What We Learnt From Bored Creatives During Lockdown

We explore what the UK creatives filled their time with during lockdown - from making garments and TikToks to photoshoots and online classes. Written by Rae, Images via Twitter (@salemmitchell).

Images via Twitter (@salammitchell) depicting the projector photoshoot trend.

Even during uncertain times, creatives still find a way to keep us busy and entertained, using this crazy situation to advance their skills and explore new media. Many utilised the TikTok app, showing us how to recreate these short projects step by step; fashion TikTok saw many new trends, there was also a massive increase in haul and try-on content, showing us that these creative consumers are using online shopping to continue normality through fashion identity. There had also been a massive boost in upcycling fashion videos, with the pandemic offering these creatives some spare time to explore the re-commerce, sustainable side of fashion more than ever. Personal favourites for us at Blur. included the embroidery trend, sock-sewn tops, homemade ethical tie-dye, earring-making and the infamous bacci-pouch bag. This online platform has plenty of flaws but does well in introducing fashion to a new audience, while making these creative ideas accessible to the masses.

Young creatives also gave us some tips and tricks on how to impress the 'Gram with new photoshoot ideas and youth culture trends; the mirror-in-your-garden photoshoots reached everyone and their mums, being a massive trend throughout lockdown. These also typically came alongside trendy, visually pleasing TikTok videos which many explored through lockdown with the rise of Cottagecore. We also saw a spike in home photoshoots, with some using backdrops found around the home and self-timer cameras, as well as others, joining in with FaceTime photoshoots. Our all-time favourite, however, had to have been the projector photoshoots, specifically Salem Mitchell’s, also shown often via TikTok and Twitter.

Business-minded creatives, don’t worry we haven’t forgotten about you! Some creatives took up online classes and became entrepreneurial during lockdown, sharing their recommendations through social media; with the fashion industry being quicker to respond to Covid-19 than our own government, those in industry had plenty of free online access to classes, ted talks and content in a range of areas. With Sarabande Foundation, Business of Fashion, Fashion Monitor and many other institutions contributing to accessible knowledge for all. As well as online classes, many creatives committed to building their own businesses this lockdown, from working freelance and selling or commissioning their art, to creating a Depop shop, or even an Only Fans account.

Yes, we enjoyed our beds this lockdown, but bored creatives have allowed us to get arty, and chase this bag, baby.

Sources: https://twitter.com/salemmitchell