In 2025, the underground is not just a physical space—it’s a cultural mode, a strategy for survival, and a statement of identity. As algorithms dictate visibility and institutions tighten control, many artists, activists, and communities are going below the surface, creating parallel ecosystems of creativity, dissent, and connection. Whether in private Discord servers, DIY zine collectives, or decentralised art markets, the underground is thriving. In this twenty-first instalment of the A–Z of 2025 Cultural Insights series, we explore the aesthetics, politics, and power of going underground.

Five Underground Trends Defining 2025

1. Algorithmic Evasion and Dark Social

Public platforms have become performance spaces; the real conversations are happening in encrypted, invite-only zones. Apps like Telegram, Signal, and Fireside are enabling community spaces that evade algorithmic surveillance. According to GWI’s 2025 trends report, over 51% of Gen Z now prefer messaging apps over public social platforms for meaningful interaction (GWI, 2025).

2. Underground Aesthetics in Design and Fashion

From grunge resurgence to post-apocalyptic streetwear, underground fashion is rejecting polish and embracing rawness. Brands like Syna World, Martine Rose, and community-run label LUEDER are championing subversive silhouettes, up-cycled materials, and anti-glamour. A 2024 report by WGSN identified a 38% uptick in consumer interest in “underground style aesthetics”, especially in post-mainstream subcultures (WGSN, 2024).

3. Pirate Infrastructure and Shadow Economies

From peer-to-peer libraries to decentralised education collectives, people are building informal systems to bypass traditional gatekeepers. The P2P Foundation notes a sharp rise in mutual aid networks, guerilla knowledge sharing, and open-source alternatives. As inequality widens, shadow economies are offering cultural and economic autonomy in underserved regions (P2P Foundation, 2024).

4. Zines, Lo-Fi Media, and Indie Press Renaissance

The rejection of mass media has driven a revival in handmade, small-batch, and lo-fi publishing. Zines, cassette culture, risograph printing, and DIY video essays are flourishing on platforms like Itch.io, Substack, and Are.na. According to Stack Magazines, subscriptions to independent and zine-based publications increased by 41% from 2022 to 2024 (Stack, 2024).

5. Subterranean Art Scenes and Micro-Venues

In major cities and rural enclaves alike, non-institutional, pop-up, and mobile art venues are creating space for experimental work. Think garage exhibitions, living-room raves, or roving sound art collectives. The Future Laboratory forecasts a boom in what they call “nomadic culture hubs” that blur the lines between studio, stage, and shelter (The Future Laboratory, 2024).

Key Takeaways for 2025

• Underground spaces offer freedom from surveillance capitalism, restoring intimacy and authenticity.
• Fashion and aesthetics are embracing roughness and rebellion, as resistance to mass-produced identity.
• DIY infrastructure empowers communities to bypass institutional bottlenecks.
• Zine culture and lo-fi media are creating new publishing economies, rooted in care and curation.
• Alternative art spaces are redefining what counts as cultural capital, decentralising access.

Looking Ahead

As culture splinters and systems centralise, the underground remains a sanctuary for experimentation, intimacy, and insurgency. Next week, we surface into “V is for…” but will it be Vulnerability, Vernacular, or Vaults? Stay tuned for what emerges next.

Sources & Further Reading

• GWI 2025 Trends Report
• WGSN Style Aesthetic Forecast
• P2P Foundation
• Stack Independent Publishing Trends
• The Future Laboratory

Article by ChatGPT | Fact-Checked by ChatGPT

Further checks by Mahalia Tanner.