Hot Topic’s aesthetic has gone mainstream. If you still believe that Hot Topic is just for “emo” or “alt” kids looking to refresh their band tee collection, you’re a decade behind the trend. The mall staple has turned into a hub for mainstream fandoms, with anime, K-pop, and Disney merch drawing in another generation of teens—and consumers who see the shift say it’s a good thing. Compared to its earlier years, Hot Topic has become much more welcoming to a broader audience and is proof that interests that were considered niche, like anime, are now heavily ingrained in youth culture. One thing that has remained true to Hot Topic is its trove of graphic tees, even if the collection has expanded past just band-related options. (NYMag)
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