2024 Fashion Wrap-Up

By: A. Lotufo

As 2024 comes to an end, we tend to reflect on the past year. And, looking back now, we tend to forget what deeply influenced our year. This year has been a time of highs and lows for the fashion industry, ranging from the debate on sustainable production to the “glamour” leopard trend. As a whole, 2024 has been a fruitful year regarding fashionable declarations. So, looking back, what were some of the most important closing statements in the fashion world this year?

Trends which excelled this year:
Yearly, staple pieces are established and often leave a mark. The polo shirt, for example, has clearly made a comeback this year. Its versatility allows it to be formal or casual; a definite contributing factor to the comeback of the polo shirt has also been the trendy sportswear appearance, which turns up often. More specifically, the polo shirt has been often associated with sports like tennis, linking both sportswear and versatility.
Moreover, leopard prints have re-emerged, and definitively not only on social media. Large designer brands, which have been known to be a core part of fashion, have been taking their own spin on this trend. Ganni, Alaïa and Ferragamo are only a few of the brands which have took on this bold statement and turned it into astonishing pieces, ranging from shoes to bucket hats.

Lastly, one of the highly influential trends which have been extremely present in the past year are ballet flats. Being considered one of the “It-Shoes” by British Vogue, it can be styled in many ways, holding the power to look casual and chic. Variations of ballet flats are very present, being made of mesh, leather, being crystal-embellished or having buckles and bows.

Challenges in the fashion industry:
The fashion industry, regardless of its influence, is still responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions. Investigated by multiple news agencies and websites, consumers tend to prefer brands which value sustainability and ensure their materials originated in an eco-friendly manner. This year, brands have had to tackle carbon emissions more than ever as the eco-friendly movement rises.
Textile waste has also been a major impact in today’s debates. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has stated that less than 1% of clothes are recycled. Nowadays, brands must ensure that clothes can be made into new garments to break the never-ending loop: buy, use, throw away, repeat.
Lastly, in the ever-changing fashion world, brands have to keep up with the latest trends to remain relevant – whether that means adapting or evolving. Influencers and new culture are all extremely important to keep track of if you’re a brand. Whether it’s for adverts or clothing lines, cultural relevancy may determine the brand’s future.

To conclude, a lot of fashion-related things happened this year – way too many to list in one single article. From brands which are currently on the rise, like Alaïa and Miu Miu, to those which have been culturally relevant for years and years, like Prada and Saint Laurent. Showstopping garments were also displayed in fashion weeks ranging from São Paulo to Copenhagen. Overall, this year surely was relevant and rocky for the fashion world – and it is certain that there is still a lot more to come.