the niche stuff that’s about to blow up

Aren't all trends fairly obvious?

Hello friends and welcome to another post by

threadloopfits

<3 First of all -thank you for 1000 subscribers. I have been enjoying writing long-form content and it feels nice to engage with people who like to read my work.

Today’s post is a little more out there, but honestly, I would not be surprised to see these trends pop up across Pinterest feeds, cafe menus, or TikTok sounds in the next 6-12 months. Some of these have emerged, but haven’t had their cultural peak yet. These are just some of the trend fragments I have noticed lately across the internet, on the street, or from conversations with friends. Sharing them early because I have learned not to gatekeep. Enjoy :)

Jelly Sandals

Hear me out. Online, it seems that the girls in their early 20s are embracing the early 2000s by wearing jelly sandals again, and honestly, it does make sense. I predicted these would become a trend when I saw jelly sandals appear on my Instagram feed back in 2022, but you will have to take my word for it. However, my bigger trend prediction is that these sandals indicate a shift in how we think about clothing in general.

People are starting to shop for clothes in the same way they shop for supplements:

• Will this regulate me?

• Will this bring me back into my body?

• Does this feel like comfort or grounding or joy?

Jelly sandals do in fact tick a lot of those boxes. They are close to the Earth in a literal sense (thin sole, often worn barefoot), playful in that they feel like a sensory toy, and kind of anti-fashion in a very post-fashion way. I’d group them in the same category as cotton bloomers, handmade knits, and toe socks - pieces that don’t just look cute but feel self-regulatory. Like wellness, but wearable. And I think that’s where we’re headed. Less trend-driven consumption, more intuitive dressing.

Dopamine decor

I reckon this ties in quite nicely with the above trend - welcome to the post-beige era. If you are still living in a blank rental with zero colour, this is your sign to get a lava lamp and a bright rug. Dopamine decor allows you to decorate in a way that stimulates the brain through layered colours and patterns in both art, clothing and home decor. When compared to minimalism, I would not say that it is competitive at all, however, this is about niche trends which will begin to make their way into mainstream soon.

Cafe and bakery raves

100% a Gen Z category. The idea is to get a matcha, a croissant, and then dance to house music all before 11AM. I can see this becoming bigger, especially among people who want to go out but strongly dislike drinking. Alongside this trend, is the appeal for more balance among younger generations. The desire to go for a 10km run but then have a few beers afterwards, or go to Pilates, but then get a cute pizza afterwards. Indulging and not feeling guilty.

Aura makeup

This may tie in with the trend of mermaid core which I predicted a while ago, but this idea of choosing blushes, eyeshadows and lip gloss based on your mood will get bigger. I see a lot of this trending in editorials, but I can see it becoming a lot more mainstream, perhaps with a very 70s and whimsical take.

Milkshakes

Milkshakes and cream soda floats - anything to do with American or vintage diners. But, I think after matcha blows over, milkshakes may in fact have their spot in the limelight. Social conversations about milkshakes have increased by 17% over the past year and around 190,033 U.S restaurants offer them on their menus. However, the real opportunity here is with the rise of protein milkshakes which are the fastest rising consumer desire, and the dominating diet for milkshakes is vegan. Only time will tell.

Circus core

I know I mentioned western rodeo and mermaid core to come in but let’s be real - all trends lead to one road: circus core. In the world of interior decorating I cannot go a day without seeing red and white striped pieces over Pinterest. Which then got me thinking about how so many of the little micro trends in fashion recently have some linkage to circuses - striped stockings, red & white stripes in general, polka dots, tulle and frills, bubble skirts, frilled collars, vintage carnival fonts, and animal print. We may begin to see the circus aesthetic gain popularity in the same way as cowgirls and ballerinas.

Sketches in Marketing

Lately I’ve noticed more brands using hand-drawn sketches and doodles in their ads, packaging, and socials, and it’s not just for fun. In an age of overly polished AI content, sketches signal human-ness, softness, and a sense of play. They add a layer of sincerity and imperfection that feels personal and creative. Expect to see more campaigns that look like they were drawn in a notebook or on a napkin. Especially in fashion, wellness, and indie food brands.

Scar Care

According to Meet Glimpse data, the rate of babies delivered by C-section has increased by 300% around the world, over the last 30 years. Due to this, consumers are looking for ways to reduce scarring. Enter a new category of scar care. Many are turning to solutions such as scar sheets and scar tape for assistance and even using the product at night to reduce wrinkling. As of writing this, scar tape has grown by 171% since 2024.

Niche SPF Everything

SPF is increasingly becoming its own unique category in the world of skincare rituals. This summer, search interest for tinted sunscreen hit an all-time high, and mineral sunscreen continues to spike every June like clockwork. However, what is most interesting is searches for makeup setting sprays or self tanners which have SPF included. I can see SPF for lips, scalps, hairlines, eyelids etc becoming a trend as we see an increase in people who are anti-sun. Expect sunscreen to feel like less of a chore to apply and more like a personalised ritual for a very specific group of people.

Beef Tallow Skincare

Beef tallow is having a skincare glow-up. Once just a byproduct, it’s now being rebranded as a “natural” barrier-repair balm with ancestral appeal. It taps into the same logic as organ supplements (like beef liver capsules), where you take something old-school and repackage it as wellness. We’ll keep seeing more familiar, overlooked ingredients recast as premium, back-to-basics beauty. And I am excited for it.

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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