What’s hot? You’re cooler than you think

You don’t have to look too far these days to see signs that many things considered part of everyday life in the 40s and 50s are undergoing a revival.

Take a look at what’s hot with the kids of today, you might just find that you’re cooler than you think.

Making things from scratch

It seems everyone wants to be an ‘artisan’ these days. Handmade, traditional makers and craftspeople are sought out and celebrated. Coopers, chair makers, silversmiths and leatherworkers are opening up shop and sharing their knowledge with hordes of curious and eager apprentices.

It’s great to see the appreciation for lost trades is bringing back an appetite for high-quality products, crafted with love. Of course, this was just the way things were when everything was Australian made and we fixed things, rather than throwing them away.

This year the Lost Trades Fair in Kyneton Victoria attracted more than 15,000 visitors. Maybe it’s worth a visit next year to show them how it’s done.

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Image by Lost Trades Australia

A beard and a beer

Walk down pretty much any street in the inner city these days and you’ll see barbers hanging out their shingles, offering a trim or a hot shave. The younger generation doesn't think twice about paying $20 or more to have a tattooed, rockabilly wannabe tend to their precious facial hair.

Where only a few years ago your local barber with his blue and red pole out front seemed to be a dying breed, according to data from Open Universities, it’s estimated that there are more than 66,000 barbers today across Australia.

So next time you’re walking past a barber shop, think about giving yourself a treat. If you do pop in, don’t forget to ask for your free beer.

Pickling and preserving

Who would have thought that a basic skill that we all learned from our mums would become a ‘thing’? A craft that hit its peak during WWII, and kept us fed for generations, is once again growing in popularity.

The words rustic, canning and small batch conjure up thoughts of deliciousness, warmth and a new level of cool. Part of a broader trend against waste, pickling and preserving are hobbies that are definitely back in fashion with hundreds of ‘how to’ videos on YouTube and classes at local markets in suburbs everywhere.

The Vinyl revival

In recent years, vinyl records have made a huge comeback and the return of the record store only seems to be going from strength to strength.

The resurgence is being driven by a desire for nostalgia, authenticity and the love of beautifully designed covers. After declining for decades, record stores are popping up everywhere and sales are booming. The pleasure of searching through record bins in second-hand shops has been rediscovered by our grandkids, seeking out a treasure between all those Kamahl and Nana Mouskouri LPs.

So next time you’re fixing a stool, having a shave, making marmalade, or flipping over your favourite record, remember - you’re cooler than you think.

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