Sustainability, luxe sneakers, pre-owned brands: What's in vogue in luxury fashion

The past year — 2020 — brought the laid-back fashion to the mainstream, owing to the pandemic, lockdown, and not stepping out. However, the comfy, dressing down was done with chic and style. 2021, will see comfy styling undergoing for a luxurious, makeover. From luxe sneakers to expanding pre-owned luxury brands, sustainable fashion getting a sophisticated touch, etc. here’s what 2021 in luxury fashion looks like:
Luxe sneakers are the new heels

^{Ranveer Singh in Jeremy Scott sneakers Pic: @ranveersingh}
While not having to step out to go to work or party, did make the high heels trend take a backseat, high-end sneakers encrusted with gold, gems, precious and semi-precious stones have come to the fore.“People got used to a comfy style in the lockdown and now that they are finally going out, they want comfort, but also want to look extravagant and sophisticated. Enter sneakers embellished with stones and diamonds,” says shoe designer and design consultant Rohit Arora from New Delhi.

^{Dua Lipa in Jimmy Choo diamond sneakers Pic: @dualipa}
Currently, international brands like Balenciaga ($976 chunky Triple S sneakers and $700-plus socks-meets-shoe Speed Trainer), Christian Louboutin Vieirissima (2 Orlato flats worth $895), Jimmy Choo (Diamond low-top trainers worth $3,995), and Hermès (Avantage sneaker worth $810) have taken over the luxury sports-cum-comfy footwear segment. In fact, Jimmy Choo recently collaborated with Timberland and launched boots with Swarovski crystal all over them, priced at more than $5,000, and guess what, they were sold out immediately! Sports brand Adidas, to celebrate its 60th anniversary, had launched Swarovski-adorned limited-edition sneakers in India.
Pre-owned luxury brands
Partly due to the urge to upgrade their lifestyle and partly because they want to opt for a conscious lifestyle, 2021 will see more and more millennials opting for pre-owned luxury fashion and jewellery. “The resale markets for luxury brands will see a boom this year resulting in a rise in a growing number of buyers, especially in the age bracket of 25-35 years, attracted to pre-loved, pre-used items like diamond jewellery, luxe shoes, designer lehengas, jackets, etc,” says Ravindra Rajput, who owns a resale luxury fashion store in Kolkata. High-end brands like Burberry, Stella McCartney, Gucci have partnered with resale sellers, thus encouraging more brands and designers to do so. “Youngsters want to own a luxury item, but they don’t want to add to the carbon footprints. Buying something that has already been manufactured and used is the best way to cut down on waste. This is going to a major trend this year,” adds Gracy Shah, market researcher, and trend spotter.
Local gets a luxury makeover^{Designer Saisha Shinde (formerly known as Swapnil Shinde) created a custom-made hand-embroidered Banarasi-brocade outfit for Nehha Pendse's reception Pic: @offcialsaishashinde}
2020 was all about ‘vocal for local,’ with more people inclined to buy fashion from local weavers, artisans, and designers. This year will witness luxury brands, including international and Indian collaborating with local artisans to convert their hand-work into international designs. “While this is not a new phenomenon, it has been only designers who hired local weavers and embroiders to work for their collection, but this year, more brands will be investing in locally produced garments and textile to make them look extravagant and stylish. For example, there will be a presence of gowns, floor-sweeping outfits, tuxedos at big events, and red carpets, etc made with fabrics like Banarasi, Kanjeevaram etc but with gold and diamond works on them,” says designer and trend expert Gauri Ahluwalia from New Delhi.
Wearable technology meets fashion^{The Commuter x Jacquard is part of a collaboration between Levi's and GooglePic: Levi's}With fitness and health becoming the focus of our lifestyle and devices like a thermometer, oximeter, etc becoming the new normal, international clothing brands and known designers are marrying technology with fashion in 2021. Smart clothing, which was seen on the runways in the past few years, will be sold at stores and worn by people, thanks to the pandemic. “Levi’s Commuter x Jacquard, a denim jacket with a Bluetooth that connects your smartphones and can see phone calls, play music, etc is what fashion is going to look like now,” Karan Thapadia, tech expert and product designer, who he working with an Indian clothing brand on a smart clothing line. “Similarly, products like Nadi X, yoga pants that rectify your yoga poses, are already a rage. The surge is T-shirts and jackets that automatically measure your body temperature and oxygen level, will be the next big thing,” he adds.
The roaring ‘20s lingers on in 2021^{Tara Sutaria in a sequin sareePic: @tarasutaria}The year 2020 was all set to be the year that celebrated the roaring ‘20s meaning flapper dressing, Gatsby-esque parties, and everything shiny and loud. However, the pandemic didn’t allow the Roaring 20s to return full-fledged. Trendspotters suggest the trend is all set to dominate weddings this year. “The Gatsby Era was all about shimmer, shine, and everything glossy and glamorous which will be visible in wedding attires this year. ^{The Kardashians dress up in Gatsby-esque outfits}From pearls and crystal-encrusted lehengas to white wedding dresses in satin sheaths and diamond-encrusted bows, outfits with drop-waists body-skimming silhouettes at sangeet and receptions, 2021 see the flapper fashion domination wedding celebrations,” says designer and stylist Karishma Goel from Delhi.