One day, enamel pins were something you picked up at a flea market because it was vintage and ironic. You stuck it on your jacket and called it a day, forgetting it was there until someone commented on just how vintage and ironic it was. And the next day, they were all over Instagram.
While it didn’t exactly happen overnight, the pin emergence almost feels like it did. Who would have thought two years ago one of the biggest trends would be something that was popular with the senior crowd?
We sure didn’t.
Now you can’t scroll through Instagram without seeing someone rocking a pin. The best part is that they come in every single shape and size imaginable. Pins are a creative outlet that allow you to showcase what you love in a quirky, fun way. Big fan of pizza? You tell the world with a pin. Angry at the world? Give them a middle finger with a pin.
There’s even something for hardcore Kimye fans.
Enamel pins aren’t just trendy though; they mark the start of something a little different. While they certainly aren’t a new invention, the way they have been adopted by artists and independent retailers definitely speaks to how technology and social media is changing the way we shop and view fashion. Pins are cheap and easy to mass produce, making them an excellent product for artists to offer. Most pins are sold online exclusively through eCommerce shops, meaning that technology plays a sole role in getting them into the hands of consumers. Many pin makers and artists outsource their pin goods to boutiques (and Big Bud Press even struck a deal with Urban Outfitters), but the coolest and rarest of pins are often still sold online through Big Cartel or Etsy shops.
Even more innovative still, the pin trend didn’t start on the runway or across the racks at H&M. It started online, through social media. Suddenly it was beyond cool to Instagram your pin collection. Pins are cute, fun, and temporary. They can make a statement about your personal interests, whether it be food or pop culture. And it all started through people tagging each other on Instagram.
Now, retailers are starting to pick up on the trend. Zara not so subtly knocked off Tuesday Bassen’s lollipop pin and many fast fashion outlets are offering their own jackets covered in pins. But doesn’t that defeat the purpose? The fun of pins is curating your collection to suit your personal interests. Having someone select them for you seems like the opposite.
The #pingame trend only seems to be growing, with thousands of photos being added to the Instagram tag every day and new artists and retailers popping up with their own creations. We gotta say, as long as they stay this cute, we’ll keep posting them on social and buying them online.
Diana Pasgas is a writer and social media addict. She is kind of short and is often seen wearing red lipstick. A grey sweater enthusiastic, in her spare time she enjoys playing the ukulele and searching for a new brunch spot.
