The return of Y2K fashion isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about control,” says a global fashion trend analyst. “Gen Z didn’t live through the early 2000s as consumers, so they’re free to reinterpret it without emotional baggage. What we’re seeing now is a curated version of Y2K—edited, layered, and filtered through social media. It’s less about copying the past and more about reclaiming it in a way that feels modern, expressive, and personal.