A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Ukraine: President Trump recently made controversial statements regarding the ongoing war between Ukraine & Russia, accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of starting the conflict, despite evidence of Russia’s initial invasion.
A$AP Rocky: A$AP was found not guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, stemming from a 2021 shooting incident.
Jesus Christ Superstar: Cynthia Erivo has been cast to play the role of Jesus Christ in the upcoming production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at the Hollywood Bowl this summer.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
Creepy, Chaotic Crochet 🧶
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What It Is: With the rise of cottagecore & the slow fashion movement came the resurgence of crochet, a trend most popular in the 1960s/70s. A platform perfect for creativity & self-expression, TikTok made crochet tutorials, hauls, and creations mainstream. Some even say a Harry Styles sweater inspired a crochet surge with fans attempting to home-knit replicas. Robust crochet communities on social media have not only made the craft more popular, but they have also led to its transition into the wacky, whimsical, & weird. Adorable crafts like “Kevin Bacon” the crochet pig (while breaking news headlines) are nothing to be compared to the over-the-top nature of cute dolls made ugly. The same goes for trendy crochet sweaters that could, instead, be a full cosplay costume. It’s clear that crochet has quickly become a medium of shareable, one-of-a-kind crafts. And as for its chaotic counterpart, it proves that nothing “adorable” is off-limits to the unhinged Gen Z generation.
Brand Takeaway: Crazy, sometimes creepy crochet signals a larger push towards the impure & imperfect. Unlike the rest of the social media space saturated with all things picturesque, crocheters are using their skills to make disturbing creations like clown masks or grotesque fashion. There’s also something so relatable about those “ugly” creations or “fails” that keep the community humble. In the name of DIY fashion & decor, there’s something so beautiful & quaint about a horrifying handmade item. Here’s a message to all crafters to be uniquely you as your strange niche could be someone else’s source of happiness.
Examples: 1, 2, 3
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