A fashion trend that just went from zero to a hundred, propelled by brands at FW23 fashion month, is Motocore. Driven by the Y2K revival that doesn’t seem to be letting up, Motocore is an aesthetic inspired by racing, utilising the industry’s love for bold colour palettes, logo-mania patching, and leather everything.
Formula 1 – which declared an all time viewing high last November – is a significant source of inspiration for the aesthetic; however, their style of jackets, pants, and boots were initially designed primarily for practicality. Drivers dressed head-to-toe in leather, one of the most resistant materials, simply because it offers the best protection in case of a crash, and similarly, the iconic logo-mania patches decorated across jackets weren’t stylistic but instead acted as sources of paid advertising for brand sponsors.
Now, however, luxury brands are replicating the aesthetic off the track and on the runway. From Dion Lee to Marine Serre, more than a few brands last fashion month showcased the recognisable colour-blocking, bright palettes, and luxury leather of the racing-scene. Gucci’s FW23 Menswear show featured ribbed moto-boots in electric blue and pink, alongside oversized moto-jacket and pant sets with colour-blocking panels and an inverted “GG” logo, evocative of the aesthetic’s logo-mania.
Dsquared2 also just announced the pending drop of a new collaboration with none other than motorcycle manufacturer HONDA, featuring clean black and cream leather jackets with electric blue and baby pink colour-clocking; an elevated brown suede moto-jacket iteration; a selection of bright staple tees and hoodies; and of course the bold HONDA and Dsquared2 logos printed throughout.
This isn’t the first time HONDA’s worked alongside a fashion brand, partnering with Supreme only five years ago, back at the starting-line of the Motocore trend. It seems the trend has gained quite a lot of speed since then, with Ferrari – the car manufacturer – even debuting their first runway collection back in 2021 and continuing to produce iconic looks each season.
Alongside HONDA and Ferrari, who can do Motocore better than the drivers themselves, as seen in Lewis Hamilton’s collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger back in 2018. Furthermore, the brand named after the very thing used to fuel Formula 1, Diesel, is consistently referencing their vehicular roots, seen in excessive leather detailing, such as on their belted mini skirt, and bright bold printing. Diesel’s FW23 sought to distress the image of Motocore, peeling pieces off of leather jackets.
Whilst it seems the Motocore trend has no intention of slowing down, we’ve seen the trend already race from early takers donning vintage pieces to modern brands replicating the aesthetic in their own styles. One thing we have to ask is, will new adaptations of motocore for luxury fashion be able to compete with the OG?
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