There was a time when summer fashion meant little more than breezy dresses, linen shirts, and the obligatory pair of oversized sunglasses. But in 2025, the season’s sartorial stakes are much higher, because the weather isn’t just hot. It’s relentless. With record-breaking heatwaves becoming the norm across Europe, Asia, and beyond, our wardrobes are no longer just about style, they are about survival. And the fashion industry, long obsessed with fantasy, is being forced to reckon with a much sweatier reality. Enter: climate couture. Not to be confused with eco-fashion or sustainability in the broad sense, this is a new wave of summer dressing engineered specifically for extreme heat. Designers aren’t just thinking seasonally, they are thinking thermally.
The Heat-Proof Aesthetic
Brands once known for maximalism are suddenly speaking the language of breathability. At Paris Fashion Week, billowing silhouettes dominated the runways, not for their drama, but for their airflow. Dries Van Noten showed shirt dresses. Jil Sander leaned into architectural cottons with minimal seams, reducing friction. And The Row perfected barely-there layering with whisper-weight cashmeres.
Meanwhile, designers in the global South, those already well-acquainted with hot climates, are being looked to for inspiration. Indian label 11.11 / eleven eleven, Thai brand Issue, and Nigerian favourite Lisa Folawiyo are gaining international recognition for their use of breathable handwoven fabrics, local dyeing techniques, and heat-adaptive silhouettes.
Dries Van Noten Printed Shirt Dress
Function Meets Fabric
The materials are changing too. Linen is no longer relegated to your auntie’s holiday wardrobe, it has become a status symbol, worn crumpled and proud. Tech-integrated fashion is also having a moment. Brands like Ministry of Supply and Unspun are experimenting with phase-change materials originally developed by NASA, yes, space-level cooling tech, for clothing that Regulates body temperature. There’s also a growing appreciation for natural performance textiles: think bamboo, eucalyptus, and ramie, which wick moisture and stay breathable without synthetics. Designers are embracing these not just for comfort, but for their symbolism. After all, in a climate crisis, what we wear should reflect a deeper consciousness.
ISSUE ISSUE X Saloma Batek
The End of Seasonal Dressing?
As summers stretch longer and hotter, the traditional spring/summer calendar feels outdated. Seasonless dressing, once a concept tied to slow fashion, is now a practicality. Lightweight knits are styled with linen trousers in July. Sheer button-downs layer over swimsuits in October. And trans-seasonal pieces are dominating collections year-round. Brands like Toteme, Lemaire, and Tove are excelling in this space, designing clothes not just for one trip or one heatwave, but for the new, unpredictable rhythm of modern life.
Nithya Beige Batik Pants
How to Dress for a Heatwave Without Losing Style
1. Prioritise natural, breathable fabrics.
Linen, cotton voile, bamboo, and Tencel will keep you cooler than polyester or tight jersey. The fewer synthetic fibres, the better.
2. Embrace volume.
Let your clothes float. Wide-leg trousers, oversized shirting, and A-line dresses create airflow and reduce stickiness.
3. Layer light.
Opt for sheer overlays, open vests, or silky camisoles under loose blazers. This builds interest without bulk.
4. Go open toe, but polished.
Slide into minimal sandals or elevated sandals, shoes that breathe but still look sharp.
5. Think function-forward accessories.
A wide-brim hat, a handheld fan, or a stylish water bottle is just as much a part of your look as a bag. In this heat, wellness is the accessory.
6. Colour matters.
Lighter shades reflect sunlight- whites, beiges, pale blues. But you can play with bright sorbet tones too (think citrus orange or pistachio green).
Doodlage August Printed Dress
Nayani Moss Linen Set
Fashion may still be rooted in fantasy, but in the age of climate change, its most powerful act might just be practicality. Climate couture isn’t a passing trend, it is the new reality of getting dressed. And in this new world? Cool is the ultimate luxury.
