Trend Summer 2008 Tribal Fashions

For summer 2008, the trend of eclectic ethnic continues and now embraces simplified primitive motifs and elements, creating novel tribal fashion trends. This tribal fashion trend includes not just earthy traditional tribal prints, inspired by African, or South American designs, but also the safari look of raw earthy elements such as bold buckles, buttons, jewellery alongside tie dye and Ombre effects.
This fashion trends page highlights some of the tribal influences seen in looks currently available in the shops on the UK high street.


The tribal shift Aztec dress near right, is from Marks and Spencer Summer 2008 Per Una Collection. The dress sums up a typical Tribal style pattern and the colouration is everything one might expect in this very fashionable look. It has the raw earthy tones found in the palette of a Renaissance artist. The colours really could be obtained from materials in nature.
The Tribal decorated top and coordinating skirt above right, is from the Matalan Spring Summer 2008 Collection.Matalan top with crochet detail £12, print skirt £10, belt £4 - all Matalan .





Bold jungle exotic blooms, large leaves, nuts or simple geometric shapes form the basis of repeating designs in the majority of tribal look patterned fabrics.
The dress left is from Debenhams Womenswear Spring/Summer 2008 range.Debut pebble print prom dress £70/€109, EB by Erickson Beamon spiral bead drop earrings £10/€15.50,tribal stretch bead bracelet £20/€31,spiral stretch bead bracelet £20/€31 - all at Debenhams.

















The Aegean turquoise and brown jungle print skirt makes a feature of tribal colours with tropical jungle flowers.
Bay Trading Company Spring/Summer 2008 - Jungle print skirt £19.99, Bling tab vest £5.99, Stud belt £9.99.










One aspect of the tribal trend is use of dye and colour. Hit and miss methods of dye application, such as tie and dye, or more controlled bleed dye Ombre techniques emphasise the primitive tribal feel to the garments. Tie dyeing and bleed dyeing is a fashion trend that simply won't die. But this year it does look a bit more sophisticated and there is obvious technical control in the Ombre dyed garments.

This rusty orange and brown dress uses Ombre dyeing to merge the colours seamlessly. Bay Trading Company - Necklace trim dress £39.99 from Bay Trading Spring/Summer 2008 Collection.