HEDONISM, HALLUCINOGENS, HIPPIES: HERE COMES THE THIRD WAVE OF PSYCHEDELIC PRINTS

When we think back to the trends that dominated the ‘Swinging Sixties’, our vision is hazed by memories of hallucinogenic drugs, hippies, and a ‘make-love-not-war’ mentality. The drug-fanatics of the way-way-back are best known for their psychedelic style – aside from their indulgent adventures fuelled by shrooms and LSD obviously. Paisley frocks in sanguine shades of red, lime-green, and what could only be described as Lucozade-yellow were the go-to for Pattie Boyd, Marianne Faithful and Joni Mitchell. In all its hedonistic, hallucinogenic hoopla, it was the counter-cultural hippie movement synonymous with the 60’s that brought a psychedelic-dress-ethos out of the fields of Woodstock and onto the streets of a nation.

Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, a book by Tom Wolfe, perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the prints of the era when describing an acid-trip. “Golden particles, brilliant forest-green particles, each one picking up the light, all shimmering and flowing like an electronic mosaic, pure California neon dust.” Think Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in all its mescaline mayhem.

Psychedelic prints re-appeared briefly in the 1990’s – following a 30-year trend-cycle - subsequent to textile and chemical dyeing innovations in Lycra and other sportswear materials. This rediscovered space gave designers the freedom to explore how psychedelics could fit into their brand’s pre-existing DNA. Now, in a sudden nostalgic resurgence, this groovy style is back.

Nowadays psychedelic designs carrying high-energy, hippie vibes, are coming through as hosiery, legwear, and mesh socks, as well as stretchy semi-sheer bodywear with digitally printed, knitted-in or hand-dyed optical effects, WGSN reports. (A little less paisley and a lot more hypnotic.)

But this third revival isn’t about channeling the ‘flower-power-look’ of the decade at all. Hannah Watkins, senior editor of print and graphics at WGSN explains that a turbulent 2020 has created a shift in our mentality leading to a demand for mood-boosting fashion. Right now we need ‘happy’ – and no we don't mean ‘happy pills’ this time around.

If you need convincing that this change is taking place, take it from influencers Maria Bernad, Blanca Miró Scrimieri and Marie Wibe Jedig who have shown how to style optic-graphic lewks both in and out of quarantine. Now, the Art Nouveau graphics once worn only by the Grateful Dead may be spotted on an East London party-girl at an illegal rave; and a kaleidoscopic Pucci dress once worn by a Californian festivalgoer may now be cherished by you.

But if you’re looking for some psychedelic flare to spice up your wardrobe there’s no need to go vintage. Emerging onto the psychedelic scene are an abundance of niche brands focusing on elevating psychedelic style. TASHA is a Copenhagen-based luxury hosiery label printing colourful, organic shapes on its tights to “bring out the smiles and brighten up the grey days.” Or take slow-fashion-site Aune for example, which is embracing the allure of psychedelics on mesh textiles in its support of independent designers and archival fashion. On a grander scale, Fenty, Collina Strada, Priscavera, Paloma Wool and even Gucci have likewise incorporated these prints into their recent collections.

Psychedelic prints have given 2020 hit of serotonin and maybe even a glimmer of hope for the future. So, with the Pfizer vaccine on the horizon, we’d say it’s about time to bookmark the psychedelic trend’s wavvy’ garments for your post-vaccination debut.