What's in store for fashion, tech this 2022?
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 31) — The new year comes with new trends to watch out for, especially as people continue to adapt to the changing and challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For fashion designer Rajo Laurel, he foresees that clothing next year will embrace a sense of optimism towards what lies ahead — similar to what 2022 Pantone Color of the Year "Very Peri" espouses — along with a sense of curiosity and "very strong" surge of creativity.
"I call this sort of 'realistic fantasy' in the sense that we are going to essentially again show ourselves to people, again present ourselves in a matter that is befitting of what we learned and took away from this whole experience," he told CNN Philippines' The Exchange.
"Essentially we've been hiding in our homes. We are slowly getting out of our caves and we are slowly trying to explore. This is going to be seen via color and via texture and via a brand new shape — a little bit closer to the body — but at the same time a little bit joyful," Laurel added.
This contrasts to fashion in 2021, when loungewear remained popular as people were still mostly holed up in their homes, according to the fashion designer.
"I'm very optimistic that this is going to be quite the feeling of essentially the sign of the times. Fashion is just a mirror of what's happening to the world and this is one way to sort of like, support that feeling," Laurel said.
More efficient, personalized
Also a key feature of life amid COVID-19, technology is expected to get further refined in 2022 — allowing users a better, more personal experience with their gadgets.
"More on papagandahin or mas magiging efficient pa 'yung mga gadgets. Pero 'yung what we should look forward to is 'yung mga gadgets will start to become more personal," tech content creator Alvin Villanueva of "Alvin Tries Tech" told The Exchange.
[Translation: More on gadgets will be improved further, or made more efficient. But what we should look forward to is gadgets will start to become more personal.]
Gadgets are expected to get more "unique to the point of being so specific," according to Villanueva. This contrasts with this year, which saw a lot of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices which have the same hardware, but with different logos stuck on them, he added.
"Hindi na lang performance ang nabibigay niya sa consumers, kundi 'yung unique approach para sa atin," Villanueva said.
[Translation: They won't just give consumers performance but also an approach unique to us.]
As for the local e-gaming industry, the tech vlogger expects Filipinos to focus more on streaming, and for competitive gamers to definitely up the ante this 2022 — and get even more recognized globally.
