Category
Fashion
Scaled Restraint
Trend cluster
Category
Ironic
Traditionalist
Youth connect to tradition without sacrificing modern sensibilities.
6.0
Trend score
Trend
What is the Ironic Traditionalist trend?
Ironic Traditionalist: Tradition provides comfort, but genuinely engaging in that sentimentality is often perceived as out of touch or downright weird. Young people looking to connect with past traditions subvert those negative connotations through irony. They thus infuse traditional products and styles with sarcasm and anachronisms (while still allowing for covert sentimentalism.)
Trend themes
Themes within the Ironic Traditionalist trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Ironic Traditionalism
Young people connect with past traditions by infusing traditional products and styles with sarcasm and anachronisms, allowing for covert sentimentalism.
02
Pop Culture-inspired Decor
Brands are offering products with a modern, pop culture-inspired twist to add a playful decorative element that is youthful and modern to the homes of people.
03
Retro Smartphone Designs
Smartphone designs are being revived as more users crave a design reminiscence of the past, such as the Samsung W2017 that features a dual AMOLED screen and a traditional flip design with modern technology.
Industry implications
What the Ironic Traditionalist trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Retail
Product designers in retail may want to venture into offering modern products with a twist of irony to appeal to younger markets craving past traditions.
For
Fashion
Apparel designers can incorporate popular culture references to traditional fashion items to create novelty fashion for the modern consumer.
For
Technology
As nostalgia hits in the tech world, companies can revive designs from the past with modern technology, such as the revival of the flip phone, to tap into users' desire for the past while still keeping up with the present.
Workshop question
In what way can your brand incorporate a sense of irony as a way to engage the youth in your offerings?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Ironic Traditionalist
Trend score 6.0 out of 10, from popularity 91%, activity 80%, freshness 8%.
Popularity91%
Activity80%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Evidence
Examples of the Ironic Traditionalist trend
5 featured examples from Nov 15, 2013 to Nov 8, 2016CategoryTech
Retro Smartphone Designs
The Samsung W2017 Android Flip Phone Revives a Beloved Design Aesthetic
The telecommunications industry can explore the trend of dual screen smartphones and retro-inspired technology to create appealing devices that cater to a range of consumer prefer…
CategoryFashion
Heavy Metal Christmas Sweaters
Middle of Beyond's Iron Maiden Sweater is Perfect for the Holidays
The apparel industry can capitalize on the trend of heavy metal Christmas sweaters by offering a range of designs that cater to different subcultures and fan bases.
CategoryArt & Design
Christmas Emoji Baubles
These Christmas Decorations are Inspired by Pop Culture Imagery
The home decor industry can incorporate popular culture in traditional holiday decorations to attract younger audiences.
CategoryTech
Tiny Phone Repair Booths
Lovefone's Repair Shops are Inside Iconic London Phone Booths
Lovefone's iPhone repair shops in phone booths offer a disruptive innovation opportunity for the smartphone repair industry.
CategoryPop Culture
Historical Social Media Blogs
This Blog Features Fake, Ironic Instagram History Accounts
Disruptive innovation opportunity to create engaging content for brands by leveraging fictional Instagram accounts and time-sensitive captions.
