Stories that Inform
3 min read
That 60s fashion trend
Youths take a trip down memory lane to the 60s to rediscover the fashion craze of that era.
BY: MARISSA ARIELLA
Amid the pandemic, a 60s fashion time capsule has been opened to welcome back the crochet trend. Crochet products easily became a must-have among youths because it’s customisable and simple.
The pandemic gave youths a lot of free time to discover the beauty of crocheting to build up their confidence as they handmake their own products.
A 2021 Youth Culture survey by Worth Global Style Network found that the result of quarantine hobbies are many new talented, “tactile and craft-focused” youths and that the “global crafts market foresees to value $48 billion by 2025”.
Crochet fashion isn’t restricted to sweaters or crop tops. It includes bags, hats, earrings, hand gloves, pins, pouches and even keychains.
“Crochet is very versatile. You can create almost anything you want with just a ball and a hook,” says Nicole Ng, 19, a student and owner of a crochet shop called @coleatte on Instagram. Her page has over 4,000 followers.
She set up her Instagram page three years ago originally to “document her progress in crochet” then converted it into a business after noticing the demand for her products.
Nicole shared that her crocheted hats are typically a hit amongst her followers and her monthly sales range from five to 10 pieces.
Similarly, Zoey Chong, 22, a freelance dancer and owner of a crochet shop called @shopzobo on Instagram started her business to kill time during the pandemic and earn some money doing something she enjoys.
Her bestsellers include her daisy and sunflower bucket hats as well as her “bare necessities” fanny pack. On average, her monthly sales can go up to five pieces.
Zoey says her fanny pack is one of her proudest creations and her inspiration came from wanting to make a bag for herself. “Usually crochet bags are like tote bags or handbags and so I wanted to try like ‘Eh why not a fanny pack’ because I do carry fanny packs myself,” she says. PHOTO: COURTESY OF SHOPZOBO
“Crochet stitches are unique to itself so it cannot be recreated by machines, it has to be handmade and the possibilities are pretty endless,” says Zoey.
Crocheting also expanded to the male population as seen from gold medallist Olympic swimmer Tom Daley who was seen knitting during the Olympic Games in Tokyo while watching the other games.
It shows that crochet isn’t a gender-specific hobby. Although male-run crochet businesses aren’t common locally, a small minority do it as a pastime.
“One day, I came across a small figure I thought my sister would like and decided that crocheting a keychain for her would be cool, so I decided to pick up the new skill to make something for my sister!” says Goh Cheng Yang, 17, a student who started crocheting in July 2021.
“I think crocheting is an artisan craft, something unique which offers meditative value, a fun time, and a satisfying outcome,” Cheng Yang adds.
Cheng Yang shares that he usually creates small figurines also known as amigurumi as shown above. PHOTO: COURTESY OF GOH CHENG YANG
When asked if he contemplated starting a business, he declined. “I’m not too keen on selling anything because I’m not confident I can produce things up to a client’s standards, or at least my own expectations,” Cheng Yang explains.
Tyrus Lye, 22, an NUS first-year Computer Science student, shares Cheng Yang’s views as he too crochets as a hobby but has no plans on opening a business anytime soon.
“I’m the kind of person that will make the things I want to use because I don’t really like or trust the ones that I can buy outside," Tyrus explains his reasons for picking up crochet.
He says, “I considered it [starting a business], but you have to be of a certain calibre and have a certain skill before considering to sell like I still make mistakes, either I crochet too tight or miss a stitch, then the final product doesn’t look as good so maybe I would, to friends but not online.”
With the increasing consumption of fast fashion along with how it negatively impacts our environment, crochet fashion is more environmentally-friendly because it’s woven from start to finish by hand using yarn that doesn’t contain any manufactured materials.
“It’s cheap, it can take a lot of your focus, it’s fun and it’s easy to get into because all you need is one hook and a ball of yarn,” Tyrus says.
You can play a part in creating a more sustainable environment as well as support local youth-owned crochet businesses. Head to your nearest Daiso or Spotlight to get your own yarn and hook.