Ever wondered why we humans follow trends, why we get influenced by things that cross our paths, or why we continue following certain things even when they may not be right for us? In this write-up, I will share my long-standing observations and discuss how I have found society increasingly resorting to trends and gradually losing its individuality.
Perhaps the real meaning of following a trend has become the desperate need to fit into society, even when doing so requires us to abandon the very things that make us different. The irony is that society itself is formed by individuals who come together despite their differences, yet we increasingly feel compelled to look, dress, and behave alike to find our place in it. Somewhere along the way, this desire to belong has gone a little too far. We have begun adopting habits and lifestyles not necessarily because we enjoy them, but because they have become popular, whether it is the growing obsession with energy drinks, the emergence of coffee raves or the culture surrounding MUNs. There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these interests; the concern begins when personal preference takes a back seat to social acceptance.
This change becomes even more apparent when we look at clothing. Fashion, which once offered a way to express one's personality, seems to be losing some of its colour, character and individuality. Oversized silhouettes have become so widespread that the art of dressing to complement one's natural shape is often overlooked in favour of hiding it beneath layers of fabric. The elegance that once accompanied everyday clothing also seems increasingly rare. Crisp shirt collars, well-fitted high-waisted trousers, suspenders, neckties, ascots and polished leather footwear—details that once gave an outfit its own distinct charm—are now far less common in everyday wardrobes. Of course, fashion has always evolved, and oversized clothing is no less valid than tailored clothing. But perhaps the real question is whether we are dressing the way we genuinely want to, or simply wearing what the moment tells us to wear. After all, clothing should not merely help us blend into a crowd; it should give us the confidence to stand within it without losing our individuality.
This tendency to follow trends is not a recent phenomenon in society; rather, it is one of the oldest traits that has evolved alongside it. One prominent example is how denim transformed from a piece of working-class clothing into an entire fashion industry.
Today, denim can be found in almost every wardrobe, from jackets and trousers to shorts and shirts. It is worn by people across generations and social backgrounds, from the opulently dressed to the modestly clad. However, denim was never originally intended to be a fashion statement, yet it gradually found its way into almost every wardrobe.
It all began in the seventeenth century, when a durable cotton fabric known as "Serge de Nîmes" was produced in France. The word denim is believed to have originated from the French expression de Nîmes.
Another influence came from Genoa, Italy, where a sturdy cotton fabric was used to make clothing for sailors and workers. The word jeans is believed to have originated from the French expression for Genoa, Gênes. Although the two fabrics had different origins, their histories eventually became closely intertwined.
Denim gained widespread popularity during the nineteenth century, particularly around the time of the California Gold Rush of 1849. Thousands of workers travelled west in search of gold. These miners needed clothing that could withstand the harsh conditions of the mines. Ordinary trousers wore out quickly, creating a demand for something tougher and more durable.
This is where Levi Strauss enters the story. Born in Germany, Strauss was a businessman who established a dry-goods business in San Francisco in 1853. He collaborated with a tailor named Jacob Davis, and together they developed a revolutionary design: trousers reinforced with metal rivets at stress points such as pockets and seams. In 1873, the two men received a patent for this innovative design. This marked the beginning of what would eventually become a timeless piece of fashion, valued for its strength, durability and comfort.
Initially, denim was associated with farmers, miners and other labourers. Workers valued it for its durability rather than its appearance. Its characteristic blue colour came from indigo dye, which gave it its recognisable appearance and distinctive fading properties. Over time, these fading patterns created unique designs on the fabric, eventually becoming an important part of denim's identity.
Denim continues to hold a significant place in contemporary fashion; however, its appeal is now largely defined by the cuts, stitching techniques and silhouettes used in its construction. Around 2016, skinny jeans dominated the fashion industry, and the preference for a fitted silhouette extended beyond denim to almost every category of trousers. As the years passed, fashion gradually moved away from this restrictive fit. Silhouettes began to loosen, transitioning from skinny to regular, then to straight-fit trousers, and eventually to the baggy styles that have recently regained popularity. This evolution demonstrates just how unpredictable the fashion preferences of society can be.
We can observe this very same pattern in the world of sports as well. What makes it particularly interesting is how frequently it has begun occurring in recent years, something that was not nearly as noticeable in the past.
One of the most prominent examples from my own city is pickleball. Just two years ago, hardly anyone here even knew what pickleball was until the first court was inaugurated. Within a remarkably short span of time, the sport gained so much attention that nine more courts opened within just three months.
For a while, it seemed as though the entire city had discovered pickleball overnight. Everyone was talking about it, trying it out and becoming part of the sudden excitement. But just as quickly as it had arrived, the noise surrounding it began to fade. Within barely two weeks, the initial enthusiasm had largely disappeared. Interestingly, those who had continued playing even after the excitement died down are still playing today.
However, pickleball has now settled into a much smaller community, with only a fraction of the city's population actively participating and an even smaller number taking part in community tournaments. Perhaps this is the difference between genuinely developing an interest in something and simply being caught up in its popularity. A trend can introduce people to a new sport, but it is genuine interest that keeps them coming back.
And perhaps the most concerning part of this phenomenon becomes visible when we observe society a little more closely. The same conversations, the same jokes, the same references, and even the same opinions that circulate on social media seem to find their way into everyday interactions. At times, it almost feels as though originality has taken a back seat and everyone is simply repeating what has already been approved by the internet. This imitation is not limited to the way we dress or entertain ourselves; it has slowly made its way into our eating habits and everyday choices as well.
Take Diet Coke, for instance. What was once a relatively less popular choice has now become a familiar favourite, with some people even turning their preference for it into a part of their identity. We have also developed this rather amusing habit of attaching an identity to almost everything we enjoy, declaring that we simply "cannot live without" a particular drink, activity or obsession.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying something, but when every preference becomes a personality trait borrowed from a trend, it makes one wonder how much of our individuality is actually our own.
This is precisely why I began noticing what I would call the loss of individuality in the age of trends. It is a phenomenon that goes much deeper than simply copying someone's clothes or following a viral challenge.
It is concerning because people are gradually willing to compromise their personal interests just to participate in something that everyone else seems to be enjoying. Running events and Garba nights, for example, have increasingly become social phenomena in which participation can sometimes appear to be driven as much by the surrounding excitement as by a genuine interest in the activity itself.
And if one ever wants to experience this phenomenon firsthand, I would suggest observing a group of people belonging to the same age group. Listen to their conversations, notice their references, their humour, and the things they get excited about. Then, after some time has passed and the details of those interactions have faded from memory, ask yourself how many of those individuals you could genuinely distinguish from one another.
It is a rather uncomfortable thought, but perhaps that is exactly what makes this phenomenon worth discussing.