Category
Life-Stages
Constructible Franchises
Trend cluster
Category
Stationery
Aesthetic
For back-to-school, brands are drawing product inspiration from stationery.
4.9
Trend score
Trend
What is the Stationery Aesthetic trend?
Stationery Aesthetic: As consumers gear up for returning to school, companies offer whimsical products that draw inspiration from stationery. These are mostly part of novelty collections that merely draw on the aesthetic of notebooks, pens, and the like, instead of actually serving as conventionally functioning stationery.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Stationery Aesthetic trend
Functionality trumps aesthetics for certain products, especially when said products are perceived to be disposable. For early Gen Zers, the personal brand takes precedence and it is strongly tied to the school environment. In the quest for accurate self-expression, many Gen Zers look for novelty products that will enable them to do so. In light of this, the industry presents a prosperous niche where disposable products can be used to inspire ones with a lengthier lifespan.
Trend themes
Themes within the Stationery Aesthetic trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Stationery Aesthetic
Companies are drawing product inspiration from stationery to cater to the personal brand and self-expression of early Gen Zers.
02
Nostalgic Collaboration
Collaborations that combine iconic products from different generations can capture the hearts of Millennial moms and their children alike.
03
Subtle Theme Incorporation
Incorporating subtle and timely themes into products, like back-to-school, can capture consumers anticipating the time of year again.
Industry implications
What the Stationery Aesthetic trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Beauty and Cosmetics
Innovation opportunities involve partnering with brands that cater to youth and inspiration for self-expression, or manufacturing products in collaboration with elementary school brands.
For
Pet Products
There's a niche opportunity to manufacture pet products that resemble popular school supplies as part of a diverse toy collection.
For
Footwear
Creating products that incorporate subtle and timely themes can appeal to consumers anticipating certain times of year and can be used during festive seasons.
Workshop question
How could your brand curate a product that allows consumers a path for self-expression?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Stationery Aesthetic
Trend score 4.9 out of 10, from popularity 69%, activity 70%, freshness 9%.
Popularity69%
Activity70%
Freshness9%
Audience
30%Men
70%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Stationery Aesthetic trend
5 featured examples from Jan 29, 2018 to Nov 15, 2019CategoryFashion
Back-to-School Cosmetic Collections
The Moschino x Sephora Collab Takes Cues from School Supplies
Embracing toy-inspired cosmetics and playful packaging concepts can disrupt the traditional cosmetics industry by targeting a younger consumer base and creating a unique brand ima…
CategoryFashion
Notebook-Inspired Sneakers
The Nike Tailwind IVs are the Ultimate Back-to-School Footwear
The sportswear industry can capitalize on the trend of creating footwear inspired by non-fashion items to diversify their product lines and attract new customers.
CategoryLifestyle
School-Themed Dog Toys
Zippy Paws' Back to School Toys are Shaped Like Crayons, Notebooks & More
Creating new markets for pet owners looking for engagement-based, interactive toy solutions like Zippy Paws.
CategoryFashion
Crayon-Inspired Lip Cosmetics
LiP SMACKER Created a Collection of Crayola Lip Balms and Glosses
The cosmetics industry can take advantage of the trend by developing crayon-inspired lip products that appeal to consumers' sense of nostalgia and offer a playful twist on traditi…
CategoryFashion
Crayon-Inspired Eyeshadow Palettes
The 'Box of Crayons iShadow Palette' Features 18 Shades
The cosmetics industry can take advantage of the colorful eyeshadow palette trend by designing innovative and playful makeup products that cater to a wide range of skin tones and…
