The Patchwork Trend

 Social media is classically a reliable way of gauging current fashion trends. Chances are that if there's a particular outfit or style continually cropping up on your explore page or unabashedly splashed all over your Instagram feed, then it officially maintains 'trend' status. Trends are like narcissistic acoustic-guitar players who insist on playing covers of Oasis songs at parties... they like to make themselves known. They are not shy creatures. A sentiment proved by the recent 'patchwork' trend reverberating through the depths of social media, which is certainly no exception to this rule.

The patchwork trend is a culmination of a number of factors including the sustainability movement, the revival of Y2K style and the comfort we crave during this pandemic. There is no textbook patchwork garment either. In fact, the only qualification necessary for a garment to pass as a legitimate member of the patchwork genre is for it to consist of a mixture of different fabrics and colours held together by bright contrastingly-coloured thread. 

Nowadays, the importance of sustainability is paramount. Everyone is aware of the dangers facing our planet and even in a time where the fog of utmost uncertainty is shrouding the future, we at least know one thing for definite. Change has to be made in order to rescue the planet. The UN Conference on Trade and Development considers the fashion industry to be the second most polluting industry in the world, a statistic that makes the emergence of new trends feel futile and wasteful. However, this is not the case with the patchwork trend with it's penchant for upcycling. One of the major joys of the patchwork trend is that it can be friendly to the environment, if chosen it to be. The trend can easily be achieved via recycling old unused garments or leftover swatches of fabric. The trend's rampant encouragement to reuse and recycle old fabric and material can only be a good thing. Besides, it also permits the trend to be as accessible as possible to... well, just about anyone.       

In the time of lockdown, where our sartorial choices revolved entirely around comfort (hoodies, tracksuit bottoms, old jumpers littered with crisp crumbs and chocolate stains), it does feel somewhat alien to have to revert back to how things were before. Now that we're allowed to venture outside again, the thought of begrudgingly swapping our beloved leggings for some seemingly more fashion-centric  jeans, is not appealing. However the patchwork trend offers a solution to this problem. The trend comes in a range of different clothing options... jackets, dresses, skirts, trousers. On a smaller scale there are patchwork accessories as well: bags, headbands, scrunchies, handbags. The look is easy to achieve, catering to our lockdown mentality of comfort and ease, but alternatively looks well thought out and suitably put together.   

The patchwork trend, for some unknown reason, evokes a deep sense of nostalgia. Perhaps because of it's similarity to patchwork quilts that would not be amiss in a Grandma's house, transporting us back to our childhood. More likely, it is the undeniable links it holds to Y2K style. In a time where the future remains overwhelmingly uncertain, it is easy to find solace in trends of the past and it appears that this is what has happened with the patchwork trend.

It is clear that the patchwork trend is popular for a number of reasons. The question is what do you think about the trend? and will you indulge in it?

By Frances Hudson