What are the most iconic items of the 21st century? This was the question Catawiki and Hypebeast were compelled to answer.
But why? Well, as we approach the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, it’s the ideal moment to reflect on what has been a time of rapid cultural evolution. The rise of technology and social media has reshaped collecting, altered our habits, and remodelled what’s seen as desirable.
You only need to look at the shift in legacy brands like Barbie, the rise of ‘ugly’ and unconventional luxury fashion like the Balenciaga Triple S sneakers, or the resurgence of almost archaic early-2000s tech like iPods to understand that we’re living in an entirely new era.
To achieve this goal, the teams at Catawiki and Hypebeast — along with a panel of international experts — came together and curated a list of the 100 most collectable and influential objects around since the turn of the millennium. From here, we created this shortlist of 25 iconic items. These uniquely modern pieces don’t just reflect now, but also point a path to the future.
1. Balenciaga - Triple S Beige Green Yellow 2017/2018
The Balenciaga Triple S sneaker, introduced in 2017, exemplifies the complex interplay between physical fashion objects and digital culture in the 21st century. While earlier models like the Nike Air Monarch and New Balance 624 were the original "dad shoes," the Triple S reimagined this concept for the luxury market. Its chunky, exaggerated design, featuring a triple-stacked sole and deliberately ‘ugly’ aesthetic, marked a significant shift in fashion sensibilities, where the unconventional became not just acceptable, but highly desirable.
The Triple S's rise to fashion stardom was as much a digital phenomenon as a physical one. Social media played a crucial role in its meteoric rise, highlighting how 21st-century fashion trends are often born and propagated online. The interplay between the physical object and its digital representation underscores a key aspect of contemporary fashion: while we still wear tangible shoes, much of our fashion experience and trendsetting happens online.
2. Barbie Mattel - Barbie Malibu House Playset FXG57
The Barbie Malibu House Playset FXG57 is more than a simple toy, it’s a cultural icon. You only need to look at the resounding success of the 2023’s movie to see how deeply ingrained Barbie is in today’s cultural consciousness. And the ultimate symbol of Barbie? That’d be the Malibu House Playset itself. That laid-back, neon-pink, California aesthetic is intertwined with not only the Barbie brand but also American culture as a whole. This model doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it represents values of freedom, imagination, and ambition.
What makes it truly iconic though is how the FXG57 version of the Malibu House Playset is uniquely of the 21st century. This isn’t the same model that was popular in the 70s, it has evolved, reflecting changes in fashion, architecture, and societal norms, displaying how the Barbie brand has shifted away from traditional notions on topics like gender, and turned into something more equitable and modern. The FXG57 isn’t just a nod to the past, it’s a reimagining of Barbie, but one that’s deeply contemporary, making it a true 21st-century icon.
3. Vetements - DHL Shirt
The Vetements DHL T-shirt burst onto the fashion scene in 2016, causing immediate controversy and fascination. This seemingly mundane courier uniform, reimagined as high-fashion, challenged conventional notions of luxury and value. The shirt's popularity speaks volumes about the changing landscape of fashion in the 2010s.
It tapped into the rising trend of ironic fashion, where the mundane becomes extraordinary through context and branding. Worn by celebrities and fashion insiders alike, the DHL shirt became a symbol of this shift, representing "fashion eating itself" and embodying the industry's growing self-awareness. It evolved into a kind of insider joke, a way for the fashion-savvy to demonstrate they were in on the latest trend.
Interestingly, Vetements' co-founder Demna Gvasalia insisted the shirt wasn't about irony, but about celebrating everyday aesthetics. This tension between creator intent and public perception adds another layer to the shirt's cultural significance.
4. Ultrafragola Mirror by Ettore Sottsass
The Ettore Sottsass Ultrafragola Mirror, designed in 1970 but experiencing a renaissance in the 21st century, embodies the cyclical nature of design trends and the power of social media in shaping aesthetics. This wavy, pink, illuminated mirror has become an unexpected icon of the Instagram age, reflecting the current zeitgeist's embrace of bold, retro-futuristic design.
