.

  • Uniform: Knit replaces shirt-and-tie entirely as the desk-to-dinner default.
  • Material: 18gg superfine merino, ice-cotton jersey and crepe-twist yarns with a suiting-adjacent hand.
  • Silhouette: Trim, tucked-in polos, cropped vests and unstructured milano blazer-cardigans.
  • Market Signal: The colourful preppy office wave hits knitwear maturity on corpcore momentum.

The corpcore and preppy office wave hits its knitwear maturity. SS27's biggest menswear story was the colourful preppy aesthetic led by Thom Browne and Polo Ralph Lauren, Trendalytics logged Heritage & Prep Evolution — varsity layering and vintage rugby stripes — alongside Modern Power Dressing with softer shoulders, and SS26 already ran chunky knit polos (Hermes gradients) and casual fine knits (Armani mesh). For SS28, knit replaces the shirt-and-tie entirely: polos, fine-gauge vests and jersey shirting become the desk-to-dinner uniform, boosted by ongoing corpcore momentum across menswear press.

  • Boardroom Polo — 18GG MERINO · SHIRT COLLAR · CLASSIC BLUE · PANTONE 19-4052 TCX
  • Ledger Vest — COTTON/SILK · DEEP V · FRENCH VANILLA · PANTONE 12-0722 TCX
  • Meeting-Ready Knit Blazer — FULL MILANO · UNSTRUCTURED · GLACIER GRAY · PANTONE 14-4102 TCX
  • Oxford Jersey Shirt-Tee — ICE-COTTON JERSEY · PLACKET ILLUSION · SKY BLUE · PANTONE 14-4318 TCX

Mood world · p.65Design edit · p.66Trend DNA · p.67Prompt pack · p.68

Brutalist Luxe mood board — New Performance, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 16 · New Performance · BUILDING

Brutalist Luxe

Concrete learns the language of cashmere.

MONOLITHIC / SCULPTURAL / RAW / MINIMAL

Colour story: Brilliant White (11-4001 TCX), Nimbus Cloud (13-4108 TCX), Ultimate Gray (17-5104 TCX), Charcoal Gray (18-0601 TCX), Stucco (16-1412 TCX), Rust (18-1248 TCX)

Designs: Poured Concrete Crew, Monolith Tank, Cast Tee, Rebar Cardigan-Coat

Mood: Monolithic / Austere / ElevatedColour: White → Gray → RustMaterial: Dense Rib / Bonded / Mineral-WashedSilhouette: Column / Square / CocoonDetail: Raw Edge / Hidden / Felted

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: High-density 3gg chunky rib in mercerised cotton, sculptural and self-supporting; Bonded/double-face jersey, natural-faced, for monolithic tees; Stone- and mineral-washed heavy cotton with cast-surface irregularity; Crisp linen/cotton chainette with dry, plaster-like hand; Bio-based technical yarn blends for glassy, poured surfaces.

Silhouette: Monolithic column crewneck, long body, minimal shaping; Sleeveless sculpted tank with heavy engineered rib; Wide raw-edge boxy tee in bonded jersey; Cocoon-back cardigan-coat, collarless, knee-grazing; Compression-fit fine-gauge base layer under volume.

  • Monument: Sculptural, self-supporting knits with raw edges turn minimalism monumental.
  • Material: High-density 3gg rib, bonded double-face jersey and mineral-washed cottons with cast surfaces.
  • Silhouette: Column crews, square torso blocks and knee-grazing cocoon cardigan-coats.
  • Market Signal: Runway brutalism and quiet luxury's continued run open the season's high-margin statement lane.

Concrete-meets-cashmere minimalism: sculptural, monolithic knits with raw edges and architectural rib, the SS28 read of Hermes' chic, svelte Brutalism at Paris menswear and the wider fashion-press brutalism conversation around raw material honesty and monumental simplicity. It plugs into Future Snoops' Material Science macro, where fibre-level innovation is the story, and C2's SS28 Structured Clarity concept of balanced, emotionally regulating design. Reinforced by quiet luxury's continued run as an SS27 key trend, it functions as the season's high-margin minimalist statement lane.

