Streetwear Trends That Will Define 2022

As we're all aware, it can be difficult to predict just exactly what will take the menswear and streetwear world by storm next. For many, 2021 was quite a surprising year, and in its wake, it left what we can only predict to be fresh and longstanding fashion trends within the street style world.

Alongside the reemergence of gorpcore, spurred on by the rise of popularity in brands such as Arc'teryx, we also saw luxury sportswear, plaid outdoor jackets, retro-style sweater vests and nylon tracksuits emerge as some of the front runners in streetwear fashion for 2021.

With the new year well underway, we here at The Sole Supplier thought we'd give our two cents on what we can expect to see more of this year when it comes to the latest streetwear trends! So whether you're looking for inspiration or even to get ahead of the curve, make sure you continue reading this article to learn more about the streetwear trends which will dominate 2022.

If you're not familiar with the term "gorpcore", we can't exactly blame you. This unusual moniker is a term used to describe the convergence of outerwear labels into modern street style silhouettes. The gorpcore trend first started around the early 2010s, as streetwear fans began to adopt certain silhouettes from the likes of The North Face and Patagonia and repurpose them to fit into their outfits and style. Since this point, the influence gorpcore has had over streetwear is simply immeasurable, with most of us adopting some form of the style into our own looks. Although we're not all donning Arct'eryx Gore-Tex jackets for a trip to the shops, the rise of functional garments such as cargo trousers is plain to see.

While The North Face Nuptse puffer jacket has certainly had the streetwear community in a chokehold for some time now, members of the community have begun to look elsewhere for inspiration and in turn, many have landed upon Arc'teryx as the next big brand. Some may remember Arc'teryx reaching a previous peak around 2017/18, but it seems this latest uplift is set to blow the first hype out of the water.

With that said, it isn't just all about one brand. Even the high fashion and high street companies are looking to get involved with The North Face x Gucci launching the second rendition of their collaboration early this year and Uniqlo continuing with its White Mountaineering contemporary range. So with gorpcore back on its upward trajectory, we think it would be fair to say we're going to see a lot more brands collaborating with some of the more well-known outerwear labels this year.

With 2020/21 both seeing a rise in the sweater vest, it might not come as any surprise that collegiate style as a whole is making somewhat of a resurgence. While for many, preppy looks might scream "boomer", some brands have managed to revive these looks and add a contemporary streetwear spin. Leading the trend we see brands such as Aimé Leon Dore, KITH, Noah and Sporty & Rich. Each of these brands is looking towards collegiate and varsity-style to influence the garments themselves as well as logos and graphic designs

Even classic streetwear brands such as Nike are jumping on the hype also by producing a range of retro logo pieces, as well as producing the Nike x NOCTA golf range recently. The best example of this change has been Tyler, The Creator's GOLF WANG. The brand has traded in Vans and Converse in favour of loafers.

Regular pieces to look out for within the preppy style realm include varsity jackets, sweater vests, rugby shirts, button-up cardigans and of course loafers. Chances are, you're going to be seeing more of these pieces pop up throughout collections in the next year, making the preppy look a street style trend to look out for.

Arriving as a byproduct of the gorpcore trend, fleece jackets have also seen a massive uplift within the last few years, making them one of the latest wardrobe staples found in every streetwear fan's arsenal. Perfect for layering under larger jackets or simply wearing over the top of a T-Shirt, fleece jackets have become the new year-round essential piece to have.

Often characterised by heavy boxy construction, panelled detailing, colour-blocking and patterned exteriors, fleece jackets offer a diverse look for any streetwear fan looking for an upper layer alternative. Many brands are now looking to expand add fleece jackets into their offerings with Carhartt, The North Face, Patagonia and Stussy offering some of the current leading examples.

While this trend is in full swing right now, it's still worth considering a fleece jacket for your next outerwear purchase.

Stay with us on this one. Given the current expanding state of the metaverse, it was only going to be a certain amount of time before we saw streetwear find its way into the digital plain, and unsurprisingly, more and more brands are starting to embrace this latest trend. In 2021, brands began to create digital versions of their clothing as NFTs to wear in the metaverse. These creations were usable in metaverse worlds such as Decentraland and helped users distinguish themselves and express their personalities through their avatars.

On the flip side, we have also seen NFT projects collaborate with fashion brands for physical releases. Just recently vinyl toy group SUPERPLASTIC collaborated with Gucci for a selection of NFTs, with each promising a physical ceramic sculpture when you purchase. We can only imagine that these physical signatures will be the start of this trend, and by the time the next fashion week rolls around, people will likely be sporting their NFT images across their clothing and accessories.

In recent years, the rise in popularity of baggy silhouettes such as tracksuits and outerwear meant that more people were continuing to sport unisex looks and in turn, what were once considered purely men's fashion pieces were adapted by all genders as new neutral styles. While this concept isn't exactly anything new, the last few years have seen more street style front runners adopt gender-neutral silhouettes and begin to offer them within their collections.

One of the brands pushing the gender-neutral trend is adidas. Throughout 2021, adidas began to launch a range of gender-neutral silhouettes alongside its normal range of pieces. Just recently, the brand also launched its latest collection with Beyoncé's Ivy Park range and as a result launched "all gender" pieces including hoodies, track tops, windbreakers, joggers and much more. Alternatively, we also have brands such as PANGAIA, creating gender neutral garments with sustainability at their core.

Be sure to keep an eye out for these streetwear trends which we expect are going to dominate streetwear in 2022. The growth of streetwear has lead to a huge amount of diversity in the past few years and we can't wait to see what 2022 has in store!

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