The latest design movement pays homage to the past—and makes us optimistic about the future.

There is a new buzzword making waves in the world of fashion and interiors: “newstalgia” (or “nowstalgia”), a term referring to something brand new that harkens back to something old. It is Gen Z’s way of saying “homage” or “reference,” and it’s all the rage in design today. “In an increasingly technology-filled world, many shoppers are opting for nostalgic aesthetics that are reminiscent of decades past,” says Dayna Isom Johnson, a trend expert at Etsy. “We’re seeing a return to all things retro, from ’90s prints and patterns to the decor styles of the early 2000s, which remind us of simpler times.”

No doubt you’ve already seen (and perhaps swooned over) a newstalgic piece or two. Consider the neon colors and shiny materials that dominated the spring runways, where fashion brands such as Balenciaga, Blumarine and Jacquemus reimagined turn-of-the-century trends like butterfly tops, lowrise jeans, baguette bags and velour tracksuits. In interiors, the newstalgia trend emerged in the form of flashy futuristic decor, inflatable furniture, furry fabrics, metallic upholstery and shimmery, iridescent finishes. “There’s been a 187 percent increase in searches on Etsy for ‘Y2K decor’ in the last three months, compared with the same time the previous year,” says Johnson. “I think this is largely due to how bold, fun and vivid the early aughts trends were.”