OLD IS THE NEW COOL: FASHION WAVE OF '90S AND Y2K

Nineties and Y2K fashion is back, and Delhi’s markets are booming as shoppers hunt for retro styles that blend nostalgia with budget-friendly street fashion. Priya Chakraborty writes

- Priya Chakraborty

Fashion waves come in and go, but this time around retro fashion has come roaring back, crop tops, low-waist jeans, baggy pants, slip dresses, chokers, bold accessories, pastel hues and metallic fabrics, all hallmarks of late-'90s and early-2000s style.

This revival isn't just confined to glossy fashion magazines: on the bustling lanes of Delhi's famous markets, the nostalgia wave is turning into a retail boom.

SAROJINI'S EXPORT SURPLUS TO GEN-Z FLEX

Sarojini Nagar's roots as a shopping hub date back decades — originally a community market that transformed into a hotspot for export-surplus clothing when globalisation introduced surplus Western garments into Delhi's bazaars. Over time, it has become affordable for trendy clothes, making fashion accessible to many.

Today, Sarojini is more than just a market, it's a cultural phenomenon fuelled by social media. What were once throwaway bargains are now coveted “hauls.” For many in Gen Z and younger millennials, finding an eye-catching outfit for under modest prices is a badge of honour.