Yahoo finance posted an article in 2013 on old fashioned hobbies. Apparently an increasing amount of people are taking classes in your grandparents hobbies. Some of these hobbies include Urban beekeeping, butterfly mounting, taxidermy, and printing and bookbinding classes. They’ve found that the group taken part in these classes are none other than hipsters. Due to this Craft and Hobby industries have gained a new found customer base. If you think it wouldn’t be that much, then you’re dead wrong. They’ve estimated $30.2 billion in revenue.
This article shows us that Hipsters are doing what they do best, standing out. The writer, Katrina Biship, finds that hipsters are partaking in “skills to stand out from the crowd.” I’ve found in my research that this is a common hobbie for hipsters. To stand out they do the unexpected, even if its extraordinarily weird.
Originally, investors believed that hipsters would grow bored of the taxidermy classes and bookbinding. They believed that it would only last for around 6 months. However, after 4 years they’ve found that the market has only increased. In fact, people from all over the world are flying to urban cities just to embark on these classes. Think about that. Taxidermy classes sold out for days. That’s some serious dedication. They’ve even seen honey tastings in New York! The people who partake in urban beekeeping supposedly get together and brag about their honey.
Honestly, I want to say i’m surprised, but I can’t. Hipsters have always sought out old interests and hobbies. The beekeeping appears to be an appropriation of farming culture. Bookbinding and taxidermy both seem like hobbies taken from the 19th century that Hipsters have an urge to bring back.
Another part of the article is dedicated to Hipsters embracing local goods instead of giving in to the capitalist system. By making their own goods, like soap-making, crafters actually save on money. They don’t have to go to the store anymore to buy their soaps, and by making it they know exactly what they’re putting on their skin. They can also sell their products locally, at an inflated price. People who buy goods handmade instead of factory made usually pay more for their soap. These Hipsters are actually making a pretty penny in big cities by selling their homegrown products. “If most people around you are buying mass-produced consumer goods from retail stores, then producing goods at home is a good strategy for constructing your self-identity as unique and counter-cultural.”
The writer of this article brings up an excellent point however. These hobbies take up a lot of time and they are by no means easy. These are crafts. Unlike back in the day, people can’t live off of these hobbies for an extended period of time. They suck up an large amount of your time and they take serious patience. But what could be a reason for wasting so much precious time on tedious hobbies. Maybe its a way for these Hipsters to rebel against this obsession everyone has with technology.