User:Serilly/Cyber fashion
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Cyber fashion (サイバーファッション, Saibā fasshon), also known as Y3K[1][2], is a Japanese street fashion subculture based around retrofuturistic aesthetics that emerged out of Harajuku in the 1990s. The style features brightly colored clothing made of shiny materials, science fiction imagery, and colorful makeup.
Description
[edit]Cyber fashion traditionally features a vibrant color palette,[1][3] accented by silver and white. Shiny, metallic[4] and translucent materials are commonly used in clothing and accessories for their artificial and futuristic appearance, with glossy, sometimes holographic finishes.[5][6] Synthetic materials such as PVC and velour are extremely common.[7][8][9] "Techno"-style patterns may be printed on clothing.[5] Colored tights are frequently worn on the legs and platform shoes are the primary footwear of choice.[10] Accessories often have science fiction and space inspired imagery such as aliens, UFOs, and stars, often created using 3D printing.[2][7] They may also be made out of mechanical hardware.[8] Arm warmers and leg warmers are a common staple accessory.[9][11]
Makeup worn is usually colorful and unrealistic, featuring glitter and stick-on gems and pearls, and eyeshadow in unusual shapes.[12][4] Unnaturally colored eye contacts or contacts with shaped pupils may also occasionally be used.[2]
Cyber fashion is largely based on futuristic concepts, and machines such as computers. Western cybergoth fashion, the Y2K aesthetic, and the cyberpunk genre also contributed to the style's development, as well as raver fashion.[1][8]
History
[edit]Cyber fashion first originated in Tokyo's Harajuku fashion district in the late 1990s,[1][8][6] as the Internet was beginning to be adopted into everyday life.[2] London-based brand Cyberdog was very popular in street fashion at the time, while in Japan, domestic brands such as FÖTUS and Aika Electronics began to emerge to fulfill demand for the developing style.[8][13] The fashion magazine KERA featured cyber fashion heavily and played a large role in popularizing the style.[1][8] Another fashion magazine that featured street snaps of the style is FRUiTS.[13]
Y3K
[edit]In the 2020s, the fashion has seen a resurgence under the name Y3K,[12] largely popular among Generation Z.[11] K-pop groups like Aespa and XG have been noted as being particularly influential on this resurgence,[2][5][9] along with influencers on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu.[4][11] Some members of the subculture have expressed concern that 1990s cyber fashion will be forgotten and overshadowed by these new developments to the style, which may forgo the bright colors for a more black and chrome palette.[1][13][6] The Matrix-inspired sunglasses are a staple of this new version of the style.[4][9]
This new incarnation of the style derives inspiration from the idea of the year 3000, the Metaverse, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.[13][5] In an article for Allure, Jax Diaz says that "people want to look like AI or an avatar".[12] The search term 'Y3K' saw an increase of 6030% on Pinterest in Summer of 2024.[12][4]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tajimax. "Z世代にも人気のサイバーファッションの魅力を徹底解析・Y3Kとの違いとは？" [An analysis of cyber fashion, popular with Gen Z. What's the difference between it and Y3K?]. Fashion Tech News (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "aespa・XGがけん引"Y3K"スタイルの時代 ME:I＆IS:SUEも続く" [aespa and XG lead the "Y3K" style era, ME:!&!S:SUE continues]. Modelpress (in Japanese). 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ↑ Watanabe, Asuka (2013-08-22). "ネオンカラーのファッションが日本の街を彩る" [Neon-colored fashion brightens up Japanese streets]. nippon.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Turner, Elle (2024-06-18). "Forget Y2K – the Y3K aesthetic is coming to you from the future". Glamour UK. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 Phillips, J'Nae (2024-08-16). "Cyber nostalgia: How Gen Z-coded Y3K fashion is going to shape the future". SCREENSHOT Media. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- 1 2 3 Honghirunkham, Tita (2025-01-10). "Y3K Fashion: Futuristic Fashion That's Light-Years Ahead". Koktail Media. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- 1 2 "Exciting Changes in the Harajuku Fashion World". Web Japan. Archived from the original on 2025-04-06. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pipkin, Jane (2024-07-03). "Tokyo fashion subculture: Akira, AI and a new world". Japan Today. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 "What is Y3K Fashion? The Evolution of Y2K Style". SNKRDUNK Magazine. 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ↑ Ambrose, Gavin; Harris, Paul (2007). The visual dictionary of fashion design (First ed.). Lausanne: AVA Publishing SA. p. 84. ISBN 978-2-940373-61-1.
- 1 2 3 "Y3Kファッションとは｜Z世代が注目するトレンド！令和のサイバーファッション" [What is Y3K Fashion? A Trend That Gen Z is Paying Attention to! Cyber Fashion in the Reiwa Era]. Trans. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- 1 2 3 4 Panych, Sophia (2024-08-09). "Behold, Fall's Biggest Makeup Trend: Y3K Beauty". Allure. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 "みゆき学長が消えかけの近未来を追う！" [President Miyuki pursues the disappearing future!]. Kemur (in Japanese). 2023-12-21. Retrieved 2025-08-21.