On form

@Di1:They are paid thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars for their views on what will be in and what will be out in upcoming seasons. But just how difficult is the job of trend forecasting? Tracey McEldowney reports.

Chris Stone admits it takes a lot of guts to do what he does for a living.
Formerly a design director at homeware brand Sheridan,
Stone, who managed his own
"A lot of my forecasting comes from the gut. Having developed ranges for such a long time, you know when it feel s right or it feels wrong."








Tony Bannister.
"Just being a designer or 'in-fashion' doesn't mean that you can be a trend forecaster. I don't really consider myself just a trend forecaster but more of a creative source of inspiration to my clients. Therefore it is just as important for me to be inspired as my clients."








* Chris Stone, Dominic Beirne and Tony Bannister - together with Jo-Ann Jenkins of consultancy Jenkins UK - will appear at the Ragtrader International Industry Trend Seminars taking place at the Melbourne edition of bi-annual trade fair Fashion Exposed from September 3 to 5.