As the full winter season approaches, a movement is emerging in the fashion industry to break away from monotonous minimalist styles and express individuality through patterns and colors. Rather than dressing head-to-toe in flashy clothing, consumers are opting to add one eye-catching item with a distinctive pattern or color to their usual simple outfits. So-called "point maximalism," which maintains a safe style while seeking differentiation through small changes, is rising as the fashion trend for this winter.
According to the fashion industry on the 15th, transaction values for paisley-patterned products on Musinsa and 29CM over the past month increased by 54% and 73%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. On 29CM, transaction values for Fair Isle products—a winter knit pattern of Nordic style—surged by 237%. Other patterned products, including leopard (97%), dot (64%), and jacquard (51%), also recorded double-digit growth rates. At W Concept, searches related to patterns such as paisley and dots increased by 10% year-on-year during the same period.
Interest in flashy patterns is also evident on other fashion platforms. On Zigzag, operated by Kakao Style, searches for floral-patterned products rose significantly last month. In particular, searches for jacquard floral skirts increased by approximately 35 times compared to the same period last year, recording the highest growth rate among all surveyed items. Searches for velvet floral skirts also increased by about 17 times. Searches for paisley bags rose by approximately 14 times, and searches for paisley jackets increased by more than three times.
Demand for representative winter patterns has also grown. For Nordic patterns utilizing traditional Nordic motifs such as snowflakes and reindeer, searches for Nordic beanies increased by more than three times. Cowichan knits, which feature nature-symbolizing motifs like bears and birds on thick wool yarn, rose by approximately 2.7 times. Argyle V-neck knits utilizing diamond-shaped patterns also increased by about 2.8 times. This means that various patterns, from floral designs primarily used in summer to Nordic and argyle styles suited for winter knits, are attracting attention regardless of the season.
This trend manifests itself not by filling an entire outfit with flashy designs, but by adding a point with one or two items such as bags, skirts, or knits. This is because combining patterned items with existing clothing, such as neutral-colored coats or basic-design knits, allows for a fresh atmosphere to be created without incurring significant costs.
The fashion industry is also paying attention to changes utilizing colors and materials. As deep colors like chocolate brown and burgundy emerge as key winter colors, products emphasizing the texture of materials such as leather, shearing, and corduroy are also becoming more diverse. The approach is to maintain basic designs and silhouettes while focusing on one element—color, pattern, or material—to express individuality.
A Kakao Style official said, "Customers who want to express their individuality through their outfits are increasing as they break away from the minimalist trend that has continued for several years." The official added, "Given the high price burden of winter clothing, people can utilize their existing clothes while changing the atmosphere, so the popularity of maximal fashion will continue even in winter, when outfits tend to become monotonous due to a focus on cold-weather protection."
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