Branded merchandise was once solely found at business conventions and in the wardrobes of fervent fans, but it’s enjoying a renaissance as Gen Yers and Zers seek new ways of expressing their identity. What does this resurgence reveal of the shifting nature of consumer-brand relationships?

Though most of them weren’t alive to experience it first-hand, American Gen Zers are obsessed with ‘90s pop culture. Dumbgood is tapping into this ‘fauxstalgia’ with officially licensed streetwear featuring TV and film stills, turning its young customers into walking, talking, retro memes.

As COVID-19 has forced people to spend more time at home, one of the parts of daily life impacted has been office style. How might Zoom meetings and remote working reshape workwear in the long term? And what role can fashion play in creating a sense of normality post-lockdown?

As the digital and physical worlds of fashion continue to fuse, the industry is innovating to offer engaging, immersive experiences. With people's interest in sustainability and technology rising, retail spaces and campaigns are turning virtual – meaning the emperor’s new clothes just got real.

Gamers are used to spending on virtual goods to customise characters and unlock additional content, but how would they feel about IRL brands existing in these environments? As fashion labels seek to capture the next generation of luxe shoppers, how can they engage gamers in an authentic way?

With fashionistas favouring utility and novelty over the flashiness of yesteryear, it would seem that days of the ‘It bag’ are over. What does the popularity of micro bags, convertible totes, and tech-enhanced backpacks reveal about people’s changing expectations of this everyday accessory?

Restrictive social distancing measures and an increase in remote working have seen the spaces for sartorial self-expression shift from public to private. In the post-pandemic era, how might people use clothing to define their identities, and what kinds of garments will they come to cherish?

The concept of ‘defensive dressing’ might once have evoked images of Kelvar vests or plate armour, but in 2020, protective apparel and accessories have become commonplace as people look to minimise their exposure to COVID-19. How is a desire to stay healthy and safe impacting style choices?