A tunnel of denim garlands at Kingpins denim show was followed by a bright outdoor extension of SugarCity. In a separate room, trend watcher Amy Leverton from Denim Dudes presented the FW24/25 denim trends. Leverton pulled out all the stops for 45 minutes to present the trends as vividly as possible, 45 minutes packed with inspiration and images.
Leverton divided their trend story into four chapters: “Avant Y2K”, “Recession Core”, “Synthetic” and “Underground”. Three of these reflect positivity, which is what we all crave, says Leverton. The last chapter is more downbeat and deals with the rejection of our current state of life.
Avant Y2K
Avant Y2K is all about Generation Z, the generation of young adults between the ages of 12 and 26. Y2K fuses elements of pop culture with early 2000’s tech details, mixing futuristic details with retro inspirations like bold graphic tees, double denim, glitter galore and low-rise jeans. Generation Z will redefine this Y2K trend by incorporating influences from other times and encouraging their own creations.
The latter is a trend that Leverton also talked about during the trend seminar for FS24. Denim wearers: Inside, they put their own stamp on their garments by personalizing denim in original ways. For example, garments are worn inside out, cut into pieces, or embellished with paint and rhinestones. That trend has continued to evolve in recent months, Leverton noted.
recession core
This story has an anti-capitalist angle and is about de-influencing – a trend Leverton is crazy about. Recession Core asks: Now that we fear another crisis and are feeling the effects of inflation, is it perhaps time to try something different? In short, this story reflects consumer behavior in 2008 [die Zeit der Rezession während der Kreditkrise zwischen 2007 und 2013, Anm. d. Red]but with the bold and combative attitude of Gen Z.
With this trend, Generation Z is taking a rather quiet and wait-and-see attitude when it comes to social expectations and status displays. The young adult generation is realizing that they can live without Ugg Boot Minis and the Charlotte Tilbury contour pencil.
With denim, this is expressed in particularly comfortable outfits where size is important. So parachute pants make a comeback, the use of fleece flourishes and attention is paid to light washes and soft details. “It’s a ‘pillow soft’ trend that almost has us curling up,” says Leverton.
Synthetic
Unlike Recession Core, Synthetic is open, energetic, and full of self-expression. What is the best way to express this? Through artificial intelligence (AI). It prospered and people increasingly began to embrace technology as a tool that fostered new forms of creativity.
Such technologies are also finding their way into the fashion world. Increasingly, brands are developing immersive and viral moments for their fashion week shows to offer consumers an interactive experience that introduces them to “new worlds”. Just think of Heliot Emil’s fiery runway look or Diesel’s show, where a mountain of condoms formed the background.
This trend is heavily influenced by Japanese influences, such as Harajuku street style, kawaii, playful combinations and pop punk. This also includes bright (sometimes neon) garments, items with virtual prints, and outfits with high-gloss coatings.
When it comes to denim in particular, we should think of playful details, such as playing with seams and bold cut-outs, for example on the back pocket of trousers.
underground
As mentioned, the fourth story is darker and deals with the rejection of our current state of life. To illustrate, Leverton cites The Last of Us series as an example – a series set in a post-apocalyptic world where mushrooms are taking over the world.
There’s no room for glitz and glamor in this trend; instead it is about the social and ecological grievances that brought us here in the first place and which we have lost sight of. It’s a counterpoint to those who started the matcha lattes and Dyson airwrap trend. “This is where we pave the way for self-improvement,” explains Leverton.
This is expressed in a color palette of moss green, Jura gold and storm gray and, in the case of clothing, in heavy, layered garments; Outfits that show you are ready to face the storm or survive a war.
This translated article originally appeared on FashionUnited.nl.