The Zoomers were raised on technology in the digital age where everything is fast-paced and infinite distractions are just a few clicks away. Despite growing up online, Gen Z is taking a step back and reassessing the world handed to them by the Boomers and Gen X. From knitting to woodworking, young adults are rediscovering hands-on crafts and other traditional skills once considered essential. Why are these skills making a comeback and what does this say about the future of craftsmanship in an increasingly digital world?
The Revival of Traditional Skills
In an era of mass production and digital convenience, Gen Z is reclaiming essential skills that once defined everyday life. Here’s an overview of some of the most popular skills being revived by this generation:
- Growing food: With rising food costs and concerns about food quality and safety, many young people are learning how to grow their own produce with urban gardening, backyard homesteading, and even balcony herb gardens. This helps to provide fresh, organic options while reducing reliance on the ever-increasing costs of the grocery store.
- Upcycling clothing: Fast fashion is out and Gen Z is bringing back the art of homemade clothes. Knitting numbers have risen by 51% and thrifting and upcycling reflect a commitment to repurposing waste and valuing craftsmanship
- Cooking from scratch: From sourdough starters to homemade pickles and sauerkraut, Gen Z is embracing the hands-on process of making food from scratch. Zoomers are bringing back baking, fermenting, and cooking their own meals.
- Handwriting communication: In a world of instant messages, handwritten letters feel intentional and deeply personal. Gen Z is uncovering the art of analog communication, valuing the tactile mindfulness that comes with putting pen to paper.
- Woodworking: Young people are rediscovering woodworking and furniture restoration as an engaging artistic alternative to mass produced consumer items. By building or upcycling their own pieces, they are saving money and reducing waste to create durable, personalized furniture and art.
Social Media as a Catalyst
Social media has played a key role in spreading and sustaining Gen Z’s revival of traditional skills. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest have become catalysts for the spread of DIY culture, turning these niche hobbies into viral movements. Short-form, step-by-step tutorials teach these traditional skills, reaching millions in minutes, while YouTube videos offer in-depth guides and masterclasses to learn more deeply. True to form, social media challenges have also helped to popularise these trends. During the pandemic, the “sourdough” challenge had countless users documenting their breadmaking journeys.
Dedicated online groups on Facebook and Discord servers also help young adults connect with other like-minded individuals who can share tips, troubleshoot problems and celebrate progress. Subscription-based platforms like Patreon allow creators to share exclusive content, providing a more engaged way to reclaim these processes. These spaces offer support, inspiration and a sense of belonging, making it easier to stay committed to learning and mastering these skills.
For those looking to get started, countless online communities, hashtags, and creators make learning accessible. Check out the Hashtags: #craftrevival, #handemademovement, #slowliving
Why Gen Z is Turning to These Skills
Clearly, Gen Z is excited and inspired by old-fashioned skills. These activities, once considered unnecessary in this age of convenience, now resonate deeply with a generation seeking sustainability, creativity and self-reliance. But what captivates young people in a way their grandparents might never have anticipated?
Tech Fatigue and Yearning for the Real
Gen Z, the generation that grew up with smartphones in hand and existential dread on speed dial, is finding solace in the tactile, tangible, traditional, and downright ancient. In an age where algorithms and automation are so prevalent, old-fashioned skills like knitting, canning, and bread-making offer a rare sense of the real that goes beyond the digital panopticon.
These activities aren’t just nostalgic—they’re a rebellion against a digital landscape that’s left many feeling disconnected and powerless. When you’re elbow-deep in dough or stitching up a tear in your favorite thrifted jeans, you’re not just creating; you’re reclaiming agency in a world that often feels like it’s spiraling out of control. Zoomers are opting to log off of social media more often and are Googling how to churn butter—it’s all part of the same quest for authenticity and self-reliance.
Old Ways are the New Rebellion
With trust in institutions at an all-time low, these skills feel like a lifeline to many Zoomers. With economic uncertainty and environmental concerns, many are turning to these skills as a way to prepare for potential disruptions. Knowing how to grow food, preserve it, or repair items feels empowering. Why rely on fast fashion when you can upcycle thrifted finds? Why trust store-bought kombucha when you can ferment your own? It’s a way to opt out of the disposable, depersonalized culture that’s left us spiritually and financially bankrupt, and it’s empowering.
That said, many of these old-fashioned skills require patience, precision, and sustained effort. Woodworking demands long hours of careful carving, while knitting demands steady hands and focus. Unlike social media, there’s no instant gratification here. For those looking to stay energized while diving into their next project, Choq’s Max Performance STAQ offers a blend of natural ingredients that support focus, circulation, and sustained energy.
Community and Connection
It’s not just about control; it’s about community and real relationships as well. Gen Z has grown up in an era where “community” often means a Discord server or a viral X thread, but there’s something far more visceral and grounding about engaging in the physical world and practicing tactile traditional skills with friends, family, and neighbors.
These skills, once passed down through generations, are now being revived through a mix of online tutorials and IRL workshops, creating a new type of active and engaging nostalgia. It’s a way to bridge the gap between the hyper-digital and the hyper-local, offering a sense of belonging that’s hard to find in a world of endless scrolling.
Rejection of Mass-Produced Goods
Gen Z values authentic, quality, and ethical products that reflect their personal expression. In 2022, Etsy reported 95.1 million active buyers, representative of the move away from mass-produced items towards unique, artisanal products. Similarly, the “Grandmacore aesthetic,” which embraces activities traditionally associated with older generations like knitting, baking, and gardening, has gained traction among young adults. Old-fashioned skills emphasize durability and reuse, countering the disposable culture of fast fashion and single-use products. Gen Z, in particular, values reducing waste and living more sustainably.
This move towards sustainable consumerism isn’t just about fashion and furniture/ Gen Z is also showing a rising interest in natural remedies and herbal solutions. Ashwagandha is a well-known herbal adaptogen that helps manage stress and boost focus– perfect for those balancing modern life with hands-on craftsmanship. In embracing these time-tested ingredients, Gen Z is rediscovering ancient wellness practices that align with their values of sustainability and self-sufficiency.
The Educational and Economic Impact
Gen Z’s embrace of traditional skills is reshaping consumer behavior, education and economy. Take, for example, thrifting, which was once associated with financial necessity, has now become a mainstream lifestyle choice. ThredUp’s 2023 Resale Report explains that the second-hand market is expected to reach $350 billion by 2027, with Gen Z leading the charge. To many young adults, thrifting is being increasingly perceived as a status marker of sustainable choices and individuality.
In learning these skills, Gen Z is turning knowledge into income. Online learning platforms like Skillshare and Udemy are seeing more courses covering sewing, woodworking, fermentation and calligraphy. At the same time, platforms like Shopify, Etsy and Depopo have empowered young people to sell their crafts. As of 2023, Etsy reported 8.3 million active sellers, many of whom are Gen Z entrepreneurs monetising their handmade goods.
Even more, crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe have allowed these young artisans to launch small businesses without traditional funding routes. Governments and private organisations are also offering grants and financial incentives to encourage sustainable entrepreneurship, further validating the financial potential of traditional skills.
A Timeless Trend with a Modern Twist
Gen Z is redefining how traditional skills are aligned with modern values. Unlike previous generations who learned skills through family tradition, young adults are leveraging digital platforms and online communities to make skills more accessible, inclusive and adaptable—allowing people from different backgrounds to participate. Traditional skills are no longer just sentimental pastimes—they’re empowering tools for a generation redefining self-sufficiency, creativity, and the aesthetics of the future.