The Ultrafragola has "taken over Instagram feeds," becoming a must-have piece for influencers and design enthusiasts alike. Its resurgence speaks to a broader trend of millennials and Gen Z rediscovering and recontextualizing postmodern design, finding new relevance in its playful rejection of minimalism.
The mirror's popularity in the digital age ironically aligns with Sottsass's original intent. Sottsass designed it as a "critique of consumer society," yet it has become a coveted consumer object itself, amplified by the very digital platforms that define modern consumerism. In the context of the 21st century, the Ultrafragola represents more than just a design piece; it's a cultural phenomenon that bridges generations, blending nostalgia with contemporary aesthetics and digital culture.
5. Prada - Re-nylon bag
While not revolutionary, Prada's 2019 Re-Nylon bag perfectly captured the zeitgeist of shifting values in luxury fashion. Tapping into conscious consumerism, Prada transformed marine plastic into coveted handbags. The bag exposed a generational schism in luxury perceptions. Younger consumers, raised on dire climate change warnings, saw the Re-Nylon as the epitome of cool. Older luxury buyers were more sceptical — could recycled plastic really be worth that price tag?
This tension reflected broader societal shifts, as traditional status symbols clashed with emerging values of sustainability. The Re-Nylon's online popularity ironically made it a prime target for counterfeiters, who reproduced it using cheap, non-sustainable materials. This trend exposed a paradox: a bag designed to promote sustainability became widely copied in ways that undermined its very purpose.
Fashion law expert Julie Zerbo points out how social media normalises these "dupes," with influencers promoting them as affordable alternatives. Ultimately, the Prada Re-Nylon bag, sitting at the intersection of sustainability, digital culture, and evolving concepts of authenticity, pushes us to reconsider what truly makes a luxury item valuable in the 21st century. It points to a future where a product's environmental impact and digital presence could rival its design and brand in importance.
6. Pokemon Charizard First Edition
The 1999 Charizard 1st Edition Base Set card embodies the peak of Pokémania, a cultural phenomenon that gripped millennials. Charizard itself became a pop culture icon, transcending its origins in the card game. The holographic card's popularity reflected the era's obsession with "catching 'em all," mirroring the completionist mindset of a generation raised on video games. Its rarity and power within the game created a perfect storm of desirability, driving playground trades and fueling a new social currency among youth.
What was once clutched in the sticky fingers of '90s kids is now often sealed away in protective graded slabs. This transformation from a well-loved plaything to a carefully preserved artefact mirrors the journey of a generation from carefree childhood to nostalgia-driven adulthood. It’s a shift in treatment and perception that extends beyond individual collections. Charizard's journey from cereal box prizes to auction house star reflects broader shifts in how society values childhood objects, revealing the era's lasting impact on collectable markets and the monetization of memory.
7. IKEA - PS JONSBERG vase
In the modern home, there’s little more ubiquitous than IKEA, but the JONSBERG vase represents a seismic shift in the retailer’s design philosophy. IKEA was founded on the idea of functional minimalism. The idea was to make inexpensive, mass-produced items look elegant and deliberate, rather than just cheap. It was a huge success — but the PS collection (which stands for Post Scriptum) upended this philosophy.
Designed by Hella Jongerius, the JONSBERG vase moved away from items that looked mass-produced, and created homeware that blended craftsmanship and the avant-garde. These vases were either hand-painted or engraved, and were crafted using traditionally artisanal methods, yet because of the amount of units expected to be sold, IKEA could retail them at an accessible price point. It showed the company was willing to push boundaries, and the JONSBERG vase was the embodiment of this shift, where IKEA expanded beyond functional minimalism, offering consumers something that felt luxurious and uniquely modern.
Since its launch in 2005, the JONSBERG vase has become a cult homeware icon, and is continually hungered for by design enthusiasts. Yet it also marked a cultural change: IKEA was no longer simply practical, it could be stylish too.
8. Sony Cybershot DSC-W220 (in pink)
In the early days of digitalism, there was no more lusted-after point-and-shoot camera than the pink Sony Cybershot DSC-W220. Released in 2009, this device came into its prime at the birth of social media, becoming the documentor of millions of nights out. Looking back now, it also marked the end of an era, the moment just before smartphone photography took over and replaced dedicated hardware. The Sony Cybershot DSC-W220 was launched in a golden age when cameras weren’t bundled into another piece of technology and were a statement piece themselves.
