Fashion. The clothes that keep you warm. The pants that you’ve embraced for years because they shape you well. The trends that you participate in for various reasons, including (but not limited to) flexing your money, your status, your city, whatever the case may be.
Since we’ve stepped into the industrial age, fashion has played a huge role in how we are perceived. It has been a pillar in our daily lives. As new generations come of age, it is still a pillar. One that has been flipped on its head.
The youth has been spearheading the new wave. As they’ve grown into their own, many of them have chosen to forego traditional fashion trends. Instead, they have fully embraced the aspect of individuality.
Embracing this individuality has made it so social ideas, statuses and opinions bleed into Gen Z’s way of dress. Although fashion has always been a vehicle for self expression, the internet has given people access to different pieces and materials from all sectors of the fashion corner. This has made it so individuality is expressed in a way that has never been seen before. Gen Z puts a majority of their stock into fashion, making it so their individual and communal styles are widespread, rather than restricted by location, expense and interest.
Millennials wore clothing that was more form-fitting and in line with fashion trends (think hipsters, the swag era, scene kids). Gen Z does the complete opposite. If they want to mystify their sizes and play with the proportions of their clothes, they won’t hesitate to do so in their own unique ways. They still represent their different sectors, but with diverse individuality.
That’s just one of the things that makes this generation different from its predecessors. In the past, people focused on making sure their closet was filled with fashion that was trendy, big-brand, or cliquey. Nowadays, it’s all about the individual.
Not to say there weren’t people representing through style in the past, but as a whole, Gen Z fashion isn't really trendy, at least when it comes to trends that are driven by big brands. They’re more interested in something that will represent them personally, whether it be a piece that they really like or something that speaks to their ideas, emotions, place on the political spectrum, etc. Since the primary focus is usually self-expression when it comes to the pieces they’re looking for, their styles aren’t always in line with big brands.
Obviously we have people who are following trends because of their favorite artist, influencer, or niche internet micro-celebrity. People like that exist in every generation. What I’ve noticed today, though, is that people are more inclined to go with what they like.
You can look to a designer like Emily Heneghan, who takes elements from all types of garments and crafts them to her liking before putting them together into something new. Not only does it embody sustainable fashion, but it also reflects the inner workings of her imagination better than anyone else could. The defining act of our generation.
Sustainable fashion is practically the norm for us. We’re well aware of the impact our rampant consumerism has on the environment and the people producing our clothing. Despite this, we still buy it from ethically-questionable sources because of how cheap it is. We’re poor as hell. There are those who get paid off of internet content who are fortunate enough to slightly skirt aside the struggle, but most of us don’t got it like that. This makes ethically questionable providers like Shein & Amazon alluring due to their low price tags.
It’s not like we aren’t aware of this. We know where the stuff comes from and we know it’s messed up, but it feels like there isn’t much to do about the bigger picture. A feeling of apathy is ripe among the people. This feeling might even be the reason why we pour so much into our expression and social awareness. It’s the only thing we really can do without breaking the bank.
We’re doing what we can where we can. We support local brands, thrift, recycle our clothes, and we encourage our peers to do the same. As Gen Z continues to enter adulthood and our purchasing power increases, I believe we will see this generational practice morph into something that shifts the landscape of fashion. Those individual designers with flourishing imaginations will become the stylists of a generation. What was once an industry led by titans might just have its hierarchy flipped. More people will want to express themselves through their clothes, especially young people. A generation built on doing so is laying the groundwork.
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