The Goop-ification of wellness is on the way out (you can thank Gen Z)

The last decade saw a boom in the health and wellness market, and we’re beginning to see that consumer demand trickle into the attention economy.

Related to mental health, young people are exhausted by the internet’s constant connectivity and comparison. Whereas Millennials grew up performing online—curated Insta grids, LinkedIn job announcements (“Some exciting personal news!”), the rise of the personal brand—Gen Zs eschew performance for authenticity. It’s the shift from Kylie Jenner (aspi... See more

In a sense, this is another manifestation of “Power to the People.” While often viewed through the lens of socio-political or -economic strife, this flock toward the excessive and extravagant is a push against another type of commercialized institutionalism:  wellness .

From seductive night luxe, to innocent kidcore, it’s as

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Authenticity has expanded to the point that people don’t even believe in it anymore. And why should we?

A Generation-Z-focused trend report I read last year clumsily posed that “the concept of authenticity is increasingly deemed inauthentic.” It goes further than that. What we are witnessing is the disappearance of authenticity as a cultural need a... See more

One of the ironies of Gen Z’s passion for climate advocacy is Gen Z’s simultaneous love for fast fashion. Namely, the rise of SHEIN sits in stark contrast to professed values. But consumers will always value convenience and affordability above all. An offshoot of fast fashion’s popularity is that overstock and secondhand are major categories for su... See more

Brands need to rethink how to serve the new consumers of this not so new generation; marketers should innovate in the ways to reach them; and investors must keep in mind the latest consumer trends driven by Gen Z’s new norms. Young people have a tremendous influence on all other generations and in the ways these older people consume.