Perhaps nothing has been more detrimental to the reputation of crochet than Coachella. For about a decade, the time-honored technique felt like something to avoid—if not deride—thanks to an annual festival season's worth of boho-gone-bad outfits.
Today's emphasis on craft goes deeper emotionally than a straightforward fashion trend cycle. Pre-pandemic, I sat through a presentation from a forecaster that pointed to a movement toward futurism on the runway—fabrics that are manufactured in a lab and look like it. Dresses that turn women into robot versions of themselves, sculptural and interesting but barely recognizable. That forecaster could have never seen what was coming.
At its best, the crochet trend honors a long history. The craft originated from Chinese needlework before being introduced and reinterpreted in places like Northern Africa, Turkey, India, and beyond."Working within the vernacular of crochet made in Jamaica, I often start with starched crochet that is typically seen in the context of home goods. … I found that in that starching process, the hand and drape of the yarn changed completely.
Crochet could also be found in the collections of Chloé, spearheaded by Gabriela Hearst, as well as in the designer's namesake collection, where it appeared on a smart spring leather trench that sold out online in a flash. Last summer'scontinues to reign on social media and beyond.
But don't take it all too seriously; you can also wear any one of these looks to your nearest beach—or ahem, even Coachella. Pick up one of the crochet pieces below, schedule some time back in nature, and add your favorite sandals.