"Emojis are the new black."
So says Ellen Sideri, the founder and CEO of ESP Trendlab, a top trend forecasting and social research company in New York City. She's referring to the raging popularity of smiley faces, hearts, rainbows and even more imaginative emblems that can be found adorning garments and accessories in every category.
"Designers seem to be shifting from minimal style to a new maximal aesthetic," Sideri said. "Fashion is becoming noisy again after many seasons of quiet simplicity." And she adds that while initially, emojis may have been bait for the younger set, "the desire for a bit of fantasy is striking a chord across all ages now."
That's evident at Saks Fifth Avenue, where a variety of graphics is moving far afield from kids and teen stuff and decorating even the priciest designer duds. Fashion director Roopal Patel says, "In ready to wear we are seeing a lot of symbolism that stems from the emoji influence _ text embroidery, patches, applique. It's playful, whimsical and something unique that taps into personal style. It's special and something people don't already have in their closet," she says, noting that the trend is moving forward for fall.
Stacey Bendet, the CEO and creative director of alice + olivia, has taken the emoji trend into her own hands or, more precisely, her own image. Recently she released a series of 23 "Stacemojis" _ some animated _ that are usable via iMessage and available for free at the iMessage app store. "I always wear sunglasses and I used to doodle them for my girls. ... One day one of my designers saw the doodle and said we should put it on a shoe, and that's how it all started," she says. Today the cartoony #staceface character _ sunglass-wearing, top-knotted _ is a staple on many of the brand's products.
But perhaps social issues have trumped trend when it comes to the rise of emojis and other symbols, Sideri said. "Messaging has gone viral and a new activist consumer has emerged," she said. "A dose of fun seems like the right medicine to combat the 24-hour news cycle we are currently faced with."
