Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Destiny’s Child and the Spice Girls, all were icons of the 2000s. Distinguished by their style, they became the benchmarks for colorful and daring fashion. Twenty-three years later, fashion from the 2000s is making a remarkable comeback. Diesel, Miu Miu, Maison Margiela and Versace are inspired by it in their collections, even convincing fast fashion brands to make it their business.
More than just a fashion trend, the period between the 1990s and 2000s inspires a way of life in its own right, touching on beauty, accessories, films, series, music – everything that recalls the beginning of the century becomes again tendency. On TikTok, the hashtag “y2kaesthetic”, meaning “2000s aesthetic” in English, has more than 5 billion views internationally. Essential among Generation Z, the Y2K lifestyle is also popularizing another form of clothing consumption: second hand.
Clothes from the 2000s are better quality
“Fast fashion only offers copies of what was created in the 2000s, but there is a notable difference in quality between what was done before and today,” confides Juliette, the creator of Britney Market has 20 minutes. Two years ago, she had the idea of creating a pop-up vintage market bringing together designers and specialized thrift stores in the 2000s. “It’s an emergency to consume in a more reasonable and ethical way and second hand is perfect for that , adds Juliette. It was important to create a trendy vintage market with something other than grandmother’s dresses and jackets from the 1980s.”
With its hundred stands, the Britney Market has become the largest vintage market of the 2000s in the world, a reference bringing together clothing, jewelry, accessories, tattoos, dental rhinestones, and DJ sets. “I no longer specifically need to look for specialist exhibitors in the 2000s, because thrift stores and designers naturally follow the trend. They are aware that it works very well,” says the founder, marked by a significant increase in interest in alternative style over the last two years.
Trend and ethics
“The 2000s are making a comeback, so, rather than opting for new, I decided to turn to second-hand and thrift stores,” confides Agathe, a 23-year-old student. Visiting the Britney Market, this vintage fashion enthusiast is delighted to have been able to get her hands on a Guess bag, very popular in the 2000s aesthetic, for 30 euros. An original often reproduced by fast fashion brands.
“I appreciate this type of event which makes these clothes accessible at reasonable prices, because it allows me to adopt a unique style while favoring an ethical approach,” says this young representative of generation Z, 59% of whom buy second-hand clothing according to a #MoiJeune study carried out by OpinionWay.
The 2000s for everyone
This event, open to all, highlights three simple principles to best magnify the 2000s: low prices for students, sizes for all body types (XS to XXL), and gender-neutral clothing. “I make a point of inclusiveness, because for me it is essential not to perpetuate certain errors from the 2000s, such as fatphobia,” attests Juliette.
“The Britney Market must remain grandiose, ephemeral, a meeting that returns from time to time, a party, a moment with a great atmosphere,” concludes the founder of the market, who does not want to exhaust her concept by making it permanent. At the last edition, the weekend of November 4 and 5 in the Fertile City of Pantin, the Britney Market attracted a total of 3,000 visitors.