Collection Spring / Summer 2026 - Trends in Embroidery and Textile Embellishment
Spring and Summer - for many people the best time of the year. Warm feelings, stunning nature, days of joy, relaxing holidays, long walks in the forest, city trips with friends and family and all in all, lots of positive vibes, celebrating easiness and enjoying the good things around us.
The spring and summer 2026 will show loads of such collections presenting light, soft and powerful fashion. A clear statement of hope and strength in challenging times.
Can you think of any design element representing these aspects better than flowers ? They will appear in every collection, smooth, light and in wonderful pastel shades both in machine embroidery as well as made in luxury haute couture hand work.
Millefleur design created by Caroline Jones, embroidered with POLY SPARKLE by Gunold
Embroidered flowers by Camille Schouren, Modefachschule Sigmaringen on knitwear by Knitwear lab. Thread: Gunold’s SULKY viscose
Handmade couture flower created by Maurice Ettle, Modefachschule Sigmaringen, using Olivenleder
Hand embroidered flower created by Modi Embroideries, India
We will also see very light pleated fabrics, grid designs and elements with a marble effect, inspired by corals, seaweed and aquatic plants. These designs go very well with biodegradable embroidery using organic COTTY BIO and SULKY viscose threads from the Gunold thread range.
Embroidery using SULKY variegated viscose thread. Design by Caroline Jones, Grid fabric made of OceanSafe NaNea biodegradable (!) polyester
Embroidered letters, logos and numbers will be everywhere – on T-shirts and sweaters but even on trousers and jackets. Sometimes designed like a signature or inspired by graffiti, but never in a classic way. Think of fancy, innovative and creative graphic solutions with a twist.
Simple but smart – the words are embroidered « normal », mirrored and turned upside down. Design by Texoversum Reutlingen University
Path design by Julia Gutsche, Modefachschule Sigmaringen using POLY by Gunold
Embroidered number by Feline Vierkant, Modefachschule Sigmaringen on effect fabric by Frizza Italy, transfer confetti by madebykasia
Attractive logo design by Patrick Pfeiffer, cooperation with funny iris, Modefachschule Sigmaringen, embroidered with Gunold’s POLY SPARKLE…
…and here embroidered with Gunold’s POLY in fluorescent signal red on naNea fabric by Ocean Safe
Cutting edge technology and AI design meet classic textile techniques. We’ll introduce two stunning companies here: GRDXKN 4D printing by Bastian Müller provides grip and protection for functional fabrics and garments and looks just amazing when combined with classic machine embroidery. NODETY by Dr. Marc Gumpinger is a node based software to develop outstanding embroidery and knitting design.
Combination of GRDXKN 4D print and embroidery. Created by Texoversum Reutlingen University
Combination of GRDXKN 4D print and embroidery. Created by Texoversum Reutlingen University
Embroidered „3“ using nodety software. Embroidery by Vivien Büttgen, Modefachschule Sigmaringen
Coming back to the natural look and feel of cotton and viscose embroidery threads. Embroidery is used to add value to a garment. If the fabrics chosen are of a high quality, made of natural fibres and fully biodegradable, why do many brands still use a standard polyester thread to decorate it ? It would make much more sense to use the subtle, natural appearance of a cotton or the silky, luxurious shimmer of a viscose thread…
COTTY BIO by Gunold, design by Caroline Jones
COTTY 30 by Gunold, Design by Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau
SULKY by Gunold, Design: Karina Gaus + Irene Körting, Texoversum Reutlingen University
SULKY by Gunold, Design by Constitch Massimo Baezzato
Cotton fabrics will be coated, for example with metallic surfaces or rubber and can be decorated with an embroidery design in contrasting colours to achieve a fresh and modern look. If the fabric is pure instead, like linen, cotton, wool or hemp, decorate it with metallic effect threads in iridescent/opal shades.
Coated cotton fabric by Gommatex, Embroidery design by funny iris using POLY by Gunold
Design by Caroline Jones, embroidered with Gunold’s METY in iridescent/opal shade on linen fabric
Leathers will either be coated to achieve a shimmery and luxury appearance or goatskin will be used to underline the natural beauty of this noble material.
Embroidered portrait using Gunold’s POLY SPARKLE on coated leather by Modefachschule Sigmaringen
Design by Caroline Jones using POLY FLASH and COTTY 30 on goatskin
Following the famous 3R wording « reuse – repair -recycle » , more and more brands rethink their procedure. Customers can return garments with stains or holes and the brands repair them. Or they redesign unsold garments and pimp these pieces with textile embellishment. AND, the customers appreciate these efforts and are willing to pay the price to have a unique piece. Here some samples how embroidery and transfer print can be used to give a second live to faulty fabrics :
Fabric / cotton-padding by St-Eb Germany with embroidery and transfer print. Embroidery by Jan Paul and Jutta Erb, Modefachschule Sigmaringen, Reflex Transfer by Regine IQtrim, Transfer confetti by madebykasia
Embellished pinstripe fabric using vintage lace and embroidery. Design by Jutta Erb, Modefachschule Sigmaringen using Gunold’s POLY thread in fluorescent orange
Summer 26 : fashion with passion !
Thanks for spending so much time going trough my thoughts and inspiration for the next collection and I would be very pleased to meet you on one of the next trade show to show you the samples (and many more…) live and to exchange about our challenges and possibilities ! Take care and all the best,
Reiner