Doom Dressing

Minnie Reed
Jan 27, 2023
1 min read

'Doom Dressing', is a micro trend identified by LS:N Global which is the antonym of Dopamine Dressing, It is driven by a mood of pessimism lead by the current social climate and environmental crisis. Marta Indeka & Isabella Ventura describe a "dark, oppressive ambience" with "apocalypse-ready apparel" (Indeka, Ventura 2022). The trend has been highlighted by several designers including: Burberry's 'Night Creatures' campaign (October 2022) and Balenciaga's Mud Show (October 2022).

Burberry (Oct 2022) Balenciaga (Collection Spring 2023) Victor Barragán (Collection Spring 2023)

The article highlights key opportunities for this trend suggesting that "Consumerism is out of fashion" (Indeka, Ventura 2022). Focusing on creative and new sustainable habits. Think repurposed materials, modular fashion, functionality.

For me this trend raises some interesting questions about craft and the future of fashion. There is a lot of talk about the digital future of fashion with technologies such as Web3, Metaverse and AI. However this is not likely to take over the whole of the fashion industry. In fact it could be quite exclusionary. Considering that the UK's Earth Overshoot Day for 2023 is May 19th this apocalyptic trend could quickly become our future. In this future would AI still exit?

An observation:

If we look at some of the dystopian genre films over the past few years the use of knitted garments and textures is quite high. This implies that with the break down of industry and production of clothing and fashion people will have to return to making their own clothes. Will craft and making skills be essential in the future? More so than digital skills?