Like vinyl and fashion, there are some trends in tech and beyond that have never gone away. Revival is the name of the game when it comes to some of the market leaders making their mark over the next 12 months.
We take a look at what you’ll see forging their way up the popularity charts and predict what the year’s big game changers will be:
Retro gaming
Thought you’d said goodbye to the little men with their oversize moustaches? Think again. The Mario Brothers are back and in full effect. Let’s be honest, they were great fun, so it’s not surprising that the duo have had something of a revival looking better than ever on big screen TVs. The mini-Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) is looking at a surge in popularity over the holidays as old fans and new fall under the charms of Luigi, Mario and their crew.
Retro music
Vinyl has seen something of a comeback over the last decade or so as collectors have found increasing resources online. Gone are the days when you had to scour specialised shops, the online buy, sell and swap sites are more than enough to feed even the most niche collector.
While the vinyl itself might not have changed much, record players have come a long way and you don’t have to be an old-school DJ to own a machine that offers the lot in the way of functionality and style.
Retro faxing
Remember the days when you heard that tell-tale whistle and knew right away someone was standing by their fax machine about to send you through an important document? Faxes have mostly been replaced by online document and file exchange but there are times when having the printed sheet handed straight to you is the quickest way of communicating an idea or image.
More secure than an email, cloud fax is bringing this communication channel a new lease of life.
Will the telegram find its way back on to office desks? Who can say?
Retro imaging
Smartphones and SLR cameras continue to battle it out to claim the creativity top spot. There aren’t many effects you can’t do with a highly sophisticated camera on your super connected phone. Old school enthusiasts will tell you, however, that these count for very little without the skill and creativity that a real photographer brings to the table.
But while these two fight it out, there’s an interloper making a comeback that’s sure to gain in momentum. The humble Polaroid camera is all the rage again, having first hit the photography scene in the 1940s.
Of course the modern version is not without an up-to-date tech twist and unlike previous models, it’s now possible to save your images on a memory card rather than losing them once printed. The sepia tone remains the same, as does the fun of finding out if you had your finger over the lens as your print develops.
Retro décor
While we all fervently hope that woodchip paper will never again grace the walls of the fashion setters, there are some old school decorative formats that have come, gone and come back again for another go round.
Remember the Eighties? If you do, then you’ll recall large floral prints and a host of rattan furniture. Well, if you’re still stuck on this decade, then you’re in luck as the world of interior decoration enjoys something of an Eighties revival.
Trawl the internet for period pieces that match exactly your record collection and fashion from this uniquely styled period. You’ll be relieving your heyday in the time it takes to crimp your hair.
Retro time telling
With a nod to Back To The Future, the calculator watch has more battery life than your average smartphone, does adding and subtracting way better than your new fangled calculator and looks pretty cool on your wrist.
This absolute icon of the Eighties is gracing the arms of hipsters everywhere and is still a fraction of the cost of your interactive, all features smartwatch. Oh, and it’s waterproof.
Retro shopping
The age of customer service is back and thank goodness. The high street is far from dead as shoppers look for old-fashioned great service and a place to try before they buy. Even business bloggers are recognising the re-emergence of face-to-face shopping and challenging online equivalents to match customer expectations about their shopping experiences.
Hit your local outlet and remember what it was like to wander around the shop, trying things on and having that human contact before strolling out, package in hand. Bringing back the person is a trend we can all get on board with.
Retro fashion
Not a new trend admittedly but the speed at which new/old/new fashion styles come around is positively dizzying.
We’ve had the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties revivals so look out for early Nineties as a fashion trend worth taking note on. Baggy cargo pants and vest tops, Benetton bags, it’s all out there just waiting to make a return. Think Seattle grunge teaming up with mid-Nineties hip-hop for an eclectic snapshot of a decade still fresh in the minds of many of us.
Music from this era too will make its return with American boy bands such as N-Sync gracing TV talk shows around the world. Perhaps a collaboration with the UK’s Spice Girls is on the cards?
Retro watching
Still pining for Han Solo in the good old days? Well, retro films still have a huge following and are building up their cult status. Break out your bullwhip for an afternoon watching Indiana Jones or get out the tissues for the iconic Stand By Me. Indulge your childhood film favourites with the magical ET or Walt Disney.
These new fangled sequels and prequels can wait, retro filming is what Netflix and your now dusty DVD player were invented for. Just make sure you’ve got enough retro snacks to see you through to the bitter end.
Retro dining
Yes, sherry trifle is back, along with duck a l’orange and a prawn cocktail. Seventies food didn’t die it just got reinvented and has achieved the slightly ominous status of being ironically cool.
Break out your parents’ fondue set for some cheesy dining and remember a simpler time of bold flavours and themed dinner parties. If you’re a bit younger reminisce over a glass of cherryade and your favorite childhood candies.
Retro writing
Budding authors out there appear to be looking for inspiration away from their laptops. The auction site, eBay, reported a huge rise in the number of people searching for authentic, old-fashioned typewriters.
As well as looking effortlessly stylish and classic, they also perhaps hark back to an era where, when you sat down to write that’s all you did. Not flicking back and forth between social media, just good old fashioned writing.
Say no to technology and yes to getting your creative juices flowing in retro style.
Retro comms
“Hey page me”. If you haven’t heard that for a while, then now could be the time to get dig out your old pager and get messaging the old-fashioned way.
You don’t have to be a hospital worker to have one of these bad boys clipped to your belt just a strong belief in your messaging service of choice. You’ll be sure to get used to having a choice about when and where you respond to calls and not feel the need to jump on your smartphone straight away. Imagine having a little more control over how you respond when everyone feels the need to get in contact.
Retro downsizing
If pagers and typewriters grab you then one major trend we predict over the next year is the decrease in time spent on tech. That’s not to say that advancements won’t still be made in areas such as smartphones and entertainment but users will instead become increasingly aware of the effects of too much tech in their life, particularly in the areas of sleep, health and mental well being.
Digital cleanses will become more and more popular and a shift back to more traditional ways of spending your downtime will gradually increase. You won’t need to ignore your partner behind a tablet screen anymore, instead, you’ll ignore them while you knit or other creative activities such as painting and photography.
These trends look set to take the next 12 months by storm, with the biggest changes taking place in the world of technology and specifically how we use it. While we predict big things in terms of medical breakthroughs and engineering, we look set to take a more responsible and healthy approach to our personal engagement with social media and access in our 24-hour a day connected world.
Keep a lookout for amazing fashions, an explosion on the vinyl season and food you only thought existed in a decade-long forgotten. Set your own trends and see where your unique style will take you.