The pink Cybershot wasn’t just a fantastic piece of engineering that allowed people to snap freely on sticky nightclub floors, it was a signifier, something that dangled from the ultra-trendy’s wrists in exclusive venues. What makes the pink Sony Cybershot DSC-W220 an iconic part of the 21st century is it’s something that doesn’t really exist anymore: a blend of fashion and technology, a standalone device that has both aesthetic and practical functions. In the age of identical smartphones, the pink Sony Cybershot DSC-W220 is a collectable that continues to stand out.
9. Roly Poly chair Raw Fiberglass
Designed by Faye Toogood in 2014, the Roly Poly chair is an instantly recognisable piece of modern furniture — and it’s clear why this has become a beloved item amongst collectors. The structure of the Roly Poly chair combines the functional and playful into one delightful package. It abandons the idea that furniture should blend into the background, instead becoming a centrepiece in its own right.
The Roly Poly chair has an unmistakable silhouette, its wide and low body being both stylish and comfortable, while its design and colourways are timeless in a manner that melds the futuristic and retro. What really makes the Roly Poly chair a 21st-century icon is how it expands the notion of furniture.
This is a statement, a blending of function and form that questions what furnishings are and the role they have in homes and public spaces. The Roly Poly chair challenges and embraces key aspects of interior design, making it a holy grail for both art and furniture enthusiasts alike.
10. Karee Kayvon, 2006, Photograph. by Eva & Franco Mattes
Eva & Franco Mattes have been at the forefront of art’s expansion in the digital domain, and 'Karee Kayvon’ (2006) is one of their most important works. In this piece — which is part of a broader photography series — the Mattes explored the world of Second Life, a virtual environment that allowed users to live via an avatar. For many, it’s considered the world’s first proper metaverse. The Mattes created characters in Second Life and took screenshots of them before presenting the image as a physical photograph.
Pieces like Karee Kayvon asked questions that still echo through our current age, encouraging us to challenge ideas of online identity, authenticity, and digital sexuality. The artwork explores the increasingly blurred lines regarding who we are online and who we are in the “real world” — another concept the piece juggles with.
‘Karee Kayvon’ now stands as an iconic example of the constant dialogue between art and technology in our era. The digital age has transformed our self-images and how we present ourselves to the world at large, and there’s little more contemporary than that.
Credits: Karee Kayvon | Eva & Franco Mattes | 2006 | Print on canvas | 36 x 48 inches
11. Panthère de Cartier ring, yellow gold
When it comes to jewellery, there’s little more iconic than the Panthère de Cartier ring. While the design house’s panther motif goes all the way back to the 1910s, it wasn’t until Jeanne Toussaint’s era in the 1930s that Cartier truly embraced the animal as its symbol. This decision pushed Cartier into a new realm, helping link the brand with the strength, grace, and independence of the creature itself — and it’s the Panthère de Cartier ring that’s the culmination of these ideals.
Rings are notoriously hard to innovate without venturing into ‘tacky’ territory, but the Panthère de Cartier ring has a sleek, sculptural appearance that blends experimental design with classic principles – making it both eye-catching as well as sophisticated.
The piece of jewellery has a timeless allure, something that will turn the heads of the fashion-conscious, luxury aficionados, and collectors alike, whether they’re in the 1930s, or the 21st century. The Panthère de Cartier is a symbol of power and elegance, and it’s still making a mark on the fashion world today.
12. Apple iPod Classic 1st Generation (5GB)
The original iPod changed the way we listened to music. While a 5GB hard drive that could hold 1,000 songs doesn’t sound like much in this era of infinite tunes on Spotify, it’s hard to overstate how revolutionary it was at the time. Here was a device roughly the same size as a pack of cards that could hold more music than most people’s entire CD collection. Magical barely does it justice to those who were around at the time.
Then, there’s the design. Before the iPod, most MP3 players were closer to NASA equipment than the catwalk, but the combination of simplicity, sleekness, and that iconic scroll wheel of Apple’s device set the standard for just how good consumer tech could look. Beyond that, the iPod laid the groundwork for Apple’s elevation from a nearly-ran into the dominant force in consumer technology.
