Simal Yilmaz is all about masculine mustache madness trends. When she's not admiring upper lip facial hair, the honors graduate from the University of Waterloo in psychology and speech communications can be found brightening up the Trend Hunter office with her sunny disposition. Yilmaz is also an extensive world traveler, reader, swimmer, chess player and a lover of music of all genres.
What is your favorite trend and why?
My favorite trend is the ongoing mustache madness. It's basically an idea that spiraled out of the Movember movement. In this video Nick Offerman is offering hilarious tips for guys to grow a proper mustache such as eating a raw onion or hammering a nail. It pokes fun at the extreme masculinity that mustaches symbolize. Regardless of whether the movement is effective or not, for purely aesthetic reasons I am in total support of this. I'm sad to see mustaches go, so I'm glad to see they're so widespread in popular culture.
How do you define cool?
Cool to me is anything or anyone that's authentic. It's anything that's intriguing that you want to learn more about or anything that puts new and simple twists on things.
What's your favorite thing about working at Trend Hunter?
My favorite thing about working at Trend Hunter is working with ideas. I come to work every day and learn about the most obscure and coolest things on a daily basis.
How do you reset to be creative?
I would say going for walks and long walks on the beach. Reading and exposing myself to weird and different material on the Internet.
What is your favorite accomplishment?
My favorite accomplishment would be winning the chess championship in elementary school. It's all been downhill from there, that was the highlight of my life. (laughs)
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
When I was growing up I wanted to be a mermaid. Then I realized that it wasn't too feasible, so I decided to be a marine biologist.
What advice would you give to the business world?
My advice to the business world would be to never get comfortable with their products, strategies and services. Always be ready to innovate and embrace change.
Is there anything you'd like to add about Trend Hunter?
If you're looking for a fun and interesting place to work, check out Trend Hunter for information on some great internships!
Simal Yilmaz, Trend Hunter (INTERVIEW)
Yilmaz Takes a Look at Masculine Mustache Madness
Trend Themes
1. Mustache Madness - Capitalizing on the ongoing trend of mustache madness can lead to disruptive innovation opportunities in the grooming and fashion industries.
2. Authentic Coolness - Embracing authentic coolness and creating intriguing experiences can provide disruptive innovation opportunities in the entertainment and lifestyle industries.
3. Never-ending Innovation - Encouraging a culture of constant innovation and change can lead to disruptive innovation opportunities in various industries, including technology and consumer goods.
Industry Implications
1. Grooming - The grooming industry can tap into the mustache madness trend to develop innovative products and services for facial hair grooming.
2. Fashion - The fashion industry can explore creative ways to incorporate mustache-themed designs and accessories into their collections, riding the wave of mustache madness.
3. Entertainment - In the entertainment industry, there is an opportunity to create authentic and intriguing content that appeals to the coolness factor sought by trend-savvy audiences.