Crochet as Craft
Go beyond boho with one of SS26's most timeless trends.
Where traditional boho fashion leaned into free-spirited excess, the direction of the Avant Craft trend, as seen in the SS26 Women’s Young Contemporary Buyer’s Guide, favors restraint and resonance. It’s about items that feel collected and lived-in, emphasizing a return to artistry and the quiet beauty of pieces with a handmade feel.
“Avant Craft is modern bohemia, elevated,” says Vanessa Powell, the stylist for this photo shoot. “It’s less about festival clichés, trading in fringe overload, psychedelic prints, and turquoise accessories for something more wearable. It’s anchored in craftsmanship, natural fabrics, and silhouettes that move with the body, not against it. It's effortless, not theatrical.”
Rooted in earthy tones and natural fabrics, the style speaks to a slower, more intentional rhythm of dressing. Buyers should look for heirloom-quality materials — cotton voile, crochet, linen blends, artisanal denim — that invite touch and tell a story through texture; soft shapes, such as bubble hems and leather bombs — that offer fluidity; and cohesive colors, from oats and ivories to clays and chambrays, that ground loud accessories. Here, each detail is deliberate: frayed seams that echo the human hand, open weaves that let air and light through.
At MAGIC’s New York show in September, brands presented their interpretations of the Avant Craft concept with designs that consumers will connect with emotionally. Here, styled outfits using participating brands’ pieces show how this modern romantic style can be translated for different ages, locations, occasions, and preferences. Because at the heart of the trend, Powell says, “it’s really for women who want their wardrobes to tell a story of authenticity and connection.”
Published October 2025
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The centuries-old technique is seeing new life. “These aren’t your grandmother’s stitches,” says Powell. “They’re directional, sensual, and purposefully undone,” she adds, noting open-weave dresses, intricate macramé skirts, and jackets finished with hand-done touches bring that touch of heritage craftsmanship to everyday style.
Accessories That Tell a Story
Lace in All Forms
“Traditional boho often leans toward a festival or costume-like vibe, but this trend takes those free-spirited influences and elevates them with better fabrics, cleaner silhouettes, and artisanal details,” Boorlagadda says, like lace, which fits seamlessly into that vision. Instead of precious, lace is now being seen as purposeful, powerful — a fabric that mixes artistry and femininity is an exciting new way.
SS26 WOMEN'S YOUNG CONTEMPORARY BUYER'S GUIDE
Discover key women's young contemporary trends, products, and brands to shop at MAGIC in our exclusive SS26 Buyer's Guide.
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SS26 WOMEN'S CONTEMPORARY BUYER'S GUIDE
Discover key women's contemporary trends, products, and brands to shop at MAGIC in our exclusive SS26 Buyer's Guide.
READ NOW
SS26 FOOTWEAR BUYER'S GUIDE
Discover key footwear trends, products, and brands to shop at MAGIC in our exclusive SS26 Footwear Buyer's Guide.
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Outfit-finishers, from slouchy woven bags to braided leather belts to matte metal earrings, serve as connective tissue, not an afterthought, in the Avant Craft universe.
Delicate in nature and vintage in connotation; lace takes on a new dimension as both a primary material and an accompaniment; it’s a study in both texture and transparency. “Soft embroidery, open-stitch panels, and lace appliqués nod to traditional handwork with a directional edge,” says Powell, noting this sub trend can be seen in the form of feminine camisoles, flowy blouses, midi skirts, and silky slips that “feel soft and sensual, rather than overtly sexy.” Brands should, she adds, “showcase relaxed, flowing silhouettes that celebrate heritage through ease and thoughtful form.” That means pieces that move with the body or can be layered with soft knits or structured denim for an effortless textural contrast.
Crochet Top by mySTRee; Skirt by luvee; Tank by by together; Bag by AMERICA & BEYOND
Dress by raisonnel; Long Sleeve Top by by together; Belt by most wanted usa; Bag by accessory concierge; Shoes by MIA
Shorts by Emory park; Long Sleeve Top by all:Row; Sleeveless Top by glam; Scart by omg blings; Bag by america & Beyond; Bangles by simply jewels
Shirt by astrid; Shorts by sage the label; Shoes by mia; Bag by america & beyond
Dress by petit pois BY VIVIANA G; Belt by accessory concierge; Chain Belt + Earrings as Broches by yochi
Skirt by aureum; Top by BY Together; Jacket by luvee; Sunglasses by freyrs EYEWEAR; Necklaces by THE Encore fashion group
Lace Button-Down Shirt by dress forum; Lace Undershirt by By together; Jeans by hidden jeans; Bralette by allie rose; Bag by montana west; Belt and Bracelet by YOCHI; Belt as Necklace by pol CLOTHING
Shirt by le lis; Skirt by POLAGRAM + Baevely; Jacket by bila77; Necklaces by yochi; Top Belt by POL CLOTHING; Bottom Belt by ACCESSORY CONCIERGE; Bag by BE ALICE
Studio Production Credits:
Producers: Gauge Theory Creative Photographers: carlos & Alyse
Stylist: vanessa powell; Assistant Stylist: elizabeth parrilli; Assistant Stylist: grace nickels
Photo Assistant: teague shoup
Hair & Make-Up: morningstar jackson; Content Manager: elise cucchiarelli
Coordinator: quinn francis Model: eve safdie, marilyn agency
The Art of Modern Bohemia
Crochet Duster by pol CLOTHING; Skirt by raisonnel; Bralette by allie rose; Shoes by mia
Crochet’s revival, says Pranathi Boorlagadda, business development associate at America and Beyond, can be attributed to “the rise of the ‘Ibiza lifestyle’ aesthetic — a mix of carefree resort dressing, bohemian luxury. People are looking for fashion that feels relaxed yet glamorous, and pop culture has fueled it further, with celebrities blending crochet dresses, statement bags, and bold jewelry.” The trend’s modernization, she notes, comes with how it’s styled. Show alongside sculptural belts, leather bags, and raw stone jewelry, letting crochet serve as an outfit anchor.
“This trend is driven by the needs of the everyday woman,” says Rebecca Geyer, a partner at handbag line Be Alice. “There’s a focus on hands-free, lightweight, and versatile crossbodys that transition from day to night.” Materials to look for, according to Powell, include “raffia, macramé, leather fringe, and brown suede — yes, even for spring.” The goal is for the item to be soft and slightly sun faded. “Bags should look like they’ve been places,” she adds. The details, too, are deliberate, with straps and hardware — think tarnished brass, hand cut leather, and stone embellishments with a handmade patina — all playing a crucial role in delivering that soulful quality.
“One brand that nailed this mood perfectly at MAGIC is Yochi,” Powell notes. “Her sculptural earrings, hammered metals, and vintage-finished pieces hit the sweet spot between statement and soul. Each piece feels collected, never costume (even if it is) — exactly what Avant Craft demands.”
The focus on tactility extends beyond construction. How pieces can be worn across personal preferences came alive at MAGIC, where buyers gravitated towards items that encouraged storytelling through styling. “There was a lot of buzz around pairing our charms with our mini scarves,” says Cathy Sun of jewelry line OMG Blings. “We showed over 100 designs, and they sold out fast. Buyers styled them right on the spot, tying them on bags, wrapping them around hats, pairing them with charms as scarf necklaces, wearing them as belts, even twisting them into shoelaces with charms. This trend is all about layering with personality.”
