In cities around the world, once-occasional habits have become second nature: the pat of a pocket, the check of a zipper, the instinctive pull of a strap closer to the body. These small actions reflect a growing everyday caution on urban streets, fueled in part by a surge in online crime content, from viral TikToks of attempted thefts to clips of people discreetly turning their engagement rings inward on the subway. In this climate of heightened awareness, fashion is facing a new question: how do we dress for a life lived on alert?
Enter ‘guardian design,’ a term identified by trend forecaster WGSN to describe a major trend for 2026, where anti-theft and privacy-protection features become aesthetically integrated, built-in components of clothing and accessories. It represents a shift toward protection that is discreet and embedded from the start—a direct response to a growing sense of ambient risk.
This shift arrives at a crucial commercial moment. Amid a prolonged cost-of-living squeeze, shoppers are scrutinizing every non-essential purchase. KPMG research indicates that over half of UK shoppers have cut back on discretionary spending, with clothing often among the first categories to be reduced. The result is not a consumer who buys nothing, but one who is far more analytical about their purchases. Guardian design speaks directly to this mindset. In today’s socioeconomic climate, a bag with lockable compartments and secure anchor points can be more compelling than one bearing a luxury logo alone.
A Background Hum of Risk
The cultural context for guardian design is unmistakable. In the UK, crime survey data for England and Wales shows more than 200 phone and bag thefts occur daily, with around 78,000 people affected in the year ending March 2024—a 153% year-on-year increase. Across Europe, police-recorded thefts rose by 4.8% and robberies by 2.7% in 2024, according to the European Commission. In New York State, pickpocketing hit a 10-year high in December 2023, with 410 reports per 100,000 people in a single month, per FBI data. While that number has since fallen to between 150-250 reports, it has not returned to pre-2023 levels.
WGSN identifies “shared vigilance” as a core emotional driver for 2027 and beyond—a proactive mindset where consumers seek to safeguard what they value most. “Particularly for Gen Z, there’s a sense that you need to protect yourself, whether from big data companies or everyday risks,” says Sara Maggioni, WGSN’s head of womenswear. Professor Andrew Groves, director of the Westminster Menswear Archive, describes it as “a background hum of risk,” which is shaping younger consumers’ expectations.
The challenge for designers is to respond to this rising vigilance without resorting to fearmongering, and to embed protection without sacrificing style. From reworking silhouettes to rethinking closures, materials, and pockets, the next wave of innovation will depend on how seamlessly these features can be woven into everyday design.
Getting Behind Guardian Design
Most anti-theft innovation has centered on travel accessories. Brands like Pacsafe have built entire ranges around lockable zippers, cut-resistant fabrics, and RFID-blocking pockets, explicitly marketing “anti-theft travel gear” as their core offering. Premium travel labels such as Tumi and Away highlight TSA-approved locks, secure tech compartments, and modular add-ons in their luggage and backpacks, integrating security into a broader promise of performance and seamless mobility.
For mainstream fashion brands, however, guardian design appears in isolated details rather than as a cohesive offering. Maggioni sees accessories as the most immediate opportunity. Phone slings, wristlets, belt bags, and crossbody pouches are already familiar; what’s missing is a systematic approach to security. “We’re looking at”Simple additions like lockable hardware and RFID-blocking pockets can prevent card cloning and integrate easily into existing bag designs,” she says. Casetify offers one such model. The phone case brand has built a sizable business around phone straps and slings that blend lifestyle and security. Their strategy is to treat straps as fashion accessories—think metal chains, beaded wristlets, and curated colorways—rather than just safety gear. “Consumers don’t want to choose between a secure product and a stylish one; they expect both,” says a brand spokesperson.
When it comes to apparel, the interesting part is how accessories and clothing interact, Maggioni adds. “If you have a phone sling hanging from your neck, why not work with your apparel designer to include a front pocket built to hold it? Then the sling isn’t just a wristlet—it becomes integrated with how your clothes function.”
Even classic pieces offer opportunities. “Take a leather jacket,” she suggests. “Consider the button or epaulette on the shoulder. If you reinforce it, you can actually hook your bag there and secure it. We’re not saying reinvent the wheel; we’re saying look at your essentials and think about how to enhance them. Something as simple as reinforcing that area can prevent bag snatching—you just have to be clever in how you design it.”
Opportunity in the Challenge
For designers, the challenge is to address these real-world needs while staying true to a brand’s identity. Johanna Parv, for example, comes from a background in tailoring and high fashion, but her designs are shaped by the realities of women navigating the city—particularly cyclists who carry bags, phones, and laptops while still looking put together. “My thinking is, how can we take the traditional understanding of how women want to look but adapt it for movement?” Parv told Vogue Business. The brand’s jackets and pants feature discreet, strategically placed pockets for securing phones or handbags, and dresses are made from soft jersey or water-resistant fabrics that allow the wearer to run if needed.
