Doc Martens, New Rave and the nineties revival

The 80’s grip on popular culture may finally be slipping as the next generation is increasingly looking to the early 90’s for inspiration.

The first half of the noughties gave us unashamedly 80s fashion, music (the entire electro movement) and even hair cuts (asymmetric fringe anyone?). Since ‘05 however nineties influence has been creeping into youth culture.  

The UK’s New Rave movement which has had a massive impact on fashion and music is probably the most obvious example. The scene, depending on who you believe, was invented as a marketing gimmick by The Klaxons (who are now rapidly trying to disown it) but spawned an entire movement of indie-dance bands. On the fashion side the high-street (in particular Top Shop) was full of neon and 8-bit graphics all summer. 

Whilst the new rave movement is pretty much over (even electroclash managed to last longer as a scene…) the nineties revival continues apace with Doc Martens on the receiving end of an equally unlikely renaissance. Perhaps the most iconic footwear of the early nineties is back on the fashion sets A list (after years only being worn by goths). With DMs being prominent on this year’s fashion week catwalks and trendy link-ups with designers such as Yohji Yamamoto we’ll probably all be wearing them by the New Year (and trashing them by March).

As the kids of the 80s are increasingly distracted making families and paying off mortgages I guess it makes sense that the kids of the 90s (now in their twenties) are in control of youth culture. Standby for combat trousers, Ragga-Jungle and Speed Garage in hipster bars near you very soon (lord help us all).

See also: Alive & Kicking, The Independent UK