Legends relating to the order of the Chinese zodiac often include stories as to why the cat was not included among the twelve. All the other animals made it to the Jade Emperor, while the Cat was left to drown in the river after being sabotaged by the Rat. It is said that this is also the reason cats always hunt Rats.

When the Jade Emperor – the Emperor of Heaven and Earth – decided it was time his earthly subjects were given the means to measure the passing of the seasons, he turned to the animal kingdom for help. The emperor decided he would hold a race to determine which of the animals he would include.

After crossing the river, he raced towards the palace of the Jade Emperor. Suddenly, Rat jumped out of Ox’s ear and dashed to the feet of the Emperor. Rat won first place and Ox was second.

The rat jumped in front of the ox and came first in the race. The ox came in second and the tiger finished in third.

This guide is based on the ancient origin story of the Great Race, which determined each animal’s position in the zodiac. The 12 animals, in the order they finished the race are; Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Rat is the first in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The Years of the Rat include 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032…

Only 12 animals came to bid him farewell. As a reward he named a year after each other one in the order that they arrived. First came the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Thus we have 12 signs today.

Our final key colour for S/S 22 and named WGSN’s colour of the year, is Orchid Flower. Orchid Flower has an intense, hyper-real and energizing quality that will stand out in both real-life and digital settings. It is also versatile enough to work across seasons and continents.

In fact, the majority of designers agreed that we’re going to see less cool grays and whites in 2020. “Gray will move into an accent position, and no longer be a main color,” one said. Designers also say there will be more of a focus on more playful decorating, when it comes to both colors and textures.

Classic Blue

The key Spring 2022 hues are: an electrifying pink, a yellowish orange, a calming blue, a plant-based green and a creamy shade of butter.

Digital Lavender

Ultimate Gray

Orchid Flower is our Colour of the Year for 2022, continuing from spring/summer into autumn/winter. This transseasonal tone plays perfectly into the theme of small luxuries and precious things that come from nature, inspired by the tropical orchid plant, with its long-lasting flowers and distinct scent.

Without further ado, these are the current fashion trends dominating 2021 that you should try!

• Hoodies Under Blazers.
• Women’s Oversized Bomber Jackets.
• Cropped Cardigans.
• Casual Trench.
• Boiler Suits.
• Fantasy Florals.
• Puff Sleeves.
• Color Blocking.

Worth Global Style Network

WGSN. While their paid services start at 5 figures, they have an extremely robust blog called WGSN Insider. They cover fashion, lifestyle, culture, strategy and more. Mini trend reports are available to download… plus they go above and beyond with excellent videos on their youtube channel too!

From 2021 new membership is $US 6 / year. You can also become a premium superseller or supermember. Businesses who want to promote their brand and products need to become a supersponsor.

Trendstop is one of the world’s leading trend forecasting agencies with over 10 years experience in accurately forecasting fashion and lifestyle trends that become commercially successful in the marketplace. 1,800 fashion trends forecasted per year, and counting!

There are two types of fashion forecasting: short- and long-term. Short-term forecasting, known as fad forecasting, focuses on what trends will emerge across the next 1-2 years, while long-term forecasting looks much further into the future (typically 5-10 years).