In 2025, lower-income communities continue to influence fashion by inspiring practical, creative, and affordable styles. Many trends come from people who find ways to express themselves with limited resources, such as upcycling old clothes, thrifting, and customizing items by hand. These budget-friendly practices have become popular with younger generations, leading major brands to copy the look of “DIY” or secondhand fashion (Ramírez, 2025). What begins as a way to save money often becomes a larger trend that shapes mainstream style.
Lower-class experiences also affect fashion by highlighting social issues in clothing design. Many designers in 2025 use their work to bring attention to inequality, labor rights, and the rising cost of living. This has created a wave of collections that use workwear, oversized silhouettes, and distressed fabrics to represent the struggles of everyday life (Santos, 2024). As a result, fashion in 2025 is not only about appearance—it reflects real-world challenges and honors the creativity of people who make the most with what they have.
References
Ramírez, A. (2025). Economic influence on youth fashion trends. Journal of Modern Style.
Santos, L. (2024). Workwear and social identity in contemporary fashion. Fashion Culture Review.
