Design Talk | 2025 Trend Forecast

It’s the time of year when many of us are starting to slow down, looking toward the holidays and wrapping up projects. As much as it’s a time to switch off, it’s also a good time to think about what’s ahead. Forecast 2025 is our look forward, reflecting on a year’s worth of insights to help map what’s coming next. This year of our trend forecast is particularly special, as it marks the fifth year of our partnership with Carryology, the platform that has been the go-to place for the carry community for over a decade. You can download your free copy of the report.

Circularity Edition

For those unfamiliar, Forecast is our annual softgoods industry snapshot. Throughout the year, we keep an eye on new releases and developments, from outdoor events to product design forums and runways. It’s a blend of research, observation, and intuition that we piece together to get a good understanding of what’s happening now and to map what’s coming next.

As well as being our fifth year collaborating with Carryology, 2025 also marks the halfway point in what’s often called the ‘climate decade’—a time to step up and embrace sustainable practices. For us in the carry world, that means getting circular, which is why this year’s Forecast is a circularity special. We’re highlighting those who are already doing new and exciting things to build a circular system, showcasing the benefits of breaking away from the take-make-waste approach we’ve always known.

Circularity can seem like a big idea to tackle—reimagining our entire approach to design and production, creating systems where resources are kept in use for as long as possible, and waste is designed out from the start. But for designers and brands, it can also be about finding simple ways to make a positive impact at every stage of a product’s life cycle. It might be as straightforward as Melbourne-based Into Carry, who craft durable products using materials diverted from waste streams. Arc’teryx’s ReBird program tackles the end of a product’s life through upcycling, reselling, and repairing—keeping products in use longer. Then there’s Freitag’s Mono Material Backpack, which has been billed as the world’s first truly circular bag, designed entirely from a single material to make recycling at the end of its life straightforward and efficient. 

If you’re keen to dive deeper, our full 40-page Forecast 2025 is ready for you to download—for free. Inside, you’ll get a full rundown on all of the above and more. Beyond circularity, we cover all the details shaping the carry world—from the styles we’re seeing to new materials. As well as trims and colors setting the vibe for 2025 and beyond. We’ve also spotlighted brands that are worth paying attention to. Whether you’re hunting for inspiration or just curious about what’s next, there’s tons to explore. We’d love for you to check it out, spread the word, and join the conversation.

[Download The Forecast 2025]