DIY Dreams: Why Gen Z is Picking Up Sewing Machines to Craft Their Own Fashion Future
'For Gen Z, fashion has become deeply personal — a blend of self-expression, purpose, and creativity," says Seema Mahajan, President, Studio of Fashion & Craft, Usha International. 'We're seeing more and more youngsters interpreting fashion aligned to their sensibilities and taking to sewing machines as a means of shaping that identity and reducing environmental impact." Whether it's upcycling vintage sarees, adding delicate cottagecore-inspired details, or creating entirely new silhouettes, Gen Z's approach to fashion is intentional and value-driven.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Ananya Panday's Mykonos trip has everyone asking, ‘What's a sten party?' Here's everything to know
In a recent chat with Diet Sabya, Ananya Panday just spoke about one of the rising trends in the Gen Z wedding industry. While revealing her most unforgettable travel memory, she said, 'My most unforgettable travel memory would be… recently, I just went to Mykonos for my best friend's bachelorette mixed with bachelor trip. It's actually called a 'sten' trip which I didn't know and that was a lot of fun because I got to be with like my school friends celebrating love, so yeah, that was fun,' she said. Ananya Panday; party celebrations Cue everyone frantically Googling: what even is a sten trip? Turns out, a sten is a mash-up of a stag (bachelor) and hen (bachelorette) party. Instead of splitting the fun into two separate celebrations, both groups come together for one big pre-wedding bash. What started as a popular choice in the LGBTQIA+ community has now become a rising trend across younger generations, especially when the couple shares the same circle of friends. So, what happens at a sten party? Think of it as one massive, gender-neutral party where everyone — from the maid of honour to the best man, and even those who don't vibe with traditional labels — celebrates love in one go. Research shows that younger couples are ditching old-school stag and hen dos for exactly this reason: inclusivity, convenience, and (let's be honest) saving some serious cash. Couples are increasingly opting to merge their pre-wedding celebrations into one, and while there are many reasons behind the trend, money is often the biggest motivator. Instead of spending on two separate events, the bride- and groom-to-be can throw a single celebration that brings all their loved ones together, allowing them to cut costs while still making the occasion just as memorable. But it's not just about money. A sten also breaks the ice between different friend groups before the wedding, making the big day itself way less awkward. Plus, it's more welcoming to non-binary or gender non-conforming guests who often feel left out of traditional bachelor or bachelorette setups. Of course, it's not all sunshine and champagne. The one drawback of a sten party is that the bride and groom miss out on having separate quality time with their own friends and family. Still, the idea is that those moments can easily be made up outside of the wedding festivities. So, whether you're team traditional or ready to embrace the sten life, one thing's clear: Panday has officially put this party trend on our radar.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Not just delulu and skibidi, Cambridge Dictionary added 6000+ new words including lewk and tradwife: Check full list here
English just got a Gen Z glow-up. The Cambridge Dictionary has confirmed the addition of 6,212 new words, and the lineup is looking less Shakespeare and more TikTok timeline. Among the star entries: skibidi, a nonsense term born out of the viral YouTube series 'Skibidi Toilet,' that can mean 'cool,' 'bad,' or literally nothing at all. English, but make it genZ by adding skibidi, delulu and more It is now stamped into linguistic history, largely thanks to Gen Alpha kids (yes, that is also a new dictionary entry) who cannot stop saying it. If you have been on stan Twitter, Instagram or anywhere fandom energy thrives, you already know the term delulu. It is shorthand for delusional, but with a playful twist – used to describe someone who is fully living in their own fantasy world. Think 'He definitely likes me back, I just know it' energy. Now, Cambridge has given it official legitimacy. lmfao I can't believe this they've just announced they're adding the word 'skibidi' to the official Cambridge Dictionary 😭 what timeline is this??? Tradwife discourse hits the dictionary One of the most controversial additions is tradwife. Short for traditional wife, it describes women who post online about homemaking, child care, and a throwback approach to gender roles. Popularised by influencers like Hannah Neeleman of @ballerinafarm, the term has fuelled endless debates on whether it is empowering or regressive. Either way, it is now carved into the dictionary for good. If you think more colleagues would benefit from knowing this word, vote for it to be added to the Cambridge Dictionary: #CambridgeDictionary Serving a full lewk Fashion lovers, rejoice, lewk has also made the cut. A playful remix of look, it is used to describe a bold, distinctive outfit that makes heads turn. Whether it is a red carpet ensemble or just the fit you wore to brunch, the dictionary now agrees: it is officially a lewk. A frequently used queer slang word has just been added to the Cambridge more: Beyond the viral vibes Other additions show how internet culture is bleeding into everyday language. There is broligarchy (referring to powerful tech bros like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos), inspo (short for inspiration), and even anime's isekai, which recently made its way into rival dictionaries too. Cambridge's lexical manager Colin McIntosh explained that these inclusions are not random – the team only adds words they believe will stick around. In his words, the rise of slang like skibidi and delulu proves internet culture is actively reshaping how we use English. The dictionary glow-up Whether you find them ridiculous or relatable, the reality is simple: today's memes are tomorrow's definitions. Dictionaries are no longer just homes for dusty old words; they are living records of our chaos-filled, scroll-obsessed world. And with entries like delulu and skibidi in the mix, English has officially entered its main character era.
