Crochet, once known for multicolored granny blankets, is now fashion’s hottest trend. From high-end boutiques to high street stores, crochet is everywhere in both womenswear and menswear.

Taylor Swift and her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, were recently seen in matching crochet outfits, sparking more interest in this trend. At Glastonbury, crochet bucket hats and skirts have replaced the usual baseball caps and denim cutoffs.

Reality TV stars, like those from Love Island, are favoring crochet bikinis, while men sport crochet polo shirts. Maya Jama, the host of Love Island, started this season in a white crochet mini dress, signaling the start of summer fashion.

On the online retailer Asos, the men’s section has over 200 crochet items, and the women’s section has over 1,000, with a red and white crop top being a top seller. John Lewis sold out of a £49 geometric short-sleeved crochet shirt. Depop, a platform for secondhand clothes, has seen a 32% increase in crochet searches since January.

Zak Maoui, the style director of Gentlemen’s Journal, notes that crochet has evolved from its 70s hippy roots to a more refined style. He cites Kelce’s cream outfit as an example of “neat and subtle” crochet. Sierra Ndagire, founder of Crolage, praises crochet for its individuality and uniqueness.

However, not all crochet items are genuine. Designer Ruth Herring points out that many cheap crochet items are actually machine-made using lace knitting or embroidery techniques. Authentic crochet, made by hand with a single hook and yarn, should be expensive due to the labor involved.

Mass retailers often sell crochet pieces for as little as £20, typically made from synthetic fibers like acrylic wool, which can be uncomfortable in the heat. Swift’s crochet dress from VRG GRL, costing £99, faced criticism for promoting low-cost handmade crochet. Yet, it also boosted the DIY crochet market, with many fans creating and sharing their own patterns.

Depop’s trends spokesperson, Agus Panzoni, says crochet appeals to those seeking unique, handmade items. Ndagire adds that fast-fashion crochet often poorly replicates designer pieces, lacking the craft and skill of handmade items.

Crochet’s rise in fashion shows a growing appreciation for handmade, artisanal pieces in a fast-paced, mass-produced world.

_{Re-reported from the article originally published in The Guardian}