Trends: Global to Local

History doesn't repeat itself, but it always rhymes. Similarly, trends are cyclical and always come back. Thanks to globalisation, trends from far and wide make their way into Singapore and influence the way we think and see the things around us. It also influences our creation. Thus by looking at trends, we can see how globalisation really changes the world we live in. These photos are all parts that make up a whole, products of globalisation in Singapore.

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My Two Cents

The trends listed here are just a few examples from a variety of categories to showcase the far-reaching influence that global trends often have, impacting the way we dress, eat and think. These trends may not necessarily, but often do, come from overseas and can spread very quickly across entires regions of the globe. They impact not just Singapore but the the whole world, thanks to the globalised nature of the world we live in.

In the context of trends, I do believe that globalisation is good since it brings fresh ideas to Singapore, adding layers and meaning to our already diverse society, as well as introducing new things into our lives that we never knew we needed. More often than nought, these trends shape the very society we live in, be it making us as a community more health conscious or fuelling our everlasting search for good eats.

Thus, the use of global trends as a theme has allowed me to display the impacts of globalisation and cultural diffusion which exist in our society. Without globalisation, Singapore might have become a very different place than it is now.

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Returning to watching the type of food we eat, rice is a staple in many parts of the world. We often go home looking forward to a steaming bowl of white rice. However, white rice has, in recent years, gained a bad reputation for causing diabetes due to it being high on the glycemic index which can cause spikes in blood sugar levels and its low fibre content where fibre helps prevent diabetes. Thus many have switched to healthier alternatives such as brown and red rice with many going for mixed rice blends such as this one. In the search for healthier foods, rice blends and alternatives to white rice have gained popularity and become a health trend of its own.

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Healthy eating isn't just about the quality or safety of the food but also the type of food you eat. Chia seeds have become immensely popular in the world of health. Boasting natural slimming properties, chia seeds are high in fibre and protein but low in fat. It is this soluble fibre which absorbs water and can fill one up quickly, preventing consumers from overeating and slowing the absorption of food which keeps people full for longer periods of time. Chia seeds have been incorporated in many snacks and drinks and can be found especially in breakfast foods such as smoothies and is often used as a topping for yoghurts and cereals. This is just an example with many other kinds of superfoods. This superfoods health trend is one few in the world have not heard of due to its popularity, making it a global trend.

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Aside from hydroculture, home grown gardens are gaining popularity, especially in high rise buildings which do not have yards. The main driver behind home grown vegetables however is fear for health rather than the environment where in recent years, many reports of fake food, pesticides or GMO food have surfaced and frightened many people. To avoid these health-harming foods, many have resorted to growing a portion of their diets in their own homes and balconies. Whole communities on social media dedicated to home gardens have been set up where people can share ideas or photos of their produce or even ask for advice. This is thus a fast growing health trend that might just hold the key to solving food shortages in the foreseeable future.

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Talking about the climate and environment, we have to talk about agriculture. Hydroponics have been dubbed as the future of agriculture. Using less energy, space and time, we can now grow vegetables without soil and even from the comfort of our homes. Hydroponic gardening is the growing of vegetables and plants in water and has been proven to have less pests and resultantly less pesticides that traditional soil grown crops. Furthermore, by not using soil, this method of farming also prevents denitrifying and other damage to soil caused by traditional farming methods. Thus hydroculture is gaining popularity as a method to mass produce food in the future when we will have less space for agriculture but more people to feed. This is also a growing trend among amateur gardeners with classes being held solely for the teaching of hydroculture and groups of people coming together on social media to help each other grow as hydroponic gardeners. Its growing popularity definitely makes this a global trend.

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Now that we've mentioned technology, we have to recognise that technology will play an important part in both contributing to and reversing climate change. It's role is ever-changing but we have other ways of saving the earth. Recycling isn’t a new idea. In fact it caught on in 1970 after the first Earth Day. However, it has been gaining increasing momentum as more and more people around the world realise the importance of protecting the environment. By following the 3 Rs, people have begun to cut down on waste with straw-free and zero-waste movements and doubling their recycling efforts. Recycling has seen a lot of mainstream support through proper processes, infrastructure and culture mainly in Western countries but also in places such as Taiwan. These countries encourage recycling by providing services which increase the convenience of recycling and this trend is beginning to catch on in places such as Singapore where recycling is not ingrained in Singaporeans from a young age. Recycling is indeed an important global trend that should be supported and encouraged.

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A while back, smart watches became a very trendy accessory to have. The best combination of both hard and software, their ability to be customised in their watch faces and watch bands provided infinite colour combinations and styles to suit their wearer to a tea. Simply changing the band could turn a sporty watch into one ready for an important meeting or even a gala dinner. The appeal lies not just in its appearance but its practicality as well. It does more than a traditional watch could dream of doing, from streaming music to tracking exercise activity to even being a walkie talkie and being able to remotely take a picture using your phone’s camera, these smart watches opened a new world of possibilities for the tech world and quickly caught on. Smart watches were in fact so popular that even traditionally non-tech companies such as Michael Kors developed their own smart watches. This trend isn’t just a fad, its an opportunity in a phenomenon, which makes it a global trend.

