Everything happens in cycles, right? It all starts with one big thing – whether it be the invention of the first car or the iPhone. That BIG THING by definition is something so out-of-this-world that changes the way we do things – changes jobs (by making them obsolete or creating new ones), changes the way people socialize, the pace at which we do things, consumerism, etc.

Fashion Snoops Lifestyle really taps into the global economy and observes and suggests new trends and movements. Often times it is that THING that just does it. But right now what I’m feeling is that we’re on the brink of a technology meltdown. Who (including kids and teens) has time to check their MySpace/Facebook page, download new stuff to their iPod, create a Second life avatar, create their own Web 2.0 and have a real life? What if instead of changing to accommodate all the new techy stuff we went back to the time when cell phones were just phones?

What I’m suggesting is that everyone – especially kids – will get so burn out with today’s overwhelming advanced technology, that we will “shut off”. We will become interested in simplicity and gravitate towards low-tech activities and simple products.

There are already a number of indicators that touch on this. We’ve mentioned a number of them including – knitting circles and DIY books. There’s also Etsy and Threadless that bring craft to commerce. (See Brand Me). And did you hear about cloud appreciation societies?! But the point that I’m trying to reach is that it’s not just self-promotion with old-fashioned crafts. I’m looking at it in the perspective that this entire craft craze is a part of a greater rebellion against technology. If we want to escape technology, what do we do? It’s not that difficult! Just look at what our grandparents and great grandparents did! What now may seem like simple hobbies – reading, baking, sewing, drawing, riding a bike, playing chess, may become the next cool thing to do. And kids? How about a game of red rover, red light green light, jump rope, Simon says, skipping stones, flashlight tag? And socializing! How about meeting people in real life instead of online! What a concept!

Another idea is to reference old-fashioned practices through modern advancements. If you take eBay for example, the basic concept is an auction or exchange of goods. And now we are seeing a return to real-life auctions and clothing swaps. If you look at virtually any popular advancement you will be able to find a core principle behind it and trace it back to its roots. That’s something that is worth looking into and revisiting.

Ok. A great majority of the things I mention are hobby driven and let’s face it, we’ll never completely go back to an absolute simple life. However there will come a time when we’ll want to remove ourselves from multimedia in some ways. Commercially I think we’re already seeing it from brands like Nike and American Apparel with back-to-basic designs (some with retro influence) and packaging. My point is this – the nostalgia of looking at a product that serves 7 different functions has worn off. Consumers will realize this at some point, and eventually, referencing bits and pieces of the past (be it old-skool hobbies or retro packaging) will influence mainstream culture.