From Stella McCartney to Hermès, the use of mushroom leather increases environmental awareness, and we are seeing how the fashion industry is slowly shifting to greener practices. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z and millennials, seem to have a closer bond with nature and a need to return to their roots, especially after the pandemic. What is the latest trend to illustrate this change? Goblincore.
It is an evolution of the fash trend
The fash trend has appeared in recent years,
celebrating the poetic return to nature, a pure and idealized relationship with
the great outdoors. Popularized by TikTok and other social media
platforms, it was developed around gardening, interacting with nature, and
highlighting its wonders. However, fash, also known as mushroom core and MOS score, is a less glamorous version - it's rough, raw, and true to nature.
Born on TikTok
Although it has been around since 2019, in the wake of
the pandemic there are more people interested thanks to its dazzling popularity
on TikTok. The fash hashtag has almost 500 million views on the
platform, but it is also a part of Instagram and Pinterest searches, providing
endless inspirations to users who are curious to discover and embrace the
movement. TikTok's is one of the OGs on the trend, with over 90,000
followers and fash-oriented content.
It's a stark view of nature
Goblincore is a true celebration of nature in all its
diversity and ruggedness. The clothing is full of mushroom, toad, frog and
snail prints, the accessories are designed in the shape of slugs and moss green
colors and the aesthetic embodies a love of dirt, animal heads, and
worms. The goal is to embody nature as it is, without romanticizing it and
forgetting the less elegant details. There is no filter on this trend, it
is pure and honest.
No gender
Gen Z and Millennials have found fash a positive
outlook on life - it's a trend that praises imperfection and rawness and
celebrates our roots, where we come from, and what nature stands
for. Goblincore also challenges genders and the norms associated with
them, one of the main arguments is that insects are not seen as female or male,
but as animals themselves.
It is an escape from our daily life always connected
Countless industries have witnessed a necessary shift
towards more environmentally-conscious practices, and fash embodies just
that. Young people are interested in the wonders that nature can offer and
are aware of the changes that must be made to achieve a more sustainable
future. Goblincore then emerges as a natural consequence: it appears as an
escape from our digital world and from everyday life always connected. A
much-needed getaway that offers insight into what nature really entails.
This article has been previously published on
FashionUnited.uk and translated and edited by Paula V. Pinuaga.