The Macro-Harms of the Micro-Trends
Written by Gracie Greenberg
When you think of the fashion from some of the most iconic decades, there are clear and apparent trends that come to mind. The 80s, 90s, 2010s and pretty much every decade preceding that have their own staples; timeless pieces that continue to come back and live on in the fashion world and beyond. However things have begun to change in the age of social media for better or for worse, and the word timeless has become harder and harder to identify. Tik Tok has made it extremely easy to “blow things up” and sell out particular items extremely fast and due to the magnitude and extremity of the trend, it quickly fails and eventually becomes obsolete. These short and extreme trends are called “micro-trends” and some of the many examples that have occurred in the past year include; Hawaiian florals, patchwork, animal print, y2k, chunky necklaces, clay rings, the list goes on and on.
According to Screenshots article, Inside TikTok’s Micro-trend Crisis and How it is Fueling Fashion Overconsumption Among Gen Z, “There are five stages to a trend cycle : the introduction, the rise, the peak, the decline, and eventually, the obsolescence… a clothing item or specific style …proves popular, it starts gaining momentum, as various retailers begin producing it rapidly, reaching its peak… [then] its popularity begins its decline, eventually reaching the end of the cycle and going out of date.” Though this cycle occurs with any micro or macro trend, a trend lasting around 5-10 years, the rate at which these cycles have been occurring in the age of tik tok has been astonishing, and honestly quite frightening. From deeming things 'cheugy’ to saying certain brands are the “next big thing” gen z is constantly under fire to fit in and be with the “newest and the best”, which has proven to become more and more difficult.
This cycle and recent trend poses several problems and questions, one being the issue of sustainability and environmental consequences and two; what does it make of fashion? With so many fast fashion brands trying to keep up with each and every micro-trend, a massive amount of waste develops because these “trends” flourish for just a few short months. Then after their time in the limelight they decline exponentially and are thrown away never to be seen again leading to extreme overconsumption and increasing the already fast speed of fast fashion. But aside from all of the environmental consequences we have lost the elegance and beauty of timeless and iconic pieces. Fashion has become a fast paced, never-ending race that cannot be fully appreciated.
Emma Chamberlain also touches on the topic of micro-trends in one episode of her podcast, “Anything Goes”. She emphasizes the mental and financial drain that comes hand in hand with micro trends, an aspect of fashion that typically goes unnoticed. She highlights the difficulties of trying to keep up with the latest trends and the pressure to consume, consume, consume. As consumers we have to take notice of how social media is changing the fashion industry, not just as potential prospects to consume but as active participants that can consciously change the industry. Micro-trends can be extremely damaging and with more people aware of them and the dangerous cycle that comes in tandem with these trends, we can slow the cycle and make a more conscious effort to mindfully consume more long lasting sustainable trends and pieces.
Sources:
Borissova, Bianca. “Inside TikTok’s Micro-Trend Crisis and How It Is Fueling Fashion Overconsumption among Gen Z.” Inside TikTok's Micro-Trend Crisis and How It Is Fueling Fashion Overconsumption among Gen Z, 19 Oct. 2021, https://screenshot-media.com/the-future/fashion/tiktok-fashion-overconsumption/.
Chamberlain, Emma. “Trendy vs. Timeless.” Anything Goes, ,Ramble, August 5, 2021. Apple.com, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anything-goes-with-emma-chamberlain/id1458568923?i=1000531095044
https://www.vogue.com/article/y2k-style-celebrity-runway-trend