This gadget is a turning point, a signpost from an era where society shifted further into personalisation and convenience. The iPod was the ultimate curators' tool. Each device may have looked the same, but what it contained was unique and wholly our own. Simply put, there are few more iconic items for collectors of 21st-century gadgetry than the first-generation iPod.
13. Jenny Holzer - Protect Me From What I Want - gold (Truism series), 2000
Jenny Holzer, an American conceptual artist renowned for her text-based works, created "Protect Me From What I Want" as part of her Truisms series. Originally conceived in the 1980s and reimagined in gold in 2000, this piece encapsulates the complexities of desire and consumerism at the turn of the millennium. By presenting her provocative text in precious metal, Holzer subverted expectations, transforming a critique of consumer culture into a desirable object itself. This tension between message and medium reflects the conflicted relationship many have with materialism in the 21st century.
Holzer's work, straddling the line between high art and popular culture, foreshadowed the breakdown of traditional art world hierarchies. In an era where memes can be considered art and vice versa, the artwork became a shareable sentiment, gaining new layers of meaning in the age of influencers and targeted advertising, standing as commentary on the blurred boundaries between desire, art, and commerce in the digital age.
Credits: Jenny Holzer | Protect Me From What I Want - Gold (Truism Series) | 2000
14. BTS Memories of 2018 Blu-Ray cards complete Set
BTS are one of the biggest pop groups of all time, and the complete set of the ‘Memories of 2018 Blu-Ray cards’ is one of the most coveted items amongst the band’s fans. Released as part of the ‘BTS Memories of 2018’ package (which includes Blu-Ray discs), these photo cards feature a mixture of pictures of individual members, as well as group shots. The group releases an annual ‘Memories’ collection annually, but the reason the 2018 edition is so iconic is due to the importance of that year to BTS.
For many experts, 2018 is when the group transitioned from being K-pop stars into a global phenomenon. In that year alone, they embarked on their ‘Love Yourself’ world tour, picked up trophies at the Billboard Music Awards, and even gave a speech at the UN. The ‘BTS Memories of 2018’ set tracks all these moments, and gives fans a glimpse behind the curtain. For collectors, it's a piece of history, an unrivalled insight into the pivotal year when one of the 21st century’s most iconic pop groups went from being popstars into global figureheads.
15. Kartell Bourgie Table Lamp (Glossy Black)
The Kartell Bourgie Table Lamp, designed by Ferruccio Laviani in 2004, has become an iconic symbol of 21st-century design, blending classical baroque elements with modern materials and production techniques.The Museum of Modern Art, which includes the Bourgie in its permanent collection, describes it as exemplifying "the ability of a plastic to take on the appearance of a precious material". It raises questions about the nature of value and perception in design - does this reimagining truly elevate the material, or simply disguise its essence?
The Bourgie's popularity reflects a broader trend in interior design that mixes historical references with contemporary aesthetics. Aesthetically daring, it embodies the contradictions of the 21st century—baroque yet trashy, gothic yet modern—balancing somewhere between classicism and kitsch.
In the age of social media and curated interiors, the Bourgie has achieved status beyond mere functionality. Its multi-layered design and references make it a perfect subject for digital-era analysis, illustrating how iconic pieces serve as cultural capital and spark deeper conversations about design.
16. Omega Seamaster
When it comes to watch design, the release of the “GoldenEye” Seamaster Diver 300M (as it's commonly referred to because of its association with James Bond) marks the beginning of the iconic early 2000s bulky watch designs. This new iteration of the Omega Seamaster, first released in 1993, was the first of many popular watches from the 21st century featuring bigger cases, bulkier lugs, and more unique and bold bracelet designs.
Many of the features that make it iconic today were poorly received at the time. The protruding helium escape valve was initially disliked, but it has become such an iconic feature that Omega still keeps it visible, despite the technology now existing to hide it. Initial sales were low until the release of the Golden Eye James Bond film, after which it exploded in popularity and became the sole reason Omega didn’t go bankrupt in the late '90s.
Since then, the James Bond franchise and the watch have continued to expand throughout the 21st century. It remains the most iconic diving watch of the early 2000s.
