Digital fashion is alive and well for Gen Z (2024)

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Digital fashion is alive and well for Gen Z? ›

A new report from Roblox finds that, just like in the physical world, Gen Z likes recognisable brand names and limited-edition items. The difference, for this generation, is that the digital counterparts are often more important.

Gen Z prefers comfortable and expressive clothing like loose-fitting jeans, crop tops, and oversized pieces. Born between 1997 and the early 2010s, Gen Z accounts for 30% of the world's population. With the oldest members turning 26 this year, the group has a purchasing power of about $360 billion in the US alone.

Generation Z, true digital natives, have a unique relationship with technology. Growing up in an era of rapid digital innovation, they have seamlessly integrated virtual experiences into their daily lives. Their comfort and fluency in virtual worlds make them the ideal audience for digital fashion.

Forty-eight per cent of Gen Z respondents agreed that fashion product recommendations from algorithms have positively impacted their shopping experience. They're the most likely generation to report a positive impact. Younger audiences also say they're more likely to purchase items recommended by algorithms.

One of the main platforms for digital fashion is online gaming. Nearly 3 billion people around the world play video games, and that figure just keeps growing. The average gamer is 33 years old and upper-middle class, which nicely aligns with many fashion and luxury brands' target demographic.

“It's about being yourself and being one of a kind. It's also about sustainability. But it's playful.” She clarifies that the Gen Z focus on self-expression is about self-celebration, not a flippant sign of scorn: “Gen Z, fashion is not a way of disrespecting anyone.

At least 84 per cent of Gen Zs surveyed say that their physical style is at least somewhat inspired by what their avatar and other avatars wear. Avatars have inspired them to change their hairstyles, wear bolder fashion and even become more comfortable dressing in more gender-fluid styles in the physical world.

The fashion industry is embracing digital technologies like NFTs and virtual reality, with the digital fashion market projected to reach $50 billion by 2030. Digital clothing offers sustainability, limitless creativity, and cost-effectiveness but faces the challenge of connecting with the physical world.

Social Media Platforms As Search Engines

Instagram it. Move over, Google; Gen Z has a new way to search. For this most likely generation to embrace digital trends, platforms like TikTok and Instagram are the new search engines. Gen Z prefers visual learning over traditional text-based learning.

Why do Gen Z girls wear baggy clothes? ›

Many believe this has to do with the generation's increased focus on body positivity and ensuring that fashion trends look good on all figures, not just slim ones. This also explains why Gen Z prefers baggy jeans to skinny jeans, which millennials have an affinity for.

It's a model built to drive consumers toward impulse purchases and an endless cycle of disposable outfits, said Tahirah Hairston, fashion and beauty director at Teen Vogue. […] Sustainable Fashion for All? There is another reason many Gen-Zers prefer fast fashion over more eco-friendly alternatives: it's cheap.

Gen Z Struggles With Mental Health

According to McKinsey, over half (55%) of Gen Zers report having either been diagnosed or receiving treatment for a mental health condition, compared to 31% of people aged 55 to 64, who have had decades longer to seek and get treatment.

Digital Fashion is a field of fashion design that relies on 3D software or artificial intelligence to produce hyper-realistic, data-intensive digital 3D garment simulations that are digital-only products or digital models for physical products.

According to the Allied Market Research (2022), “the global digital clothing market was valued at $498.7 million in 2021, and is projected to reach $4.8 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 26.4% from 2022 to 2031”; shadowing the rise in digitalization and the demand for sustainability (1).

Digital technologies streamline every step of the design and production process, significantly reducing the time from concept to consumer. This agility is a potent competitive edge, allowing brands to stay relevant and responsive in a fast-paced market.

MINIMALIST AND CLEAN DESIGNS. Gen Z prefers simplicity. They appreciate clean lines and uncluttered spaces. Minimalist design trends are flourishing, emphasising the 'less is more' philosophy.

Emma Baker, a fashion historian, elaborates on this sentiment: "The '90s evoke a sense of pre-digital innocence that is particularly appealing to Gen Z. It was a time when people were not constantly connected, and personal style was less about online validation and more about individual expression."

H&M, The North Face, Zara and SHEIN are the most known fashion brands among Generation Z. In contrast, The North Face aligns its purchase rates with brand preference at 20%, signalling coherence between brand preference and purchase.