For Gen Z, fashion isn’t about style or trends—it’s about identity. While millennials cultivated their look with finicky attention to detail and polish, Gen Z is going in the opposite direction: celebrating chaos, contrast, and confidence. They marry, match, and clash with abandon, creating outfits that confound convention and scream volumes about who they are. Less emphasis is put on logos, with greater emphasis on authenticity. It’s not what they’re wearing—it’s why.
This generation is profoundly individualistic. Oversized jackets over crop tops, designer bags with thrifted jeans, and layered jewellery that doesn’t “match” but counts. Nothing is taboo. Clashing prints? Yes. Androgynous silhouettes? Absolutely. DIY fashion hacks? Absolutely. Self-expression is the ultimate fashion statement for Gen Z—political, emotional, and deeply personal.
In India, their aesthetic is more layered, both literally and metaphorically. Gen Z’s “drip” draws from rebellion and tradition. It’s common to spot someone combine jhumkas with bucket hats, pair sneakers with bandhgalas, or throw sarees over sweatshirts. Their style is unabashedly local and world-conscious—an unfiltered mix of heritage and streetwear. Instagram grids, flea markets, Dilli Haat stalls, and independent labels are now the new runways.
Indian fashion influencers such as Komal Pandey and Siddharth Batra are rewriting the rules of gender and style with each update. Their unapologetic, culture-driven styles have established the trend for a movement where gender-neutral fashion and DIY authenticity are the standard. No rules. No boxes. Just fearless decisions.
Gen Z doesn’t wait for fashion weeks or high-gloss campaigns to inform them of what’s cool. They make micro-trends overnight—on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Pinterest boards. Aesthetic genres such as “Indie-core,” “Y2K revival,” and “desi punk” emerge and disappear fast, but the individuality behind each one remains strong. Although the visual language of their style is edited for the feed, it remains raw, real, and full of personal significance.
But Gen Z fashion is not simply about the outside appearance—it is closely linked with their values. This generation is forcing brands to be inclusive, transparent, and ethical. They need to understand where their garments come from, who designed them, and under what labor conditions they are required to work. The shallow glamour of fast fashion isn’t going to impress them; they’d be happy to second-hand shop, patronize homegrown designers, or upcycle old fits into something new.
Their fashion connection is also a sense of community. From beauty tips on Reddit comments to collaborative thrift hauls on Instagram stories, Gen Z fashion is all about collaboration. They’re invested in the message, the mood, and the mission. They are not hesitant to take a position, whether that’s for queer visibility, environmentally friendly fashion, or subverting the gender binary.
In 2025, Gen Z style is value-driven, fearless, and fluid. It’s a movement wrapped in cloth, a celebration of culture, and a digital revolution that’s transforming fashion from the ground up. The drip is real—not because it’s fashionable, but because it’s real. For Gen Z, fashion is no longer about consumption. It’s about connection.