Micro-Trends Are Not For Your Brand
To strive in today’s competitive market, keeping up with emerging trends is crucial. Social platforms are flooded with countless trends each day, from ‘old money’ and ‘clean girl aesthetic’ to ‘balletcore’. Yet only a few endure.
While established trends can last for months, years, or even decades, micro-trends are brief phenomena, often born from the fast-paced social media. These are trends that gain quick attention but are equally quickly forgotten, designed not to last but for momentary intrigue.
While every business owner hopes for their brands to go viral, many believe the key lies in aligning with current trends, building their entire brand identity on a fleeting micro-trend. This allure often blinds one from the need to assess the longevity of a trend, and the risk that the micro-trend could lead to the brand’s downfall.
Mismatch of Brand & Trend
Seduced by the seemingly promising potential of trends, a common pitfall is neglecting the incompatibility of the trend and offering. Prioritising the trend, business owners often fail to measure whether the trend amplifies the appeal of their products or the exact opposite.
Imagine a bakery set to convey the warmth of homemade pastries adopts a futuristic brand identity with a heavy use of silver and holographics. The juxtaposition risks causing a feeling of detachment in customers. The contrast between the brand's aesthetic and its core offering generates confusion. When customers struggle to grasp a brand’s narrative and identity, its ability to leave a lasting impression is in doubt.
The Precarious Risk of Micro-trend
Despite the buzz at the beginning, the lifespan of a micro-trend is indefinite. Building a brand narrative on such a momentary phenomenon is like building a house on a perilous cliff: with an unstable foundation, the collapse of the trend can bring down the entire business. As public interest dwindles, the target audience shrinks, and the narrative’s resonance diminishes significantly. When a brand’s story no longer connects with its audience, the brand would not last.
With brands constantly becoming out of date, timeless branding is the path to keep a brand relevant. Rather than chasing social media trends and the public’s short-lived attention, brands should prioritise genuine branding that is tailored to their unique story and offerings.
Integration of Timelessness & Trend
Transforming a business idea into a tangible experience is never an easy job, requiring countless careful considerations behind it. From branding to physical space, every element should embody the brand’s story, amplifying its products and services. Timelessness doesn't mean it can’t be trendy; a brand can be Instagram-worthy and current while being more than that. It’s about layering trends on a foundation of timeless elements: a compelling and persuasive narrative, and, most importantly, authenticity to the brand’s core values.
At House of Forme, we are dedicated to crafting brands that endure, and designing spaces with a story to tell. We partner with businesses to thrive in today’s competitive market, helping them realize brand potential they never thought possible. If you are seeking to visualise your ideas and transform them into reality, schedule a free consultation to explore how we can elevate your brand. Subscribe for more exclusive insights!