  • Poured Concrete Crew — 3GG MERCERISED RIB · SCULPTURAL · ULTIMATE GRAY · PANTONE 17-5104 TCX
  • Monolith Tank — ENGINEERED HEAVY RIB · SLEEVELESS · CHARCOAL GRAY · PANTONE 18-0601 TCX
  • Cast Tee — BONDED DOUBLE-FACE · RAW EDGE · NIMBUS CLOUD · PANTONE 13-4108 TCX
  • Rebar Cardigan-Coat — LINEN/COTTON CHAINETTE · COCOON BACK · STUCCO · PANTONE 16-1412 TCX

Mood world · p.69Design edit · p.70Trend DNA · p.71Prompt pack · p.72

Reframing Nature mood board — New Performance, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 17 · New Performance · BUILDING

Reframing Nature

A flower rendered in pixels still turns to the sun.

DIGITAL / IRIDESCENT / BIOFORMED / SHEER

Colour story: Lime Punch (13-0550 TCX), Blazing Yellow (12-0643 TCX), Ibiza Blue (17-4245 TCX), Island Paradise (14-4620 TCX), Pink Lavender (14-3207 TCX), Glacier Gray (14-4102 TCX)

Designs: Pixel Bloom Polo, Spectral Crew, Bio-Mesh Layering Tee, Iridescent Tank

Mood: Hybrid / Luminous / PreciseColour: Lime → Ibiza Blue → LavenderMaterial: Bio-Nylon / Jacquard / MeshSilhouette: Slim / Second Skin / MappedDetail: Bonded / Heat-Sealed / Seamless

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: Bio-based nylon/seacell blends with a cool liquid handle; Iridescent two-tone (shot) fine-gauge viscose knits; Digitally-generated botanical jacquard knits with pixelated florals; Technical mesh and powermesh knit polos with sheer zones; Thermo-sensitive/gradient space-dye jersey.

Silhouette: Sheer mesh-knit polo, slim-to-regular; Gradient ombré fine-gauge crewneck, second-skin; Pixel-jacquard knit tank; Long-sleeve translucent layering tee; Bonded-hem tech jersey overshirt.

  • Synthesis: Nature is abstracted, pixelated and re-rendered through a technological lens.
  • Material: Bio-based nylon blends, shot-yarn iridescence and digital-botanical jacquards.
  • Silhouette: Slim, body-aware layers with engineered seamless zones mapping opaque to sheer.
  • Market Signal: Biodesign and lab-grown fibre signals build across forward material forecasting.

Nature seen through a technological lens: the theme maps to Future Snoops' Material Science macro, in which AI opens the ability to imagine entirely new materials, and to c2fashionstudio's SS27/28 biodesign signals of lab-grown cellulose, digitally encoded fibres, algorithmic patterning and iridescence. In knitwear this translates to bio-based synthetics, digital-botanical jacquards, and thermo-reactive and iridescent yarns — nature abstracted, pixelated and re-rendered. The colour story is anchored to WGSN/Coloro's Offline Blue and Positively Yellow.

  • Pixel Bloom Polo — TECH MESH · PIXEL JACQUARD · IBIZA BLUE · PANTONE 17-4245 TCX
  • Spectral Crew — ENGINEERED OMBRÉ · FINE GAUGE · LIME-TO-LAVENDER GRADIENT · PANTONE 13-0550 TCX
  • Bio-Mesh Layering Tee — SEAMLESS TECH KNIT · TRANSLUCENT · GLACIER GRAY · PANTONE 14-4102 TCX
  • Iridescent Tank — SHOT-YARN VISCOSE · TWO-TONE · BLUE-YELLOW IRIDESCENT · PANTONE 17-4245 TCX

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Chapter 05 Colour After Dark — SS28 men's knitwear trend chapter opener

Chapter 05 · page 77

Colour After Dark

SATURATED / GLOWING / NOCTURNAL / BOLD

Directions: Super Bloom · Technicolour · After Dark Oasis

Super Bloom mood board — Colour After Dark, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 18 · Colour After Dark · DIRECTIONAL · RISING

Super Bloom

Colour arrives all at once, like a desert after rain.

