I'm betting on these weird little trends

the kids want pink flip phones not the iPhone 17

Hello and welcome to another trend predictions post by threadloopfits <3

As always with these trend predictions, I try to write about rumblings I have been hearing about in personal conversations with family, friends and colleagues, insights I have seen emerge from social media or niche corners of the internet, and ofcourse, Google search trends. I hope you enjoy, and find these interesting. As always, the comments section is open for conversation and criticism on these ideas. Enjoy :)

Y2K Tech

In a trend report a while back, I predicted that nostalgia technology would make a comeback among young people, especially with wired earphones, Walkmans, CDs and cassettes. According to Google search trends, “how do mp3 players work” spiked by +4950% in the past month, and “portable CD player” was a breakout search. The search interest for pink flip phones also saw an increase of +250% in the past month, and Game Boy rose by +200%. Finally, wired earphones, phone with buttons, and 2000s video games hit all time highs this year. We will only begin to see more of this.

Modest Fashion Among Gen Alpha

This is quite interesting, and I know there is a lot of debate around modesty and modest fashion. We see this with brands like Pretty Little Thing going through their rebrand from a once clubbing clothing brand to now a corporate fashion company. However, I identified this through requests for outfit ideas on Snapchat where my following is majority younger Gen Z or Gen Alpha girls. A lot of them would ask for modest outfit ideas, outfits they could wear around strict parents, and swimsuits which are not revealing. Search interest in modest fashion has also had a major rise since 2024, globally according to this graph. There has also been a growing appeal for tankinis over two-piece swimsuits and wearing one-pieces to the beach is starting to gain more tractio, with Seamolly tankini being a breakout search. Clearly, there is a market for this.

Rucking

I have always been a firm believer in small communities leading to large trends, possibly why I like spending my time scavenging through Reddit forums to find anything new or interesting. However, this prediction hits close to home. Whenever I commute to work (I live in Sydney, Australia), I always see runners (mostly men) running with backpacks on - this is a variation of rucking. Rucking is a fitness activity that involves walking or hiking with a weighted backpack, and is typically a low-impact exercise for those hoping to get in both cardio and strength training. This originates from military training exercises. Running with weights in general has always been fairly well-known but I would not be surprised to see this become more of a trend. Searches for “weighted vest for running” has grown in the last 12 months and “weighted vest for walking benefits” was a breakout search recently too.

Please look up google images of rucking for a more accurate visual than these.

Peel-and-Stick Boom Among Renters

With mortgage interest rates climbing, wages remaining flat, and more people seeking flexibility over long-term commitments, the number of renters has surged in the past decade. In response, home decor brands are tapping into this market by offering wallpaper that can be easily removed without leaving any damage behind.

Commonly labelled as “renter-friendly” or “peel-and-stick,” this temporary wallpaper provides the visual charm of traditional designs minus the hefty price tag or permanence. It’s also significantly simpler to install. In the last 12 months, the search for “peel and stick wallpaper” has increased, with the highest interest in striped wallpaper.

Gourmet Sandwiches

With corporate fashion comes corporate lunches. While sandwiches are incredibly easy to recreate at home, perfect for picnics and brunch spreads, they do make for the perfect at-the-desk lunch. However, I am placing my bets on gourmet sandwiches with thick-cut sourdough, soft crustless bread, paninis, and ciabatta stacked with bold, flavour packed fillings. This could be Japanese-style sanders to sriracha and coriander prawn, chargrilled chicken with olives, leftover ham with brie and apple, or seasoned tofu and avocado. Sandwiches are so versatile. Let them be viral.

Nostalgic Flavours

In stressful times, flavours that feel familiar and childlike are returning in a modern way while keeping their retro roots.These could include root beer, bubble gum, custard, gingerbread, waffles, PBJ, pink milk, Cheerios, chai and apple pie.

Citrus

On the topic of flavours- butter yellow is still very apparent in fashion, and a trending nail colour, however, now lemon yellow is trending thanks to Rhode, and oranges have been spotted in a few fashion campaigns, like the Moncler x Gilga Farm too, so I would imagine that citrus might be having a taste, scent and colour takeover in the next few months.

Embroidery as a Hobby

Embroidery is making a comeback as a popular hobby, especially among younger generations seeking mindful, hands-on activities. Its repetitive, calming nature offers stress relief, while also allowing for creative expression and personalisation. In 2024, the trend is tied to sustainability, DIY fashion, and a wider “craft girl summer” movement. From eco-friendly materials to vintage techniques, embroidery blends wellness, creativity, and individuality in a digital world.

