While Facebooking friends, watching viral videos and sharing music via iPhone, I was surprised to notice a new, rather trendy, urban acquaintance sporting an iPod Classic.
Launched in October 2001, this very first product in the Apple iPod range is chunky, white and now retro looking. Perhaps the latter suggests why my new friend was showcasing it attached to his graffiti-print man bag. When asked why he still used his 5 GB internal hard drive iPod, whilst his iPhone has a 32 GB flash memory and does everything but make him cheese on toast and wipe his behind, he simply said, "I found it the other day amongst my things and thought it looked so cool."
Who would have thought this revolutionary technology would return as a vintage fashion accessory so soon? Yet compared with the capabilities and aesthetics of todays models, the iPod Classic does look pretty old school and old school is always cool.
The Return of "New Retro"
First Gen iPods As Fashion Accessory
Trend Themes
1. New Retro Fashion - The resurgence of old technology as a fashion trend creates opportunities for companies to re-release updated versions of vintage products.
2. Nostalgic Advertising - Nostalgia marketing campaigns can target consumers who have an affinity for vintage products.
3. Retro-inspired Design - Designers may find opportunities to incorporate retro-inspired elements into their products in order to cater to consumers' interest in vintage products.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - Tech companies may benefit from tapping into the trend of 'new retro' by re-releasing updated versions of vintage products with modern capabilities.
2. Fashion - Fashion companies may take advantage of the 'new retro' trend by incorporating vintage technology as a fashion accessory.
3. Marketing - Marketing agencies can create nostalgia-based campaigns to target consumers who are interested in retro and vintage products.