SATURATED / OPTIMISTIC / FLORAL / RADIANT

Colour story: Vibrant Yellow (13-0858 TCX), Tangerine Tango (17-1463 TCX), Pink Flambé (17-2034 TCX), Greenery (15-0343 TCX), Ultra Violet (18-3838 TCX), Raspberry (18-2043 TCX)

Designs: Chlorophyll Stripe Tee, Peony Bloom Intarsia Crew, Tangerine Glow Polo, Ultraviolet Ombré Tank

Mood: Joyful / Vivid / AliveColour: Yellow → Tangerine → VioletMaterial: Piece-Dyed / Intarsia / Space-DyeSilhouette: Relaxed / Boxy / LonglineDetail: Contrast Rib / Plated / Tipped

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: saturated piece-dyed combed cotton jersey; plated two-colour fine-gauge knit with iridescent glow effect; floral and abstract intarsia cotton; space-dye and ombré-printed jersey; airy cotton-crepe open stitch in brights.

Silhouette: bold block-stripe boxy tee; floral intarsia crewneck; colour-drenched relaxed knit polo; ombré or space-dye longline tank; lightweight bright cardigan worn as shirt.

  • Abundance: Brights become a tool of self-definition that glows rather than glares.
  • Material: Saturated piece-dyed jersey, floral intarsia and plated two-colour knits with iridescent flash.
  • Silhouette: Relaxed, easy-draping tees, colour-drenched polos and ombré longline tanks.
  • Market Signal: Creamy yellows climb 7-10% in menswear as purples rise behind them.

The optimism-brights counterweight to the season's grounded neutrals. Future Snoops' SS28 'Abundant Brights' — Twisted Lemon, Bitter Tangerine, Chlorophyll, Candied Peony — frames colour as a tool of protest and self-definition that glows rather than glares, reinforced by WGSN's SS28 Positively Yellow and Flourish Pink and the SS27 Pop Pink and Energy Orange axis. Heuritech quantifies the runway-to-street pull: creamy yellows are up 7–10% in EU/US menswear and purples are rising, while shades of yellow headlined the Men's Spring 2026 shows. In knit terms this lands as saturated stripe jersey, bold intarsia and colour-drenched polos.

  • Chlorophyll Stripe Tee — COMBED COTTON · BLOCK STRIPE · GREENERY AND VIBRANT YELLOW · PANTONE 15-0343 TCX
  • Peony Bloom Intarsia Crew — FLORAL INTARSIA · COMBED COTTON · PINK FLAMBÉ ON CREAM · PANTONE 17-2034 TCX
  • Tangerine Glow Polo — PLATED TWO-COLOUR · FINE GAUGE · TANGERINE FLASHING RASPBERRY · PANTONE 17-1463 TCX
  • Ultraviolet Ombré Tank — SPACE-DYE CREPE · OPEN STITCH · ULTRA VIOLET TO PINK FLAMBÉ · PANTONE 18-3838 TCX

Mood world · p.78Design edit · p.79Trend DNA · p.80Prompt pack · p.81

Technicolour mood board — Colour After Dark, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 19 · Colour After Dark · DIRECTIONAL · RISING

Technicolour

The whole spectrum, worn without apology.

SPECTRUM / BLOCKED / ELECTRIC / GRADIENT

Colour story: Empire Yellow (14-0756 TCX), Directoire Blue (18-4244 TCX), Pink Yarrow (17-2034 TCX), Lime Punch (14-0452 TCX), Vibrant Orange (16-1364 TCX), Turquoise (15-5519 TCX)

Designs: Spectrum Splice Crew, Sunset Degradé Tank, Two-Face Plated Polo, Heatmap Space-Dye Tee

Mood: Bold / Kinetic / UnfilteredColour: Yellow → Pink → BlueMaterial: Intarsia / Plated / DegradéSilhouette: Slim / Athletic / SplicedDetail: Contrast Rib / Coverstitch / Split Hem

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: space-dye/ombré mercerized cotton jersey; block-colour intarsia fine gauge (14gg); two-tone plated rib (contrast interior/exterior); degradé-dyed mesh knit; airy cotton-nylon second-skin stretch jersey.

Silhouette: colour-blocked slim crew; degradé knit tank; vertical-stripe knitted shirt (open placket); ombré longline tee; plated rib zip polo.

