Gen Z’s craft nights: a party with a side of accomplishment
Younger generations are trading tech for tradition, one crocheted ornament at a time.
The story
A report suggests Gen Z and Millennials are favoring nostalgic, hands-on holiday activities over commercial gifts, with trends like 'grannycore' and 'Ralph Lauren Christmas' gaining traction through increased orders for crafts, games, and vintage decor.
Source: wwd.com
Our reading
Gen Z’s 78% preference for nostalgic, screen-free gifts is less about rejecting modernity and more about rejecting the pressure to buy something new. It’s a way to feel involved without spending much, like a DIY version of being a consumer.
The rise of ‘craft nights’ with drinks and needlework suggests that young people aren’t just making things—they’re making them while pretending they’re not. It’s a social event with a side of accomplishment, like a party where everyone gets a trophy for showing up.
So when someone buys a ceramic Christmas tree, it’s not just a decoration—it’s a signal that they’re choosing effort over convenience, even if that effort is just gluing a few branches together. It’s the holiday equivalent of a resume bullet point: ‘Proactive, hands-on, and slightly awkward.’
