Retro

Retro refers to style, fashion, or objects that imitate or evoke the look and feel of past decades, typically from the mid-20th century onward. The term, derived from Latin retro, meaning backward, is used to describe cultural artifacts that are intentionally old-fashioned or revived. In popular usage, retro contrasts with vintage and antique; retro elements imitate, rather than originate in, a previous era, while vintage connotes authenticity from a past period and antique denotes objects of significant age.

Retro appears across design, fashion, music, film, and technology. In fashion, retro styles draw on 1950s silhouettes, 1960s mod, 1970s disco, or 1980s streetwear. In graphic design and interior decor, retro palettes, typography, and patterns reproduce mid-century modern or late 20th century aesthetics. In entertainment, retro-themed films, television, and music celebrate or parody older genres; retro gaming and chiptune mimic early video games and synthesized sound. In technology, retro devices can be functional reproductions or emulations, and in computing, retro computing refers to systems and software from earlier eras.

Retro markets often emphasize nostalgia, fashion cycles, and cultural memory. Critics argue that retro can commodify memory or stagnate innovation if it focuses excessively on past forms rather than functional improvements. Nonetheless, retro aesthetics continue to influence contemporary products, media, and urban spaces, reflecting ongoing cultural interest in the past as a source of identity and experimentation.