  • Saturation: Full-spectrum colour-blocking, ombré and space-dye run across every gauge.
  • Material: 14gg intarsia, two-tone plated rib and degradé-dyed mesh built for chromatic collision.
  • Silhouette: Slim-to-regular athletic crews, spliced raglans and cropped degradé tanks.
  • Market Signal: Cobalt, lime and neon knits validated on runway now pull at consumer level.

This story maps directly to Future Snoops' SS28 Abundant Brights palette and the WGSN x Coloro SS28 key colours — Positively Yellow, Flourish Pink and Offline Blue. SS27 runways have already validated saturated colour-blocking, with FashionUnited citing cobalt, lime, neon yellow and orange knits at Louis Vuitton, Kolor and Polo Ralph Lauren. Heuritech's 2026 trend calendar flags the green-yellow Kiwi Summer palette as a consumer-level bright, confirming appetite beyond the catwalk. The SS28 knit expression is full-spectrum: intarsia colour-blocking, ombré and space-dye across fine gauges and jersey.

  • Spectrum Splice Crew — 14GG INTARSIA · COLOUR SPLICE · YELLOW-PINK-BLUE SPLICE · PANTONE 14-0756 TCX
  • Sunset Degradé Tank — DEGRADÉ MESH · SUNSET OMBRÉ · ORANGE-TO-PINK OMBRÉ · PANTONE 16-1364 TCX
  • Two-Face Plated Polo — PLATED RIB · TWO-TONE · TURQUOISE WITH LIME FLASH · PANTONE 15-5519 TCX
  • Heatmap Space-Dye Tee — SPACE-DYE JERSEY · MERCERIZED · MULTICOLOUR SPACE-DYE · PANTONE 18-4244 TCX

Mood world · p.82Design edit · p.83Trend DNA · p.84Prompt pack · p.85

After Dark Oasis mood board — Colour After Dark, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 20 · Colour After Dark · BUILDING

After Dark Oasis

Dressing begins where the sun gives up.

NOCTURNAL / SHEER / FLUID / GLINTING

Colour story: Eclipse (19-3810 TCX), Ultra Violet (18-3838 TCX), Blue Atoll (16-4535 TCX), Verdant Green (19-6026 TCX), Glacier Gray (14-4102 TCX), Terra Cotta (16-1526 TCX)

Designs: Midnight Mesh Crew, Lurex Aperitivo Polo, Oasis Robe Cardigan, Ladder-Stitch Slink Shirt

Mood: Sultry / Nocturnal / LooseColour: Eclipse → Violet → AtollMaterial: Mesh / Lurex / SlinkySilhouette: Body-Skimming / Fluid / LonglineDetail: Metallic Tip / Silk Cord / Side Slit

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: sheer open-mesh knit (net gauge); lurex-plated fine-gauge viscose; fluid silk-viscose slinky jersey; ladder-stitch/dropped-needle pointelle; cupro-blend micro rib with wet-look finish.

Silhouette: sheer long-sleeve mesh crew layered over tank; slinky open-placket knit shirt; fitted lurex polo; fluid drape-front cardigan-robe; second-skin rib tank.

  • Afterglow: Resort nightlife dressing moves from aperitivo to club in sheer and shine.
  • Material: Open-mesh net knits, lurex-plated viscose and slinky silk-viscose jersey.
  • Silhouette: Body-skimming layers with fluid drape and longer lengths, mesh over bare skin.
  • Market Signal: Sheer textiles and nightwear-as-daywear dominate high-end spring collections.

Resort-nightlife dressing defines this theme: Mediterranean evenings, sheer and shine after sundown, tracked from aperitivo to club. It is grounded in Trendalytics' SS27 Softened Masculinity signal, with fluid, sheer textiles and silk dominating high-end collections, alongside WWD and CNN coverage of nightwear-as-daywear and sheer nightgown dressing, and PAUSE's 2026 nightlife-aesthetics menswear report. Offline Blue, the WGSN x Coloro SS28 key dark, anchors the palette in deep, nocturnal tones. In knit, the translation is openwork mesh, lurex plating and slinky fluid jersey.

