Trend Direction: Y-Collective

keywords POSITIVE CHANGE – LOYALTY – REDEFINED SUCCESS – COMMUNITY – SUPPORT – REAL

Y-Collective. Why? How did we end up here? Those questions will be guiding a  2023 trend that aspires to develop entirely new and improved structures within society. Seeing community as it should be, for its values of support and loyalty will emphasize individuality as part of a bigger collective. A new generation will do things their own way and at their own pace. Far from being lazy, efficient pursuits see 2023 translate into a time for art, activism and activity. Uniqueness will outweigh conformity on all levels, causing hobbies to gain in importance again. From DIY to sports, the youthful influences of experimentation and creativity are  redefining own interests and enable new peer groups to form. Positive and real change will evolve from the acceptation of greater self-love and self-expression. Connecting with each-other will be the main foundation to push for other transformations that can only be achieved as a strong and powerful community.

This palette narrates a modern story of community. New colors enhance the new traditions that built on re-established local networks and vital positivity. To reflect those communal sentiments, notes are feeling warm and contrasted. They offer a dynamism and depth that restores important attributes of successful societies. A bolder look that draws on the celebration of uniqueness provides hints of more saturated and classic vivid colors. Ranging from viola to electric blue, light is inserted into the palette to elevate its optimistic and youthful appeal.

For AW23, womenswear is looking at design inspirations from thrifting and up-cycling to focus on more local and sustainable fashion. One design themes, rags to riches, will exploit the possibilities to rethink and reform garments. In an approach of make-it-your own rather than simply do-it-yourself, the style is taking individuality to the next level. Being unique and being bold has consumers feel more connected to their inner selves again and breaking with the uniformity of beauty ideals. Apart from that, active avant-garde is a design story that will take a closer look at sporty styles to take them out of their niche. As consumers understand the importance of movement more than ever before now, activity and sport are becoming inspirational starting points again. Generally, this woke generation of consumers is embracing a more vocal and dynamic power now. The possibility to reflect an opinion, without even speaking, is taking an almost ghandi-esque approach to protest. Messages and statements will enrich rather basic pieces by adding a real sense of purpose now. Talking about activities and sport for AW23, design will seek to explore skiing themes. Inspired by retro looks from the 70s and 80s, the ski look follows more artistic and creative ways now. The artful alps look connects to collaborations of performance labels and creatives that amped up in recent years and appeal to consumer’s vision of community and collaboration.

The menswear range for AW23 is united by an overarching free-minded vibe. Representative of such liberating feelings, the 70s continue to serve as a major inspiration. Woodstock seems to be literally revived for the next season. Knitwear is prevailing and being enhanced by rainbow colors and messages of community, love and happiness. As sustainability unites those free souls, another direction that focuses on re-cycling and re-thinking can provide a more creative and more eccentric aesthetic. This trash to treasure trend expands the limits of good taste and re-defines beauty and the purpose of products in themselves. Mister Mundane is a design concept that questions the necessity of fashion items as well, trying to counteract the current demonstration of status and wealth. A new understanding of success takes #normcore influences back to their roots, to norms, pushing for un-fuzzy basics with seemingly un-fashionable and casual styling. Another design option for optimistic change-makers can be a bold apres-ski rave theme. Similar to the 70s, the 90s represent a period of fun and freedom, breaking rules and being uncompromisingly oneself. This spirit can be embedded in dopamine outdoor styles and modern looks that seamlessly transform from the cold outdoors to the electronic dance floors of 2023.

Trend Direction: Crypto Punks

keywords NEO HUSTLERS – CO-CREATION – RIOT – NEW GEN – FREE – VISIONARY  – NON-CONFORMIST

Crypto Punks. This consumer trend is exploring all possibilities of digital life. Shifting between games and real-life experiences, a new community will look to invest into NFTs in order to unlock possibilities within the real world. The crypto punk revolts through the creative destruction of existing systems. Embracing the freedom and vision of a decentralized and collaborative future, will propose new creative stimuli. Augmented by new digital tools and the valuation of authenticity and equality, sees those people set their own fundaments within an entirely new world of Web 3.0. This trend appreciates all benefits of digitalization to create a world where literally everything is possible. Their revolt is  defining new physical and unreal spaces and drive updated patterns of real and digital consumption, trying to escape the reigns of the current system.

This visionary color story combines classic tones with contemporary shades, pairing strong acid lights with dark, desaturated hues. The unexpected color mix provides a refined sense of rebellion, that goes beyond classic subcultural palettes and suggests that new worlds are building. Mixing and matching familiar punk color stories with hyper-contemporary hues reinforces the digital aura of the trend. From a new limey yellow to the zeitgeist color very peri, this palette is an ode to the fusion of fungible and non-fungible worlds.

For crypto punks, streetwear and teenage universes are essential stylistic drivers. Younger generations are exploring their possibilities to build a life with the possibilities of Web 3.0. The possibilities of NFTs and digital design will be creating a #glitchcore influence. Gaming and cartoon elements will serve as color and print inspiration and update unexpected pieces from tailoring to classic jerseys styles. The current subversive aesthetics within the womenswear market remains and will experience a push towards the world of hidden desires and digital dominatrix themes. Platforms like onlyfans are gaining increasing popularity. This growth shows that sexuality is entering the public eye more than ever, pushing for a kinky or fetish-driven style. While this trend remains edgy, it is an important driver within the change-making spirit of our zeitgeist. Womenswear is currently infused with strong subculture influences that trace back to the Y2K nostalgia within fashion. The great grunge will propose an authentic grunge look for AW23. Based on used and washed-out pieces in oversized fits, the style aims to de-emphasize the silhouette and juxtapose the hyper-sexuality of dominatrix-driven styles. Lastly, a taste for  engine energies defines trends related to motor-sports and racing styles. Leather remains a leading material and padded jackets or belts can suggest elements of motor-cycling uniforms, resonating the desire for an adrenaline-rush and more intense experiences. 

For AW23, young men will continue to explore the 90s and 2000s for fashion inspiration. The 90s club kid trend embraces a divergent masculinity, with tight-fitting pants and slightly cropped jersey tops. The look is drawing references from rave culture and EDM dance parties, distinctly liberating masculine sexuality and emphasizing the need for enhanced experiences. As subculture offers a means to create peer groups and like-minded communities, a feeling of rebellion and resentment and a wish for extreme revolt approaches fashion in an anti-fashion kind of way. This trend will be disrupting classic silhouettes and push for a punky, deconstructive looks. For this youth generation,  gaming remains at the forefront of entertainment, creating hypes and online communities. E-sport is a trend that will propose a 2023 e-gamer uniform, far beyond the expected nerdy and slouchy look of classic gamers. Sportswear jerseys and wide shorts in digital color palettes are shaping the base of this new aesthetic and feel equally ready for web and world. Similarly ready for the metaverse, the new notion for digital fashion and NFTs reshapes the understanding of owning and creating. Things that are fungible regain importance next to the influx of non-fungible objects. For design that still aspires for the avatar look, adding licensed cartoon and character prints or gimmicky headwear that will bring digital figures to reality straight out of the metaverse.