Social media sites like TikTok, Twitter and Instagram have been at the center of recent trends. This is mostly evident in TikTok where this younger generation of users mostly born around late 1997 or later is making a statement when it comes to fashion and style.
They may be young but they are a force to reckon in terms of trend setting. They’re known for their 24/7 presence on the internet and popular social sites like TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram. Their taste is slowly switching from video gaming (GTA Vice city, FIFA, Mortal Combat etc.) and music to creating their own world of fashion.
The Gen Z’s wardrobe tends to express their choices. They’re making waves in the world of fashion and there is no way they can be ignored. While some of its members decide to adopt their native fashion sense, most of them like infusing their own street style preferred looks with second hand items famously known as mitumba.
“A person’s fashion style should always be unique and help someone to stand out from a group, a person should wear colors and patterns that flatter their physical appearance and that’s what we Gen Zeers are best at. I rarely wear the same outfit from head to toe twice and if I do, I won’t snap because my audience has already seen me on the outfit before.” Leila Atieno a Gen Zeer says.
Since Gen Z is now the largest generation alive as of now, they provide a wide target market for products and maybe it is wise for brands to listen to them as opposed to the millennials or baby boomers as they have been deemed to be more financially stable, frugal, health conscious and body positive than any other generation.
Job Waltone, a fashionpreneuer Fazah Kicks Ke, a leading shoe store in Nairobi talks of how this new crop of generation are always ready to spend to their last coin at the expense of their desired drip. He says Gen Zs are the type of people that like to dress to kill in an event or occasion and cannot afford to put up with fake or unconvincing drip. Their favorite looks come from brands like Prada, Adidas, Cactus Jack, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Yeezy, Gucci, Fenty, Fear of God and more.
Whitney Manana, a model fashionista and final year student at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication speaks of how fashion should be unique and his preferable choice of places to shop. “I mostly do my clothes and shoes shopping at the local markets especially Gikomba market in Nairobi town and even have my own favorite vendors who plug me when they’ve got something they know I would like. Clothes and kicks from the local market are unique and it’s hard to find someone wearing the same type of clothes or shoes that you have compared to when you buy from a boutique.” She speaks.
(Photo Courtesy; Merab Ocholla, Whitney Manana)