  • Midnight Mesh Crew — OPEN-MESH NET · SHEER · ECLIPSE NAVY · PANTONE 19-3810 TCX
  • Lurex Aperitivo Polo — LUREX-PLATED VISCOSE · FINE GAUGE · ULTRA VIOLET · PANTONE 18-3838 TCX
  • Oasis Robe Cardigan — SILK/VISCOSE SLINKY · DRAPE FRONT · VERDANT GREEN · PANTONE 19-6026 TCX
  • Ladder-Stitch Slink Shirt — DROPPED-NEEDLE POINTELLE · LADDER STITCH · GLACIER GRAY · PANTONE 14-4102 TCX

Mood world · p.86Design edit · p.87Trend DNA · p.88Prompt pack · p.89

Chapter 06 The New Rebellion — SS28 men's knitwear trend chapter opener

Chapter 06 · page 90

The New Rebellion

PLAYFUL / ECCENTRIC / SUBVERSIVE / CRAFT-PUNK

Directions: Retro Reset · English Eccentric · Surreal Kitsch · Playful Punk

Retro Reset mood board — The New Rebellion, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 21 · The New Rebellion · SAFE BET · PEAK

Retro Reset

The archive re-cut for a faster present.

ARCHIVAL / SPORTIF / COLLEGIATE / RECUT

Colour story: Buttercup (12-0752 TCX), Burnt Orange (16-1448 TCX), Poppy Red (17-1664 TCX), Dazzling Blue (18-3949 TCX), Teal (17-4919 TCX), Pristine (11-0606 TCX)

Designs: Court Reset Polo, Panel Rugby Crew, Clubhouse Vest, Ring-Pull Track Cardigan

Mood: Nostalgic / Sporting / ConfidentColour: Buttercup → Poppy → Dazzling BlueMaterial: Mercerised / Cable / MilanoSilhouette: Boxy / Cropped / SquaredDetail: Tipped / Ring-Pull / Crested

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: 12gg mercerised cotton fine-gauge for tipped knit polos; 5gg cotton/recycled-cotton cable and rack-stitch rugby knits; Vintage-wash slub cotton jersey for ringer and varsity tees; Cotton-silk full-milano for retro zip cardigans; Space-dyed and end-on-end marl yarns for 70s heather effects.

Silhouette: Boxy short-sleeve tipped knit polo (Riviera 60s block); Cricket/tennis V-neck vest, slightly cropped; Block-panel rugby crewneck, relaxed straight body; Retro raglan ringer tee in heavy jersey; Full-zip harrington-collar knit cardigan-jacket.

  • Rewind: Sixties-to-eighties sportif knit codes mature from pastiche into a clean reset.
  • Material: 12gg mercerised cottons, 5gg rack-stitch rugby knits and vintage-wash slub jersey.
  • Silhouette: Boxy-cropped tipped polos, cricket vests and block-panel rugby crews.
  • Market Signal: A 32% premium on retired-product value gives archive knitwear a commercial floor.

SS27 runways at Thom Browne, Polo Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton and Kenzo confirmed a colourful preppy and collegiate revival, from cable rugby sweaters with block paneling to striped knit polos and vintage rugby stripes. For SS28 this matures from pastiche into a reset: 60s-80s sportif knit codes such as tipped polos, tennis cardigans and ringer tees are re-cut in WGSN's reassuringly nostalgic yet confidently future-ready mood around Radiant Earth. Pitti Filati's archival Link/Vintage Selection reinforces the dialogue between historical and contemporary yarn languages. Future Snoops' Future Keepers macro, with its +32% willingness to pay for retired-product value, gives archive-referencing knitwear a strong commercial floor.

  • Court Reset Polo — 12GG MERCERISED · TIPPED COLLAR · PRISTINE CREAM · PANTONE 11-0606 TCX
  • Panel Rugby Crew — 5GG RACK STITCH · BLOCK PANEL · DAZZLING BLUE / BUTTERCUP / ECRU · PANTONE 18-3949 TCX
  • Clubhouse Vest — 5GG CABLE · DOUBLE TIPPING · BURNT ORANGE · PANTONE 16-1448 TCX
  • Ring-Pull Track Cardigan — COTTON/SILK MILANO · RING-PULL ZIP · TEAL · PANTONE 17-4919 TCX

Mood world · p.91Design edit · p.92Trend DNA · p.93Prompt pack · p.94

English Eccentric mood board — The New Rebellion, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 22 · The New Rebellion · SAFE BET · PEAK

English Eccentric

Heritage worn slightly wrong, entirely right.