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But what's more important than the hardware and design? The software and services! Streaming, the trend that put CDs and rental shops out of business. This is one of the most far-reaching trends in all of history where few Singaporeans or people in the world would have not heard at one point of Spotify. Streaming doesn’t just include music services such as Spotify and Apple Music, it encompasses media services as well, such as Viu for Kdrama, Netflix for movies and TV series’ and the most popular, YouTube! These services have become important aspects of our everyday which we depend on for entertainment. Its undeniable presence in our everyday earns it a place in the most important global trends.

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Technology is just like fashion and can range from practical to purely aesthetic. Really kicking off in 2017, bezel-less technology is one of the most consequential tech trends in recent history, simply because it has found it’s way into the design of almost every single piece of tech on the market right now, most commonly having influenced all modern smartphone designs. This design has also spilled over (much like its screen design) to monitors, TVs, tablets and all sorts of other gadgets in the tech world. The ultimate goal still remains, however, which is to create a device that simply looks like a piece of glass. This trend’s importance in driving design in technology earns it its place as an important global trend.

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Speaking of fashion in practicality, one simply cannot bring up fashion without talking about denim. Originally meant as durable workwear for miners, its popularity is as enduring as the material itself, styling icons such as Marvin Gaye and more recently Taylor Swift among others. From jeans to jorts to jackets and even overalls, denim is one of the most popular and continuous fashion trends in the world. It can be used in casual, smart and even formal attire if done right which is perhaps where the appeal lies. Recently, the denim jacket has been making yet another comeback as stylish and casual workwear and the material's durability and flexibility such that it can be turned into any form of apparel makes it a staple in every person’s closet and is thus an excellent example of a global trend. 

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Another shoe has been hitting markets hard and making a comeback. Unlike the more recent Ultraboosts, High Cut canvas shoes, popular in the 80s and 90s, have been around for a long time and are now back stronger than ever, with their iconic and timeless informality. Unlike Chanel, brand names like Adidas and Converse favour practical fashion and the average Joe while not sacrificing style.

Returning to the cyclical nature of trends, these shoes are the prime example of global trends with brands like Converse All Star and Vans: Off The Wall leading the charge. A new wave of rebellious 90s teen fashion is sweeping the globe and inspiring not just teens but adults as well. It is safe to say that canvas shoes are a global trend that is here to stay.

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While Adidas is, like Chanel, an incredibly large brand, they aren’t as well known for trends or even fashion. That is why when Adidas Ultraboosts, one of the most popular shoes in the world in recent years, made its way into the homes of many Singaporeans, particularly the young, it came as a huge surprise. 

Ultraboosts only really caught on when Kanye West performed in them, after which they caught on like wild fire, reaching all corners of the earth almost instantaneously. Ultraboosts are the perfect example of how globalisation affects trends and if done properly, can become phenomenon. Publicity only steamrolled from there with thousands of pictures flooding social media with ‘Their brand new Ultraboosts’, inspiring others to jump on the bandwagon too. These shoes are now indeed a global fashion trend and icon.

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“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different”. ~ Coco Chanel

On one hand, we have flash trends, similar to flash mobs which come en masse and disappear as quickly. On the other, we have evergreen trends that are always fresh and seasonal. Fashion is the perfect example of evergreen trends, especially true for the biggest names in the game such as Chanel. Fashion brands like Chanel cater specifically to very niche communities around the world, favouring looks over practicality.

Chanel is on the leading edge of fashion trends and is the largest fashion brand in the world with an impressive 7 stores across Singapore. In the Chanel S/S 2019 Couture Show, Chanel introduced the latest fashion trends for the year, filling the Villa Chanel in France with Pastels, Feathers, Stilettos and Leather Jackets, trends that caught on quickly in the fashion world. Thanks to its incredible influence and diverse audience, Chanel always comes out as one of the top trendsetter brands in the world and its fashion is always a global trend.

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Salted Egg Yolk anything is dangerously addictive! Like bubble tea, salted egg yolks have been around for a while and only recently started trending again. Once a relatively uncommon food to find in dishes, salted egg yolks have made their way into the hearts of Singaporeans and people all over the world. From fries and fried fish skins to Michelin star food, salted egg yolks was one of the fastest growing food trends in recent years and it’s still going strong. Many stores such as Irvins which originally sold salted egg yolk crabs began putting salted egg yolks on chips and fried fish skins, ultimately creating something dangerously addictive. Having broken out of its traditional shell of mooncakes and pastries, salted egg yolks have become a perfect example of a global trend that has caught on both in and out of Asia! 

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Bubble Tea is not just a trend, it is a trendsetter. The Bubble Tea craze has given rise to new creations such as Brown Sugar Fresh Milk (As seen above), Bubble Tea Toast, Milk Tea Ice Cream and even Bubble Tea Pizzas. In fact, Bubble Tea isn’t even a trend anymore. It has become a staple of Singaporean culture. Going back to how trends are cyclical, Bubble Tea has actually been around for almost 3 decades but only recently started to get popular again. Originating from Taiwan, Bubble Tea is the perfect example of a global trend, not just in Singapore but across the world.