Asian Paints’ Trend Forecast for 2023 is about revival and rebirth

Eating Differently

Mushrooms have been a part of some Asian cuisines for centuries, hailed both for their medicinal and nutritional value as well as their sharp umami flavour. The humble little fungi have gained global dominance only in the past few years as, increasingly, people look to alternatives for meat and turn towards plantbased diets. What was once popular only as the second most popular pizza topping has now gained its place of pride on our tables as eating fresh, natural and foraged food has become the new way of eating better.

Urban Farming

The wellness and sustainability zeitgeist has prompted all of us to grow things and urban farming has emerged as a popular hobby. We’re growing things everywhere we can, in our kitchens, on our terraces, in our cupboards and sometimes even on sidewalks. Among this newfound love for all things homegrown, mushrooms have made for a relatively easy crop, we can even grow it in our bedrooms. India has emerged as a hotbed for mushroom farming, as farmers and small entrepreneurs have realised its potential and skyrocketing demand.

Contemporary Biotechnology and Preventive Medicine

Once the poster child of 1970’s counter-culture, mushrooms are fast gaining recognition as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Mycologist Paul Stamets has called them “nature’s miniature pharmaceutical factories” with mushroom-based powders and pills entering the mainstream and getting legalized in several parts of the world. Researchers and medical practitioners are now making a case for legalizing the use of psilocybin to treat problems.

Ruling the Runway

They’ve sprouted regularly on the runways in the past year as the fashion world tried to capture mushrooms’ endlessly mesmerizing qualities. Bioluminescence, amorphic form, unmatched intricacies and an implied grooviness became the theme for designers Iris Van Herpen, Rahul Mishra, Ashish and Alexander McQueen, while Stella McCartney and Hermes have taken it one step further with the launch of vegan leather that they are now using for handbags and clothing.

Haptic Feeling Grooviness

Absorbing and layered, the colour palette is reminiscent of the quiet strength and tenacity of natural elements in all their strangeness and familiarity. With a rich sense of haptic cognizance, the creams and beiges are elemental while the pinks and blues hint at the inherent grooviness and intrigue of the wild fungi.

Hard Materials

Bringing out the uneven, porous surfaces seen on mushrooms, the diverse set of materials represents micro-textures, imperfections and interconnections found in the mycelic world. These materials can be manipulated into an array of formerly unseen forms with an unreal edge and surreal quality.

Soft Materials

The materials are made to mimic the intricacy and diversity of the fascinating fungi. Simultaneously delicate and strong, while materials such as marbelised fabrics incorporate mushrooms' psychedelic properties, others take inspiration from the layers, unevenness and velvety smoothness of mushrooms. Some of these materials have a homegrown quality as they are made of actual mycelium.