DIY Fashion, Gen Z, and the Sustainability Revolution
How is this new generation redefining style?
The rise of Do It Yourself (DIY) Fashion is not just a fleeting trend, it's reshaping modern style, especially among Gen Z. This shift took off after COVID-19 epidemic in 2020 when time spent indoors sparked new creative habits and transformed the way young people approach fashion. With these changes, Generation Z has redefined fashion, emphasizing identity, artistic expression, and eco-friendly practices. DIY Fashion has emerged as a powerful cultural statement from a generation being dubbed socially and environmentally aware.
A driving force behind this movement is the growing demand for individualism and self expression. DIY activities, especially crafting, offer significant mental health benefits. Research by art therapist Heather L. Stuckey shows creative activities can reduce anxiety, stress, and mood disturbances, while improving well-being and quality of life. For Gen Z, this can foster a sense of self discovery and positive reinforcement. Importantly, Thrifting and vintage shopping have become popular means of self exploration for Gen Z, who seek to distance themselves from fast fashion. With 42 percent of the generation rappelling with mental health issues, the ability to customize one’s outfit becomes a powerful method of boosting self confidence and creating an identity.
The merging of thrifting, upcycling, and fashion repurposing has certainly fueled the rise of DIY trends, allowing individuals to make something unique from old clothes that showcase their personal style while promoting sustainability. With increasing concerns about climate change, Gen Z has prioritized finding solutions to the fast fashion crisis, widely considered to be one of the most harmful industries for the environment. The growing popularity of upcycling tutorials on platforms such as Tik Tok and YouTube are proof of this generation’s commitment to sustainable fashion. These detailed ‘how to’ videos empower Gen Z to transform unwanted clothing into trendy pieces, significantly reducing the impact of fast fashion on the planet.
This creative explosion has given rise to a plethora of new fashion trends and subcultures, including “blokette,” “coquette,” and “maximalism”. These micro and mega trends, all fuelled by personal imagination and individual style, highlight the growing importance of self-expression within the realm of DIY fashion.
Beyond self-expression, DIY fashion has emerged as a response to the global crises that shape this generation’s worldview. Concerns about climate change have influenced Gen Z’s shopping habits, with sustainability becoming a fundamental element in their fashion choices. Rather than contributing to the mass production of cheap, unfashionable clothing, many in Gen Z have turned to upcycling and repurposing clothes that used to be cast off. As a result, the ongoing concern about both personal image and the state of the world has sparked a broader movement toward responsible consumption.
DIY fashion has become a way for Generation Z to showcase their unique identities while being environmentally conscious. By resurrecting the past and looking to the future, this trend is positioned to become the new norm, where effortless creativity meets eco-friendliness. They are ready to unite and show the world that revolutionizing fashion is possible, and they will stop at nothing to create a better future-even if it takes one “Get Ready with Me” TikTok at a time.
Sources:
Heather L. Stuckey (2010) The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature - National library of medicine
