FALL FASHIONS LOOK BACK TO THE FUTURE.

As the end of the century nears, fashion designers are churning out clothing that reflects their vision of the future, as well as what they consider high points from the past.

This fall's hottest looks center on tried-and-true hippie staples--Indian-print fabrics, loose shirts, beading and embroidery--and a futuristic twist of high-tech fabrics and styles.

You'll see lots of Indian and Moroccan clothes this year, as well as the famous paisley print, which has come in and out of fashion since the early 1800s. It was originated by the Rabari people, a nomadic tribe that lived near the India-Pakistan border. Even guys may go for Indian and Moroccan fabrics.

Evoking the future is the "utility" look, with jackets and pants with zillions of little places for pencils, wrenches, mobile phones, lipsticks, and hammers. "It looks like protective gear," says Valerie Steele, head curator at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, as if it's being worn by "warriors protecting themselves from the environment."