Over the centuries, American fashion has come a long way, firmly carving a unique sense of style of its own. It is renowned for its casual and relaxed designs that emphasize comfort and practicality. And the uber-diversity of the American culture has infused plenty of creativity and experimentation, leading to a fun and vibrant sense of style.
But culture is not the only influencing factor in American fashion. The pandemic-led social and economic developments in the past few years made a noticeable impact on the industry. Rising inflation, dwindling consumer buying power, and global socio-political events certainly took a toll on fashion businesses, marking a slugging growth of 8.3% in 2022.
But this hasn’t stopped the industry from innovating and evolving to inspire consumers while catering to their changing needs. Here are some of the trends that will shape American fashion in 2023 as its resilience is tested amidst a volatile environment, both at home and abroad.
Renewed Interest in Sustainable Fashion
The past decades saw a growing interest in sustainable brands. With climate concerns continuing to dominate political and social agendas, sustainable fashion will be a key industry driver in 2023.
Patagonia, HanesBrands Inc., Allbirds, and the like have already built a reputation in this space with their commitment to protecting the planet. Using recycled and biodegradable materials, minimizing natural resource consumption during manufacturing, reducing wastage, and offsetting carbon emissions are some of the initiatives these brands actively pursue.
Many other businesses in the industry will follow suit as sustainability becomes an important focus for consumers.
Commitment to Social Causes
Calvin Klein, Vivienne Westwood, and others have long used fashion to make social statements and highlight critical issues impacting society. Today, fashion labels and brands need to show their support even more.
Global politics, economic trouble, and cultural issues have had a dramatic impact on everyday Americans in recent times. A rising divide between social classes, racism, gender-based discrimination, and gun violence have all become topics of concern, disrupting daily lives. So, as consumers take up social activism, fashion brands will have a vital role in supporting these movements and raising their voices for the greater good.
Infusion of Technology
Technological advances have seeped into every industry; fashion is no different.
Businesses now have a variety of tech tools at their disposal to elevate the creativity of their designs, bring massive cost efficiencies to their operations, and take the customer experience to a new level.
And there is an AI-driven platform to simplify and accelerate every critical task. For example, brands can track real-time trends and optimize prices with Intelligence Node, find industry contacts using Leadar, and manage the supply chain with CALA.
The metaverse is also attracting the interest of fashion brands and their consumers. Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and similar brands have already made strides in creating an immersive customer experience using virtual reality. Other brands will follow in 2023, while chief experience officers take on a strategic role in driving business growth.
The involvement of technology will expand into other areas, too—from manufacturing color-shifting fabric to 3D printing.
Influence of a New Generation
Many industries struggle to attract skilled candidates. But there is no shortage of talent in fashion.
Social media has given rise to a new generation of young designers, who have gathered an impressive following for their fun, quirky, and laid-back styles. The designs of these digital natives are shaped by countless cultural, social, and political developments that transcend geographical boundaries.
Of course, these budding designers are still substantially small in scale. However, they are set to influence and alter the path of American fashion with an increased fusion of creativity.
Trending Athleisure
This is a category that has thrived even during the pandemic lockdowns. Combining comfort with style, athleisure creates chic fashion with surprising versatility. This has made it a fast-growing trend in the fashion industry, and it will remain in popularity in 2023, too.
American consumers have given a new meaning to athletic wear by cleverly styling it to suit every occasion. Crop tops, jumpsuits, baggy pants, and matching sets will all be in fashion this year.
Growth of Diversity and Inclusivity
Diversity and inclusivity have become hot topics in the fashion world over the past decade. More designers representing minority communities will emerge this year, opening doors to a range of opportunities and bringing in a depth of creativity never seen before.
Designers with Native American, Latin American, African, and Asian roots will lead the way in introducing cultural influences and elevating American fashion with eclectic expressions.
Continued Importance of Luxury Fashion
The contribution of the US to the global luxury fashion market has been relatively low compared to Europe and China. However, the sector will thrive and outperform other fashion categories as ultra-wealthy American consumers remain unaffected by high inflation and volatile economic conditions.
With the US pegged to be the fastest-growing market for high fashion in 2023, luxury retailers will increase their investments. The eventual easing of inflation and interest rates will further drive growth as more consumers start spending on finer things.
Rising Gender Neutrality
Demand for gender-fluid fashion will also surge as shoppers reject gender traditions and embrace inclusivity. The traditional men and women sections will take a back seat as retailers focus on catering to this rising shift in consumer preferences.
Breaking down the divide between different gender identities in fashion is a trend that is here to stay. This will have implications for not only designs but also product merchandising, advertising, and in-store branding.
To Wrap Up
American fashion has long been influenced by cultural, social, and political events taking place both at home and around the world.
The year 2023, however, will see some notable shifts and trends in the industry that will bode well for its future growth. An increasing focus on embracing sustainability and championing social causes will be important for fashion brands to win over consumers. Rapid technological developments will bring a new level of creativity and drive cost efficiencies in business operations.
At the same time, diversity and inclusion will play a major role in American fashion while a new generation of social media-led designers infuses even more vibrancy into the industry. Moreover, athleisure and gender-neutral designs will dominate catalogs during the year as luxury fashion dominates revenue.
