In an age of rapid technological advancement, it may sound crazy to say that vintage is highly valued.
But it is.
1. The Power of Nostalgia
Like the name states, Millennials came of age in the beginning of the millennium. With 9/11, two wars and the recession it’s easy to write off the 2000’s as, well…pretty crappy so far. So maybe that’s why Millennials are already longing for “the good ol’ days”. As Buzzfeed has proven over and over, 90’s nostalgia is particularly strong. Could that nostalgia also apply to decades that Millennials weren’t even alive for? Maybe. But there’s a few other reasons that the affinity for vintage applies to aspects of other eras as well, such as…
2. Tested by Time
Is older always better? Not always, but there seems to be a prevailing notion that if it’s vintage, it must have been well made in order to have held up for so long. As I mentioned in an earlier post, a study says Millennials value word of mouth over advertisements. It makes sense, too. Would you rather follow the recommendation of a trusted friend, or a faceless advertisement paid to push some product, regardless of its quality? A product that has been used for years is like years of user approval. Why else would it still have an appeal after all this time? The idea that vintage=quality is one of the reasons that this ad for a modern-day news app is so effective.
3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Thrifting has other benefits, besides quality. It’s earth friendly. When products are reused instead of thrown out, it reduces the amount of waste created. Maybe that’s why upcycling has become an increasingly popular trend. What’s more, resale shops are booming. But maybe part of that boom can be attributed to the rapper Macklemore.
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