HERITAGE / PREPPY / CRICKET / COLLECTIBLE

Colour story: Banana Cream (13-0941 TCX), Papyrus (11-0107 TCX), Verdant Green (19-6026 TCX), Dress Blues (19-4024 TCX), Terra Cotta (16-1526 TCX), Orchid Pink (13-2010 TCX)

Designs: Patchwork Cable Cricket Vest, Tipped Mesh Riviera Polo, Punchcard Garden Cardigan, Knitted Rugby Crew

Mood: Witty / Aristocratic / OffbeatColour: Banana Cream → Verdant → Dress BluesMaterial: Aran / Pointelle / Mesh JacquardSilhouette: Slim / Cropped / NeatDetail: Tipped / Crested / Grosgrain

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: cotton-silk cable/aran in summer weight; tipped mesh-knit polo jacquard; pointelle/punchcard-pattern fine gauge; ribbed cotton with contrast tipping (cricket V-neck); linen-blend slub jersey.

Silhouette: cricket V-neck vest; tipped knit polo (slim, SS27 proportion); shrunken punchcard cardigan; rugby-stripe knitted crew; longline tennis sweater tied-at-shoulders styling.

  • Eccentricity: The prep story tips distinctly British, led by cricket knits and punchcard cardigans.
  • Material: Summer-weight cotton-silk aran, tipped mesh jacquard and pointelle punchcard fine gauge.
  • Silhouette: Slim tipped polos, belt-cropped cricket vests and shrunken cardigans.
  • Market Signal: Heritage-and-prep revival stands as the strongest data-backed direction of the season.

The strongest data-backed direction of the season: Trendalytics logged Heritage & Prep Revival as a defining SS27 runway story, and FashionUnited documented the colourful preppy wave at Thom Browne, Polo Ralph Lauren — primary-colour patchwork cable rugby knits with white polo collars — plus Kenzo and Louis Vuitton striped knit vests. For SS28 the prep story tips distinctly British, with cricket knits, punchcard cardigans and rugby stripes leading the offer. The theme is reinforced by Future Snoops' Future Keepers macro, which prizes heirloom value and retired-product premium, making these pieces read as collectible rather than costume.

  • Patchwork Cable Cricket Vest — COTTON/SILK ARAN · PATCHWORK CABLE · CRICKET CREAM · PANTONE 11-0107 TCX
  • Tipped Mesh Riviera Polo — MESH JACQUARD · CONTRAST TIPPING · VERDANT GREEN · PANTONE 19-6026 TCX
  • Punchcard Garden Cardigan — POINTELLE PUNCHCARD · FINE GAUGE · BANANA CREAM · PANTONE 13-0941 TCX
  • Knitted Rugby Crew — HEAVYWEIGHT COTTON · HOOPED STRIPE · DRESS BLUES AND ORCHID PINK HOOPS · PANTONE 19-4024 TCX

Mood world · p.95Design edit · p.96Trend DNA · p.97Prompt pack · p.98

Surreal Kitsch mood board — The New Rebellion, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 23 · The New Rebellion · DIRECTIONAL · RISING

Surreal Kitsch

A sweater that winks back when you look twice.

WHIMSICAL / TACTILE / ILLUSORY / CHARMING

Colour story: Candy Pink (14-1911 TCX), Lemonade (12-0736 TCX), Blue Atoll (16-4535 TCX), Fiery Red (18-1664 TCX), Paradise Green (13-0221 TCX), Gardenia (11-0604 TCX)

Designs: Trompe-l'oeil Souvenir Crew, Fruit-Stand Crochet Cardigan, Melting-Check Jersey Tee, Cloud-Tuft Knit Polo

Mood: Playful / Sentimental / SurrealColour: Candy Pink → Lemonade → AtollMaterial: Jacquard / Crochet / TuftedSilhouette: Boxy / Cropped / SoftenedDetail: Novelty Buttons / Scalloped / Whip-Stitch

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: trompe-l'oeil jacquard fine-gauge cotton (12gg); hand-crochet granny-square cotton tape yarn; 3D tufted/punch-needle motif knit; bouclé-slub cotton for wobbly hand-drawn texture; spongey looped-back terry jersey.

