Exploring Jelly Fashion Trends
Skye Freeman
JELLi Magazine ain’t the only jelly-themed art taking the niche trinket lover’s community by storm… it’s “Jelly Summer,” dubbed by the online fashion space, that began with the revamp of 2000s Jelly shoes, expanded to the Jelly Firkin, and has since developed into other translucent, candy-colored fashion accessories. This piece explores some of these unique jelly-esque objects for those seeking to add items from the jelly world to their closets, or curious readers seeking to learn about this new fashion trend.
Graphic by Catleen Balaoing
Jelly shoes
Created in the 1980s by the French company “Jelly Shoes,” founders Tony Alano and Nicolas Guillon intended to turn the cheap shrimp fishermen’s transparent shoes into something fashionable and urban. They exploded in popularity within a few years, spreading to nearly 50 countries and inspiring the creation of different versions of jelly shoes. They’ve been revived many times since then, such as in the 2000s, and were revamped most recently for Spring/Summer 2026 runway shows. Online enthusiasts were quickly entranced by it, but unlike in previous revivals of the PVC-injected shoe, independent labels and high fashion brands alike expanded the jelly-obsessed trend to other forms of fashion accessories. To shop for jelly shoes, check out Mellisa Singapore, Chloé, Rockfish Weatherwear, Sun Jellies, or even your local H&M.
The Jelly Firkin
Modeled after the Hermès Birkin bag created in 1984, the Jelly Firkin is a PVC translucent version of the classic designer bag. It’s slightly wobbly and Y2K-esque, and can be used as a statement piece or for everyday use, like the original Birkin is meant to be. They’re light, water-resistant, fun and cute, and often come in bright, unique nostalgic colors such as pinks, aqua, lavender, orange, neon green, yellow, and more. These bags can be a bit harder to find, making them even more one-of-a-kind. They have been popularized by brands such as Jellova, Japan’s Ecoday, China’s Moromoro, and Korea’s Badblue.
Jelly Glasses
Although not a 2026 trend, Gentle Monster’s 2024 “Gentle Jelly” glasses campaign features dozens of jelly-inspired glasses that took the internet by storm upon release with its fun, gummy-themed packaging and pop-up events. Although sold out, some stand outs from the collection include their Gummy MG1 and PC12 glasses, their Molta PC9 and YC9 glasses, their Umber BLC7 and PC9 glasses, and their Panna Cotta MG1 glasses, for those intending to search for them on their own.
Miscellaneous Jelly Accessories
Some other translucent products that add to the jelly vibe can be pretty much any PVC accessory. Stand outs include claw clips, phone cases, keychains, bracelets, press-on nails, hair clips, etc. My hope is that the jelly products that are rocking the fashion world aren’t just another fleeting trend, but rather become a staple, a fun statement piece, and are expanded on each year by new small creators and independent brands exploring the versatility of jelly inspired products that re-interpret the beauty of translucent, shiny, slightly flimsy, light and candy-like objects.
