There’s nothing like nostalgia to transport you back to the past when everyone was younger and everything was much simpler.

A wave of nostalgia is engulfing modern pop culture and it’s been dubbed as the megatrend of the 2020s which can be attributed to the current pandemic where the past two years restricted our ability to create new and exciting memories outside and were sheltering at home instead. It was then that the public found comfort in the past. Admit it, even at the height of home improvements during lockdown, you’ve come across relics from the past that took you back to fond memories.

According to a Global Web Index research, feelings of nostalgia aren’t confined to a certain age group but are a common feeling for everyone. It is universal and transcends culture and race.

Even K-dramas are not exempted from the draw of nostalgia. The hit K-drama Twenty Five Twenty One (2521) is set in the 1990s and showcases the story of young people who found new direction and growth as they chase after their dreams. The drama is headlined by Kim Tae Ri, Nam Joo Hyuk, WJSN’s Bona (Kim Ji Yeon), Choi Hyun Wook, Lee Joo Myung and more.

Na Hee Do (Kim Tae Ri) is a fencing athlete who’s determined to achieve her dreams despite the IMF crisis that threatened to derail her fencing ambition. She meets Baek Yi Jin (Nam Joo Hyuk), the eldest son of a wealthy family torn apart and bankrupted by the financial crisis. The two fall in love amid a backdrop of challenges on the road to their goals and dreams.

Apart from the striking and inspiring story, one of the things that caught the attention of the viewers are the ‘90s items that took them to another place and time. With the drama, you’re not only mesmerized by the chemistry and the twists and turns, you’re also indulging in nostalgic escapism.

Metro.Style marked the living essentials shown in Twenty Five Twenty One that you can also add to cart and own as you relive the good times of the 1990s.

Backpack

Na Hee Do is mostly seen with her backpack in the drama that even Moon Ji Woong (Choi Hyun Wook) couldn’t help but notice her designer backpack. He even asked permission to try it on and wear for himself! The actual backpack is from Prada but for those who would like to be more acquainted with the ‘90s, then an alternative backpack brand that’s equally nostalgic for that era is your go-to kind.

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Journal

Remember those days of pouring out your teenage feelings on that diary? Na Hee Do is relatable as she writes down her thoughts and observations on her journal in the same way that ’90s teens did. But who’s to say we can only confine to doing that in the ‘90s? Keep writing and do a modern-day diary of your reflections even as an adult. It’s healthy, you know.

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Retro Keyboard

Ah, it’s so nice to hear the tapping sound of the computer keyboards as Rider 37 (Kim Tae Ri) and Injeolmi (Bona) chat their way to a close friendship sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings to each other. It brings you back to the days when you log into a chatroom and start a conversation with “ASL?” Thankfully, we don’t have to miss it much as there are a number of retro keyboards available online.

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Discman and cassette tapes

One can’t help but get sentimental when Na Hee Do listened to cassette tapes of Baek Yi Jin’s recording on the broadcasting club to comfort herself. Likewise, seeing the discman being gifted to Go Yu Rim (Bona) gives flashbacks of great CDs you were introduced to in the ‘90s. Experience quality music by revisiting that cassette tape and CD collections in the past with the still available cassette and CD player. Thank us later.

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Comic books

Na Hee Do’s “Full House” comicbook obsession is understandable. The anticipation for the next installment of the series is such a great feeling, it’s comparable to waiting for the weekly episode of ‘Twenty Five Twenty One.” You just want to know what happens next. Get into a new comicbook or manga series and relive that feeling!

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Stickers

Let’s face it, while stickers are all the rage in ‘90s teendom as exemplified by Na Hee Do buying up candies to collect stickers, fangirls and fanboys in modern times are the same. Whether it’s stickers relating to K-pop, Marvel or a Netflix series, kids, teens and adults are interested in it and have so much fun collecting the stickers close to their hearts and interests. Thankfully, it’s easy to shop online and look for the stickers you’re so fond of.

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Study table

Whenever you watch “Twenty Five Twenty One” and see the students on their study table, don’t you just long to have one again at home? It’s incredibly useful for work and for students at home, plus it inspired you to get more organized with your materials and belongings. Don’t be shy, bring back the ‘90s and get your own study table. You deserve it.

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Study Lamp

Sure Go Yu Rim and Na Hee Do’s study tables are great but you can also spruce it up with study lamp just like them. Complete the trip down memory lane with a classic study lamp and add to cart!

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Retro cordline phone

We all held our breath when Baek Yi Jin did his reporting through landline at a pet shop but it made us nostalgic for a landline and cordline phone too. If you are one of those blessed with a home with this kind of phone, update it with a retro phone. In the age of smartphones, it’s such a treat to have a remembrance of things past.

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Phone Booth

Does anyone still use a phone booth these days? The phone booth has become one of the enduring symbols of Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin’s connection. And while you technically can’t own an actual phone booth, there are coin banks and home displays in the form of phone booth that can remind you of the ‘90s and the beauty of this K-drama.

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Stills are from Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Netflix, 2022.