Silhouette: boxy cropped crew sweater; camp-collar open-knit shirt; relaxed knit vest worn solo; longline cardigan with oversized patch pockets; easy-fit heavyweight jersey tee.

  • Illusion: Trompe-l'oeil, 3D tufting and object-motif knits reward close looking and touch.
  • Material: Jacquard illusions, granny-square crochet tape yarn and spongey looped-back terry.
  • Silhouette: Boxy cropped crews, camp-collar open knits and patch-pocket cardigans.
  • Market Signal: Sentimental granny knits headline as tactile product answers digital saturation.

Playful surrealism carries directly out of SS26 menswear, where Walter Van Beirendonck staged a theatrical ode to surreal sartorialism in Paris and Hypebeast tracked sentimental, heirloom 'Granny Knits' with pastoral and floral motifs as a headline knit trend. For SS28 the mood matures into trompe-l'oeil, 3D and food- and object-motif knits that reward close looking and touch. It answers Future Snoops' Re-Sensitized macro, which calls for tactile, emotionally engaging product after a period of digital saturation. The result is knitwear with humour and hand-feel that trades irony for genuine charm.

  • Trompe-l'oeil Souvenir Crew — 12GG JACQUARD · TROMPE-L'OEIL · SKY BLUE · PANTONE 16-4535 TCX
  • Fruit-Stand Crochet Cardigan — GRANNY-SQUARE CROCHET · TAPE YARN · CREAM · PANTONE 11-0604 TCX
  • Melting-Check Jersey Tee — LOOPED-BACK TERRY · HEAVYWEIGHT · WHITE WITH PINK-RED CHECK · PANTONE 11-0604 TCX
  • Cloud-Tuft Knit Polo — 3D TUFTED MOTIF · COTTON · CANDY PINK · PANTONE 14-1911 TCX

Mood world · p.99Design edit · p.100Trend DNA · p.101Prompt pack · p.102

Playful Punk mood board — The New Rebellion, SS28 men's knitwear trend direction

Direction 24 · The New Rebellion · BUILDING

Playful Punk

Rebellion, re-knitted with a grin.

DISTRESSED / CLASHING / MENDED / IRREVERENT

Colour story: Jet Black (19-0303 TCX), True Red (19-1664 TCX), Pink Peacock (18-2133 TCX), Vibrant Yellow (13-0858 TCX), Bright White (11-0601 TCX), Online Lime (17-0145 TCX)

Designs: Ransom-Stripe Sweater, String Theory Net Vest, Mended Riot Polo, Shredded-Hem Jersey Tee

Mood: Rebellious / Witty / HandmadeColour: Black → True Red → Vibrant YellowMaterial: Laddered / Net / BoiledSilhouette: Shrunken / Cropped / SlouchyDetail: Safety Pins / Visible Mend / Lettuce Edge

Fabric, silhouette and why now

Fabric: intentionally laddered/dropped-stitch cotton knit; wide-gauge net/string knit; destroyed-edge slub jersey; boiled-and-washed rib for a shrunken vintage hand; contrast-overlock recycled cotton jersey.

Silhouette: shrunken clash-stripe sweater; string-knit vest over bare skin or tee; laddered longline crew; DIY-patched knit polo; raw-edge boxy tee.

  • Mischief: Punk codes shed their aggression and re-emerge in colour, craft and clash stripes.
  • Material: Deliberately laddered cottons, wide-gauge string nets and boiled shrunken ribs.
  • Silhouette: Shrunken-and-cropped against slouchy-long, proportions deliberately wrong.
  • Market Signal: The relaxed punk revival keeps building on London's eccentric subculture streak.

Punk codes stripped of aggression and re-cut in colour and craft. SS26 coverage from Hypebeast already logged the biker and punk-rocker revival in relaxed forms, and LFW AW26 dispatches confirmed London's continuing eccentric-subculture streak. For SS28 knit this means laddered and distressed summer knits, net gauges, safety-pin hardware and clash stripes. The edge is softened by Re-Sensitized hand-craft — visible mending and DIY crochet patches — so the story sells as playful rather than hostile.

