Samsung C&T Fashion Group said on Oct. 1 that it is ramping up its 'multi-season outerwear' strategy with new lightweight padded pieces for the fall/winter 2026 season across key in-house brands including 8seconds, Beanpole, Beanpole Kids and Kuho Plus. The plan is to extend lightweight padding into outerwear that can be worn from the transitional seasons through deep winter, while offering brand-specific products that reflect climate change and increasingly segmented customer tastes.
The expanded lineup is part of a data-driven merchandising approach that combines market analysis from the Samsung Fashion Institute with metrics from SSF Shop, Samsung C&T Fashion Group's shopping platform. Based on its own research and analysis, the Samsung Fashion Institute found that as climate change blurs the boundaries between seasons, the 'Weatherless' trend — dressing without being constrained by weather or season — has become a new standard in the fashion market. The institute also noted growing demand for 'Layering' styles, in which lightweight outerwear is combined in various ways to suit different situations.
According to the institute, lightweight padding, once worn mainly for outdoor activities, is now being worn across a range of settings — everyday life, the commute and leisure — and is broadening its territory into lifestyle outerwear. As its light weight and ease of layering come to the fore, its range of use is widening, from being worn on its own in transitional weather to a variety of layered looks in midwinter, the analysis said.
The company said this shift is also borne out by SSF Shop data. Between Aug. 20 and Sept. 27, a period marked by lingering late-summer heat, the number of customers who bought lightweight padding on SSF Shop rose 101% year-on-year, more than doubling, while the number of customers adding such items to their carts — an indicator of potential purchase intent — climbed 384%. Sales of lightweight padding in bright colors such as ivory and pastels also increased 82% from a year earlier. The company interpreted these figures as evidence that lightweight padding has evolved beyond a simple cold-weather layer into a styling item that expresses personal taste, as well as a multi-season outerwear piece.
Casual brand 8seconds launched its 'All Day Air' series, which adds style to ultralight materials and portability. According to the company, the material-focused 'All Day' line built on the success of its earlier 'All Day Crease' and 'All Day Cashmere' releases to extend its material specialization into lightweight padding. All Day Air reduces weight with down-proof, ultralight nylon, and enhances warmth and portability with real duck down and a storage pouch. The collection includes trend-driven designs aimed at younger consumers, such as the 'Lightweight Hooded Down,' 'Technical Padding' and 'Down Vest.' According to the company, customers in their 20s and 30s accounted for 68% of new buyers of 8seconds lightweight padding on SSF Shop between Sept. 15, the launch date, and Sept. 28.
Classic casual brand Beanpole unveiled its 'Better Light Down,' which adds a practical edge. High-density nylon and goose down cut the weight while still delivering a structured silhouette, and insulating materials combined with refined finishing techniques enhance wind resistance and a cozy fit. The lineup includes Beanpole Ladies' 'Better Light Down' and vest with classic corduroy color-blocking, and Beanpole Men's 'Down Trucker Jacket,' designed as a practical shirt-style piece.
Beanpole Kids introduced lightweight down focused on lightness and ease of movement, reflecting the needs of highly active children. The 'Better Light Down' is filled with ultralight duck down for a light, cozy feel, while the 'Light Handful' series, which includes round-neck styles and vests, is designed to cover both everyday wear and outdoor activities.
Contemporary womenswear brand Kuho Plus presented lightweight padding with a minimalist design. Made with ultralight materials, the pieces can be layered with other garments, boosting their versatility as 'Between outerwear' that bridges one season to the next. Through its 'Hood Neck and High Neck Mellow Light Down,' offered in beige, brown and blue-gray, the brand proposes elegant, sophisticated styling.
"Based on the Samsung Fashion Institute's market analysis and SSF Shop customer data, we are proposing new ways to wear lightweight padding and have differentiated our products and styles according to each brand's strengths," a Samsung C&T Fashion Group official said. "We plan to lead the expansion of the multi-season outerwear market by broadening the use of lightweight padding, so it can be worn as standalone outerwear in transitional seasons and as a layering item in deep winter." The company intends to continue strengthening segmented product lineups across its key brands to round out its multi-season outerwear portfolio.