17. Supreme x Louis Vuitton Box Logo Hoodie
The Supreme x Louis Vuitton Box Logo Hoodie was a watershed moment for the fashion industry. For years, streetwear like Supreme and high fashion like Louis Vuitton operated in two entirely different worlds. Yet, as Supreme grew from its humble beginnings as a skate brand and transformed into one of the world’s most recognisable fashion labels, it was only a matter of time before luxury brands noticed when this collaboration arrived in 2017 — with the centrepiece being Supreme’s red box logo combined with Louis Vuitton’s monogram — fashion enthusiasts from all sides went wild.
There was a worldwide frenzy, people queued around the streets for its release, and, unsurprisingly, the resale market went into overdrive. This was a turning point in 21st-century fashion. Luxury brands and streetwear bridged their divide, and the impact of this echoed in both directions and blurred the lines of each culture. The Supreme x Louis Vuitton Box Logo Hoodie is more than outerwear, it’s a museum piece. It’s a bellwether for where fashion has gone, and, excitingly, where it’s heading next.
18. Soriana Sofa
The interior design industry was unrecognisable when the Soriana hit the market. In those days, sofas were rigid and structured, more furniture than statement pieces — but the Soriana flipped that on its head. Created in 1969, this sofa has been a design icon for over half a century, and, despite all that’s happened since its launch, it still embodies a certain stylish timelessness.
Here is another example of home furnishings and art colliding, and is something that’s left an indelible mark on how we model our homes. The Soriana Sofa combines comfort and elegance, with its oversized, bulbous cushions promising a relaxing slouching experience, but these are held in by a sleek metal frame that slices through its relaxed shapes. It’s little surprise that in 1970 the sofa won the Compasso d'Oro award.
In the 21st century though, there has been a resurgence of interest in the Soriana. As people move beyond mass-produced and formulaic furniture, they hunger for statement pieces in this manner, items that are timeless, yet comfortable. And the Soriana Sofa is just that: a combination of luxury, snugness, and style. A collector’s dream, in other words.
19. Linde Freya Tangelder (Belgium) Aluminium Tray (2017)
Linde Freya Tangelder’s Bold Aluminium Tray is a striking piece of design that examines modern notions of luxury and craftsmanship. Introduced in 2017 and made from raw aluminium, Tangelder’s tray eschews many of the trappings of high-end design, instead creating something industrial and hard-wearing.
There’s more to it than that though. Careful attention was paid to the tray’s shape, elevating it beyond its manufacturing influences into something sculptural and refined. This approach directly reflects the state of our society, where topics of sustainability and authenticity are at the forefront of our minds.
The use of aluminium, a recyclable material, puts this green shift into the centre of the product, and while the Tangelder’s Bold Aluminium Tray is utilitarian, it prioritises function with its form, rather than hollow aesthetics, showing its high-end attributes with careful and considered design, rather than ostentatious decoration. Its take on minimalism, luxury, and function is uniquely 21st century, and it’s no surprise that it’s high on many collectors’ lists.
20. Éditions Mille et une nuits // Tiqqun, Premiers matériaux pour une théorie de la Jeune-Fille (Mille et une nuits, 2001)
Published in 2001 by Tiqqun, a French anarchist collective, ‘Premiers matériaux pour une théorie de la Jeune-Fille’ (known as ‘Preliminary Materials for a Theory of the Young-Girl’ in English) is a pioneering and influential piece of feminist and anti-capitalist literature.
In the work, the Young-Girl operates as a metaphor for how consumerism shapes society and changes people’s behaviour, causing them to commodify themselves to protect a system that doesn’t have their best interests at heart. The following 20 years since its publication has made ‘Premiers matériaux pour une théorie de la Jeune-Fille’ seem only more prescient, and this Mille et une nuits edition is as sought after as it is influential.
21. James Turrell (James Turrell, Amrta, 2011)
James Turrell is a master of light, specifically that unique digital light we all live with, and Amrta is one of the most striking examples of his study. Part of his Ganzfeld series, Amrta finds the artist in deep contemplation of physical space and illumination. Our digital devices have completely changed how areas are lit, and Turrell explores this new reality with otherworldly colours that simultaneously transport us somewhere new and anchor us to the now.