  • Ransom-Stripe Sweater — LADDERED BRUSHED KNIT · CLASH STRIPE · BLACK AND PINK PEACOCK STRIPE · PANTONE 19-0303 TCX
  • String Theory Net Vest — WIDE-GAUGE NET · STRING KNIT · VIBRANT YELLOW · PANTONE 13-0858 TCX
  • Mended Riot Polo — BOILED COTTON RIB · VISIBLE MEND · BRIGHT WHITE · PANTONE 11-0601 TCX
  • Shredded-Hem Jersey Tee — RECYCLED JERSEY · CONTRAST OVERLOCK · ONLINE LIME · PANTONE 17-0145 TCX

Mood world · p.103Design edit · p.104Trend DNA · p.105Prompt pack · p.106

FAQ

Questions about the SS28 Trend DNA report

What is the Trend DNA SS28 report?
Trend DNA is Slayteq's free Spring/Summer 2028 trend report for men's knitwear and jersey. It runs to 107 pages across 6 chapters and 24 trend directions, each with a mood world, a design edit, a Trend DNA breakdown and a prompt pack.
Which trend directions does the SS28 menswear report cover?
The six chapters are The New Lightness, Sun-Faded Living, Tactile Memory, New Performance, Colour After Dark, The New Rebellion. Directions include Gentle Futurism, Soft Structure, Future Past, Quiet Precision, Summer House, Prep Riviera, Crafted Coastal, Carefree Craft and more.
What are the key SS28 colours for men's knitwear?
The master palette is built on Sandstone, Winter White, Sage, Dress Blues, Blue Atoll, French Vanilla, Vibrant Yellow, Pink Flambé, Pistachio Green, with indicative Pantone TCX references, plus a six-colour story for every trend direction.
How were the designs and mood boards made?
Every garment image and mood board in the report was generated on Slayteq from the prompt packs shown with each theme. No forecaster imagery is reproduced; theme direction is triangulated from public trend-forecast coverage listed in the sources.
Can I reuse the prompt packs and edit the designs?
Yes. Each direction ends with a prompt pack you can paste into Slayteq, and every design can be opened in the Slayteq studio to change colour, fabric, print, fit or background before it goes into a tech pack.
Is the Trend DNA report free to read?
Yes. The full report is free to read online without an account. Creating a free Slayteq account lets you generate and edit your own designs from the prompt packs.

Methodology

Sources and how the report was built

Theme direction is triangulated from public trend-forecast coverage — WGSN × Coloro SS28 key colours (Radiant Earth, COTY 2028), Future Snoops SS28 palettes and 2028 macro trends, Pitti Filati yarn-fair direction, Heuritech analytics, and SS26–SS27 menswear runway and retail coverage as leading indicators. Where proprietary theme names have thin public documentation, the build is an informed interpretation aligned to the published season signals.

Pantone note: all TCX codes are nearest indicative matches derived from the working colour swatches — directional, not lab-verified. Verified coding requires Pantone Connect / a licensed TCX library.

All garment imagery and mood boards were generated on Slayteq from the prompt packs shown with each theme; no forecaster imagery is reproduced.

  • diarydirectory.com
  • wgsn.com
  • fashionunited.com
  • wgsn.com
  • wwd.com
  • fashionunited.com
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  • wwd.com
  • stylearcade.com
  • qartsolutions.com
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  • tiffanyhill.co.uk
  • fashionunited.com
  • facesmag.com
  • heuritech.com
  • filati.pittimmagine.com
  • firenzefiera.it
  • media.pittimmagine.com
  • peclersparis.com
  • vogueadria.com
  • astestedonmodels.substack.com
  • cbc.ca
  • fashionunited.de
  • aol.com
  • fashionunited.com
  • c2fashionstudio.com
  • wwd.com
  • heuritech.com

Full sources & methodology on page 107.

Trend DNA · Spring/Summer 2028

Men's Knit & Jersey SS28 Trend Report

6 chapters · 24 trend directions · 107 pages. Mood worlds, design edits, colour stories and prompt packs, generated on Slayteq.

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