For other brands exploring functional design, there’s no shortage of historical references. “We have many pieces that feature stowable pocket systems,” says Jonah Franke-Fuller, co-founder of Constant Practice, a studio and retail space that curates new and vintage designer pieces with a focus on function and utility. “There are many ways to execute this idea.” Pieces range from the highly technical, like the 2001 Burton Analog Q Cargo jacket, to the understated, such as a pair of 1980s Issey Miyake pleated pants with invisible welt pockets tucked neatly beneath the pleats.
As security becomes a growing priority for consumers, even design-led innovations are being scrutinized for real-world practicality. Fashion critic Odunayo Ojo, better known as Fashion Roadman, highlighted this tension in an Instagram post, arguing that the recent Issey Miyake x Apple iPhone pocket made “absolutely no sense” from a practical standpoint. Although the design concept centered on “the joy of wearing your iPhone in your own way,” discerning consumers noted that the brightly colored knitted pouch leaves the phone dangling at chest height, fully exposed. The product signals tech-forward thinking but overlooks urban risks, with no structural reinforcement, theft deterrence, and high visibility.
At the more radical end, Maggioni points to experiments in surveillance-resistant textiles, such as RFID-blocking underwear or garments designed to obstruct certain signals. “Some of”It may sound extreme—like protecting yourself from 5G—but it speaks to a real anxiety about being tracked or scanned,” she notes. “There’s something there about counter-surveillance and protection in general.”
Positioning Without Fearmongering
For brands, the core question is less “can we do this?” and more “how do we position it?” The main risk is veering into doom-and-gloom marketing. Analysts warn against framing security-focused design as a response to out-of-control crime. Instead, travelwear can offer a natural bridge between functionality and a positive outlook, says Maggioni. It carries optimistic associations with holidays and provides a safe testing ground for technical features like anti-slash straps, hidden passport pockets, and lockable zippers. From there, these details can spread into core collections, and the reframing becomes simple: you don’t have to be traveling to use it. The same backpack that secures your phone on the Barcelona metro protects it on a crowded London Overground.
Designers are already responding. Oregon-based Gnuhr, an “ultra-light gear brand” that designs for both backpacking and everyday life, believes versatility is the real path forward. “We focus on versatile designs rather than specific anti-theft features,” says Gnuhr founder Nur Abbas. The Warp Knit Vest illustrates this approach: though not marketed as security wear, its warp-knit construction integrates storage and load-carrying directly into the fabric, creating a body-hugging layer that can hold water, cards, keys, or tech without needing a separate bag. “Rather than overly specific protective features, we create pieces adaptable to different uses. The stretch of the fabric and the simplicity of the design make it functional without becoming niche.”
It’s brands like this that will succeed by integrating security into design with subtlety and aesthetic intelligence—expanding the definition of luxury to include not just what we wear, but how safely we move through the world in it.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs AntiTheft Privacy The Rise of Guardian Design in Fashion
Beginner Definition Questions
1 What is Guardian Design in fashion
Its a design philosophy that integrates antitheft and privacyprotecting features directly into clothing bags and accessories The goal is to help secure your belongings and personal data without sacrificing style
2 Isnt this just travel gear or pickpocketproof bags
While it includes those Guardian Design is broader It goes beyond travel to include everyday wear and addresses digital privacy alongside physical theft
3 What are common features of Guardian Design items
Common features include slashproof straps and fabric locking zippers hiddeninternal pockets RFIDblocking compartments and discreet closures that are hard for thieves to access quickly
Benefits Reasons for Use
4 What are the main benefits of this type of fashion
The primary benefits are peace of mind and practical security It lets you enjoy your day or travels with reduced worry about pickpockets bag slashing or digital identity theft all while using items that look like regular fashion
5 Who should consider using Guardian Design items
Anyone can benefit but they are especially useful for frequent travelers commuters using public transit people living in or visiting crowded urban areas festivalgoers and anyone concerned about digital privacy
6 Does it really work or is it just a marketing gimmick
Reputable brands use tested materials that are effective While no item is 100 invincible they create significant proven obstacles that deter most common theft methods
Common Problems Considerations
7 Are these items bulky or unattractive
Not necessarily A key trend is invisible security Many modern brands successfully create sleek backpacks stylish crossbody bags and even tailored clothing with hidden security features so they dont look out of place
8 Are Guardian Design products much more expensive
They often carry a premium over basic items due to specialized materials and construction However prices vary widely from affordable brands to highend designer collaborations Consider it an investment in security
9 Whats the biggest drawback or limitation
The main limitation