The title of the work, Amrta, is a Sanskrit word meaning immortality, and that delivers the work a deeper meaning, forcing us to reflect on how digital technology and spiritualism interconnect. Turrell’s exploration of digital light has had a profound impact on art in the 21st century, and he’s used pieces like Amrta to explore many of the experiences and issues we live with today.
Credits: James Turell | Amrta | 2011
22. Juicy Couture T Mobile Sidekick 2 Phone (pink)
Imagine a world where your gadget carried as much weight as your outfit. The Sidekick 2 didn't just enter this world — it ruled it. This dazzling fusion of T-Mobile's tech and Juicy's brash glam birthed the ultimate 2000s status symbol. The QWERTY keyboard made instant messaging addictive. Having your thumbs glued to a screen wasn't just acceptable; it was aspirational. The swivel screen, combined with Paris Hilton's prolific use, sparked the selfie era, setting the stage for the self-documenting culture we see today.
But like a shooting star, the Sidekick 2's brilliance was as intense as it was brief. As smartphones evolved at warp speed, the once-cutting-edge Sidekick became a relic, its gaudy charm fading into obscurity. It was the harbinger of an era where our devices became extensions of ourselves, where tech and fashion became inextricably intertwined. This pink-hued, rhinestone-encrusted marvel didn't just bridge Y2K pop culture with the smartphone era — it catapulted us into a future where our digital devices are our most personal forms of self-expression.
23. Jon Rafman - You Are Standing in an Open Field Series (Editions 2019-2020)
The core tenet of Jon Rafman’s ‘You Are Standing in an Open Field Series’ is something we all grapple with: how digitalism has impacted the divide between our internal and external lives.The works share a key theme, which combines a painted natural landscape in the background covered by the detritus of our everyday lives in the foreground. This suggests how the fragmented and kaleidoscopic nature of the digital world confuses and obscures what actually surrounds us, and how easy it is to get lost in this noise.
[You can view the 'You Are Standing in an Open Field' Series here]
The manner of how Rafman makes his art, which combines various modes, such as actual physical items and paint, gives the work a collage effect. This is a reaction to how the internet impacts our psyche, similar to the way it throws together disparate images to make something new. And that’s what the ‘You Are Standing in an Open Field Series’ is: art that couldn’t be made any other time than now.
24. Tesla Roadster
The Tesla Roadster has a huge claim to fame: it’s the car that made EVs cool. Before the Roadster was unveiled in 2008, the general view of electric vehicles was they were slow, dull, and resolutely unsexy. They were machines for whom aesthetics and performance were far down the pecking order. They had green credentials, sure, but that was about it.
The Roadster changed all that. Here was a vehicle that looked sleek and gorgeous, could go toe-to-toe with high-performance sports cars, and had big claims for sustainability. It was the market of a new era that not only showed the world that EVs could be inherently desirable, but also put Tesla on the map. In one fell swoop, the Roadster forever altered what electric vehicles could be. In a manner that sums up so much of the 21st-century approach, it proved that an object could be fashionable, functional, and sustainable. This makes the Tesla Roadster an important cultural and technological icon of the past 25 years.
25. ‘Screen Shot,’ 2017 print by Arthur Jafa
Arthur Jafa’s ‘Screen Shot’ is a pivotal work of art that acutely explores notions of Black culture, identity, and modern society.‘Screen Shot’ isn’t just a simple image, it’s a commentary on how we interact and new modes of communication. Here, found imagery and digital culture are blended into something that, in a different environment, could be a fleeting, forgettable moment, and instead forces us to comprehend it more profoundly.
[You can view 'Screen Shot' here]
This instant, an image frozen in time, explores the tension between the digital age and the Black experience. A picture that could’ve easily disappeared is enshrined and then commodified, challenging us to consider how this is happening to society at large. Following the untimely death of Virgil Abloh, this work has become even more poignant. It encourages us to ponder how images shape our perceptions, and how the deceased are exploited in day-to-day life.‘Screen Shot’ (2017) is a stunning critique of the 21st century and a symbol of Jafa’s impact on society.