People are craving comfort. Amid what can feel like a state of constant crisis – a layering of traumatic societal events – it can sometimes seem like we’ve lost a sense of scale and cohesion. In the face of this, the desire to retreat into nostalgia is more seductive than ever.

Nostalgia cycles are shortening as people obsess over times barely passed via popular digital archive accounts that let them cultivate their feeds (without input from an algorithm) and bypass cultural gatekeepers. But how are these visual repositories enabling people to shape new memories as well?

Partnering with renowned vintage collector and designer Sean Wotherspoon, Gap has launched a capsule collection of items found primarily in American thrift stores. By utilizing their archives, brands can capitalize on Gen Z's love of vintage and consolidate brand awareness among younger audiences.

Burberry began 2023 with a fresh vision for its identity, bringing the heritage brand into the modern day with an emphasis on contemporary British culture. But what does this refresh say about the shifting desires of fashion fans? And how can heritage labels remain relevant among young consumers?