Next in Fashion often spotlights contestants' identity factors and backgrounds, sometimes at the expense of their design skills or story arcs. There’s a strong emphasis on diversity and personal journeys, with merit occasionally playing second fiddle to representation. Traditional competitive reality show arcs get a bit lost in the shuffle of highlighting woke themes.

The show downplays traditional norms surrounding fashion, gender, and even masculinity, celebrating a wide range of identities and lifestyles. It rarely references longstanding cultural or family values, opting mostly for progressive takes. Traditional perspectives, and anything resembling old-school fashion mores, barely get a cameo.

Alternative, less progressive worldviews are noticeably absent. The series features a consistently modern, activist-minded tone, and those who don’t align tend to fade into the background. Any hint of disagreement with the woke consensus is portrayed as passé rather than respected.