Joey Levenson is a writer and editor with a wealth of experience across art and culture. This includes working on the editorial team for 

 as well as freelance political and economic journalism for 

. They have conducted countless interviews and have shared their expertise on aesthetic trends with the likes of Facebook, Adobe, and Squarespace.

In a hyper-connected world, it feels like everything previously ‘insider’ is more available than ever: from behind-the-scenes access to the lives of public figures to travel experiences immersing people into worlds previously deemed unattainable. But while people embrace this community-based inclusivity and unprecedented access to their icons, they still yearn for touches of exclusivity to define their status.

As the age-old understanding of exclusivity is eroded, people are redefining status for themselves using a broad range of factors beyond solely economic ones. This new iteration of status is often based around increasingly niche and local signifiers – from luxury dupes to the rise of members clubs and closed-community spaces based on shared interests. Status is becoming a mode of belonging and connection with like-minded people.

People are erecting walls of their exclusive communities, relying on more subtle markers of identity. This is apparent with middle-class people fetishising working-class aesthetics, athletes turning to niche sports like padel, and social media groups organising around niche interests – spawning companies. As status-defined micro-trends on social media accelerate, brands face a challenge to keep up. If previously certain legacy items were automatically associated with exclusivity, now people are much more trusting of the UGC-defined vision of what status means. More than ever, speed, knowledge, inventiveness, and being plugged into the community determine what – and who – is in.

Insider Status

As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses.

Shared Values

Edward Percullen is a bag designer at Bershka in Barcelona, Spain. They are also a consultant for the brand’s Gen Z outreach.

Gen Z (born 1997-2010)

Europe

Fashion and Style

Clothing, footwear, and accessories

Health and Fitness

Sexual health

HighSnobiety

HuffPost

Rivet

Interview with Edward Percullen conducted by the author

Stonewall

Vice

Later

Morning Consult

Origym

GlobeNewsWire

Grazia

Highsnobiety

The Washington Post

Forbes

Diesel is embracing non-conformity in its designs by partnering with brands like Durex and LELO, tapping into Gen Z’s penchant for sex-positive messaging in a fun and subversive way. As fashion becomes a symbol of greater cultural consciousness, what can be learned from this nuanced approach?