India, Jan. 20 -- We already know that 2026 is officially the new 2016. This is not limited to throwback social media posts, but also in the resurgence of Tumblr aesthetics and return of polarising silhouettes. Fashion is hitting a giant reset button with skinny jeans, chokers, slip dresses, and chunky sneakers coming back to rule our wardrobes. But this isn't just about clothes, it's about fashion's current cultural mood.

Designers believe it is rooted in fatigue. After years shaped by a pandemic, economic uncertainty and hyper-curated influencer culture, 2026 is craving a moment of release.

"2016 was a year when real business was happening in fashion, especially before demonetisation in November that year," explains designer Shruti Sa...