Generational Financial Tension Becomes Cultural Content

In the US, global wealth creation has accelerated. According to UBS’s 2025 Global Wealth Report, more than 1000 people became millionaires every day in America in 2024, a surge driven by buoyant stock markets and rising asset values. This brings divides between newly wealthy Gen Z and Millennials, and older generations which will also spill into culture. I would not be surprised to see comedic takes around “inheriting millions while still living with roommates”, new influencers who are “trust fund transparent” and content like “How I am investing my inheritance”. Prepare to see a movement of rich kids who come from “meaningful money”. The pendulum swing to this would be a rise in quiet wealth anonymity platforms and tools which protect and conceal inherited assets amid rising class scrutiny.

Extreme Weather Events & Modular Clothing

I came across an interesting reddit thread recently, in which users were sharing their theories under the prompt “what’s one thing you think will be completely different 10 years from now?”. One user by the name caitsith01 theorised that extreme weather would be the norm and a lot of what we do in the future will be based around surviving it. In the U.S., the share of land experiencing “unusually high” precipitation has been steadily rising since the early 2000s. As extreme weather becomes more common, modular clothing might gain traction for its adaptability. The Lululemon 2-in-1 maxi dress for example, reflects this shift as it can be worn as a strapless dress or converted into a flowy skirt by rolling it down the bodice. While I don’t think the designers at Lululemon had the climate in mind (someone fact check me on this), the steady normalisation of wearing multi-faceted clothing could indeed be in the cards.

Rise in Blue Collar & Pink Collar Jobs

A few months ago, the Daily Mail published an article about high school juniors receiving job offers worth $70,000 per year from companies struggling to fill skilled worker positions amid labour shortages caused by retiring baby boomers. Additionally, I have also seen LinkedIn posts warning that AI is disrupting entry-level jobs crucial for Gen Z workers to start their careers. Back in 2019, we were encouraged to study computer science, but now in 2025, the advice seems to be shifting toward becoming a plumber or a hair stylist. This reflects a growing desire for jobs that feel more stable and recession-proof.The data on this trend is interesting. According to an ADP Research article titled "Gen Z prefers blue-collar jobs. Or does it?", the share of blue-collar employment among 20- to 24-year-olds increased from January 2019 to January 2024. However, this growth levelled off around 2022, suggesting that the initial rise may have been influenced by temporary factors like the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the labour market. What this tells me is that white-collar jobs will still exist, but paired with uncertainty of job stability like layoffs increasing, trade school becoming more normalised for young people, and attractive salaries available straight out of school, we may see a growing interest in blue-collar careers.

Outdoor Advertising

I personally cannot wait for food-based marketing to come to an end (this might take a while). Next on the lineup would have to be advertising which promotes going outside. WGSN predicted the outdoor boom since 2015 and this industry has a projected market volume of $100.8bn, according to Statista. When I mention marketing however, I mean something along the lines of these stunning vintage Patagonia ads, but also non-conventional players to get involved like fashion and beauty brands to bring in more nature to their campaigns. Pinterest Trends also forecasted that in 2025 travel will be trending towards more mountain trips and skiing as opposed to city escapes. For now though, I guess we can keep doing food.

Personal Style takes the cake

Fashion micro trends and cores are slowly falling off (besides Guava girl summer) and consumers are starting to realise that their wallets cannot keep up with the endless trend cycles we all got delivered to us in 2023 and 2024, so as it always does, the pendulum swings towards “finding your personal style”. This means more planned looks, curation, and practicality around clothing. This is tricky because I do also believe we are moving towards emotional-based spending in the next few years, so brands would have to build pretty deep stories, mission statements and aesthetics around their products to entice people to make a purchase.

Wellness Drink Culture

Gen Z especially is redefining wellness as a lifestyle. McKinsey’s 2024 report shows they spend more on fitness, appearance, and mental well-being than older generations. The obsession with Erewhon smoothies, matcha, and other functional wellness drinks is a product of this, especially considering they have been made status symbols. I do think we will see more wellness drinks on the shelves because they align with this generation’s desire for daily habits that are beneficial for the body, social media, and cultural conscious.

Celebrating the Little Wins

According to a McKinsey survey, Gen Z is less likely than than older generation counterparts to define themselves based on major milestones in life such as marriage and having kids. They are however, much more likely to celebrate achievements like financial security (paying off their student debt) and career success (getting a promotion or leaving a toxic work environment). I guess little treat culture was alluding to this all along, but, expect to see more products and services marketed to life experiences and personal milestones - regardless of age.

You’d probably enjoy this if you want more trend predictions:

---

I am curious to know your thoughts on these trends - do you think they will come true or not?

As always, thank you for reading and God bless xx