News18
10 hours ago
- News18
Romance, Rewritten: How Gen Z's ‘Book Boyfriend' Obsession Is Shaping Modern Datin
For Gen Z on the dating app, literary references are like romantic filters: they signal depth, emotional fluency, and main-character energy. Gen Z in India isn't just reading about romance, they're matching for it. Tinder data shows a growing obsession with the elusive 'Book Boyfriend'. Inspired by green-flag heroes from their favourite novels, young daters are weaving literary love into their bios and bringing main-character energy to real-life dates. India's love affair with books is more than a chapter, it's a plotline. Mentions of 'bookstore" in Tinder bios in India have doubled from 2024 to 2025.1 Fanning the flames of this literary love affair, Tinder's global data reveals mentions of 'Book Boyfriend" soared 58% in 2024 with a plot-twist-worthy 77% surge in January 2025 alone. ● 'Books > Boys (but I'm willing to negotiate)" ● 'The best way to my heart is a date at the bookstore." ● '(I) Love the scent of old books and rain." According to Dr. Chandni Tugnait, Relationship Expert at Tinder in India, Gen Z is drawn to the idea of a 'Book Boyfriend' because it offers a safe, emotionally expansive space to explore love without real-world risk. These fictional characters embody qualities this generation craves – emotional intelligence, vulnerability, devotion, and depth, setting a new standard for romance rooted in presence and emotional fluency. Today's daters aren't chasing perfection, they're craving presence. They want to feel understood, seen, and deeply cared for. Crush on Fictional Character = Emotional Code 'I need someone who can go with me to the mountain, mandir and book store" or 'Books and music, hit me up if you're into reading and brainstorming" — these aren't just cute lines, they're love codes. For Gen Z on the dating app, literary references are like romantic filters: they signal depth, emotional fluency, and main-character energy. In fact, 'Looking for…" was Tinder's top bio phrase in 20244, and with Interest tags like Reading and Literature, matching with a fellow book lover is easier than ever. As Dr. Chandni Tugnait says, it's identity curation and a vibe check in one — a way of saying, 'I speak romance in fiction and in life. Do you?" For Gen Z, it's also a shortcut past small talk. Referencing a shared fictional world works like a pre-screening for deeper connection — just as sharing playlists or meme codes can. After all, the emotional worlds we fall for in books often mirror the ones we dream of living out in real life. What Gen Z is Learning from Their Favourite Fictional Characters: Tinder's Modern Dating Report shows that 53%5 of Gen Z in India want an equal partnership, with half (50%)5 saying mutual support and commitment are key to making it work. Yet 37%5 admit they struggle with emotional intimacy, proof that while the desire for deeper connection is strong, the skills to build it are still a work in progress. This generation values rituals of love the small, consistent acts that feel safe and intentional. Dr. Chandni Tugnait explains: 'Gen Z responds to romance that's safe, thoughtful, and emotionally textured. Book Boyfriends often embody love languages like words of affirmation, quality time, and acts of service. It's not about chasing a fantasy; it's about finding someone who loves like they've read the whole book, not just the blurb. The Book Boyfriend is their blueprint: 1) Present in the hard moments, not just the highs 2) Soft without losing strength, and 3) Devoted in actions, not just words. Fictional green-flag heroes are teaching young daters that real romance is about presence, not perfection and they're no longer afraid to demand it." First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
