Why the Fashion World Has Fallen in Love with Superheroes Again

You can be a superhero even without superpowers.

Chanel 2026 Métiers d’Art

"With great power comes great responsibility." From a fashion journalist's perspective, this line from Spider-Man is also about creators. Each season, designers are tasked not only with imagining trends but also with reinterpreting, twisting, and sometimes desacralizing them.

With the recent release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the promotion team—fronted by Tom Holland and Zendaya—has been busy on a world tour. Zendaya, who plays MJ, is writing a new era of so‑called 'method dressing' that mirrors her on-screen character on the red carpet.

Together with stylist Law Roach, Zendaya has produced countless headline-making looks. Standouts include the vintage Mugler robot suit she wore during the Dune promo tour and the 1997 Givenchy silhouette she debuted a few weeks ago at the Odyssey premiere in Paris. What's distinctive about the Spider-Man: Brand New Day promotion is its more understated approach. That doesn't mean she abandoned homages to superheroes. Thanks to this strategy, a nearly forgotten trend has come back into focus: the 'merch' look.

Despite the murderous heat in Paris not long ago, Zendaya appeared in a 2000s Marvel T‑shirt. The tee, printed with a Spider-Man silkscreen, was an item Law Roach found on eBay for a mere $34.99, perfectly reflecting his styling philosophy that "you don't always have to spend big money for a look to be complete." It was a blunt choice, but still utterly compelling.

Zendaya isn't the only one shining a light back on vintage tees. Michael B. Jordan, who attended the premiere at the Dolby Theatre in LA despite not appearing in the film, wore a Spider-Man T‑shirt that evoked 1980s comic-book covers. Having won this year's Academy Award for Best Actor for his flawless dual role in Sinners: The Guilty, he openly displayed his fandom for the legendary superhero. Far from fearing the 'geek' label—associated with isolated, reclusive types—he wore that passion proudly.

Superheroes Turned Fashion Icons

Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman… for decades superheroes have acted as metaphors for the human experience. Fashion designers similarly haven't hidden their affection for these iconic characters. Perhaps they see themselves in the responsibility of superheroes, their ability to transcend limits, and their resilience in the face of doubt. Like the heroes we love, designers are continually driven to surpass boundaries by the demands of creation and their devotion to their own vision.

So it's no surprise that these characters have served as a source of inspiration for designers for decades. Looking back, Jeremy Scott reinterpreted the superhero look in his own way for his Fall/Winter 2011 collection, using humorous, flashy, and rebellious fashion. A pop‑culture lover, Jeremy presented a metallic tank top that turned Superman's 'S' into a question mark and tank tops emblazoned with the Batman logo. The finale included a long dress covered in blue sequins, complete with a train that billowed like a cape alongside the yellow-and-red Superman emblem. He also reimagined Wonder Woman as a white dress patterned with small blue stars.

Chanel 2026 Métiers d’Art

Wonder Woman, pop culture's first feminist superheroine, recently inspired Matthieu Blazy as well. It was for the Chanel Métiers d'Art show presented in New York. Several models wore red boots with white stripes, a direct nod to the boots Lynda Carter wore in the legendary 1975 series. For this collection, Matthieu drew from New York's raw, unfiltered energy—the people of the city and the silhouettes you pass on the subway every day—while also summoning the heroes of his own childhood.

Showing the collection in New York was the perfect opportunity to pay homage to heroes deeply rooted in American popular culture. While celebrating the house's craftsmanship, the collection also borrowed cinematic and American codes, planting homages throughout. One of the most talked-about looks was an electric-blue sweater emblazoned with a Superman badge—(made even more famous because Jennie wore it!)—reinterpreting the 'S' logo through a Chanel lens. That piece didn't go unnoticed: a few days after the show, A$AP Rocky turned up wearing it.

The popularity of superheroes is about more than nostalgic longing for childhood; it's closer to summoning ideals and a belief that something can still be changed. These characters may not be perfect, but their resolve to protect others and enact justice is steadfast. Wonder Woman's line captures this best—the vow to 'fight for those who cannot defend themselves.'

Published: August 5, 2026

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