Underconsumption Core Could Finally Be A Lifestyle Trend That’s Worth The Follow

Cottagecore, Cybercore, Barbiecore, Cluttercore, and more—the trendy kids and young adults have invented about a thousand “cores” to identify with since cores became a thing. Still, even with the vastly different aesthetics and lifestyles attached to each, one thing is true for all of them. They require you to spend on clothes, cosmetics, accessories, and sometimes even home ornaments to prove to the world how devoted you are to your chosen core.

Besides, how else are you supposed to earn likes, follows, and comments unless everyone knows you fully commit to a style by revamping your closet and makeup vanity on a regular basis, thus retiring perfectly good pieces of clothing and makeup for the sake of achieving a new look every time you shift cores? 

Such has been the trend for years, with Gen Z teens and young adults leading this buy-to-be-happy movement. As the first generation to have grown up on the Internet and therefore, been exposed to influencers and aggressive online marketing since childhood, they’re incredibly conscious about following trends lest they be called baduy and accused of being so last season. Younger Gen Zers and their parents who are reaching the pinnacle of their purchasing power that’s used to fulfill their kids’ desire to ride internet trends have created the perfect storm for core culture to emerge. 

It goes without saying that the worst consequences of core-obsessed folks are overspending and waste. Exploring changing fashion trends and enjoying new purchases aren’t inherently bad in themselves, however, the extremes to which people have gone to follow a core have certainly contributed to environmental problems and consumerism.

Enter, underconsumption-core. 

It’s the newest core to take over and surprisingly, we’re all for it. There is hope yet with older Gen Zers who are starting to mature as they inch towards 30 and start to veer away from the online people-pleasing they cared so much about in adolescence. Slowly but surely, they are starting to realize that constantly buying heaps of stuff you don’t need to live well isn’t just wasteful, and also totally unnecessary. Sustainability has once again entered the consciousness of youth, the same way it did for millennials and Gen Xers who grew up hearing about issues like carbon emissions, a thinning Ozone layer, animal habitat destruction, rapid industrialization, and our contribution to pollution. 

Underconsumption-core is the antithesis of the cores that have come before. It emphasizes the need to use things until the end of their lifespan. It’s all about using a pair of sneakers until their rubber soles detach, being happy with your water bottle despite it being a model from two years ago, and stitching the small hole in your bath towel because towels are certainly still useable even with tiny “damages” like this. 

Underconsumption-core is the antithesis of the cores that have come before. It emphasizes the need to use things until the end of their lifespan.

This movement also covers smart upcycling and creative use of existing items for new purposes. Think about our lolas and titas who used glass jars as flower vases, taking apart an old wooden cabinet so it can be remade into a floating bookshelf, or thrifting an eccentric stool and transforming it into a unique side table in your living room. 

Underconsumption-core is simply a fancy word for using things the way they were always meant to before the Internet convinced us we needed to invest in certain lifestyles and present ourselves in certain ways to be perceived as at the top of our game. It’s a call to return to basics and an invitation to redraw the thick line separating needs and wants.

Some of us are old enough to remember that in the past, wanting to treat ourselves to new things meant there was something big going on in our lives. Maybe we got a raise or a new job, it’s a birthday gift for ourselves, or perhaps it’s in preparation for moving to a new home. These days, it’s become so easy to give into wants, no thanks to the many online promotions and regular sales across a variety of shopping apps and websites. This kind of purchasing behavior has lost its association with celebrating special occasions and milestones and is now just about spending money because you can. 

Perhaps, it’s time to go back to the good old days of spending on things only because we need to. This isn’t to say that subscribing to underconsumption-core means never trying out new things on the market just because what we currently own still looks and functions well. Rather, we can practice underconsumption-core by buying things that will last and stand the test of time in terms of style and use. Clothes that are immune to passing trends are always a great choice. They stay in your cabinet longer while allowing you to look stylish for years.

Being more discerning with tech purchases can help, too. Choose phones and laptops that aren’t just the “in” brands of today but are known for their durability and ease of repair. Learn what quality over quantity means so you can make smarter purchases. Even if it means spending more today (those pair of leather loafers from a specialty store might be seven times the price of a department store dupe), factor in longevity. Buying cheap right now might mean you’ll have to spend on replacements twice or even thrice a year, so you may actually end up spending more in the long-run versus if you had opted for the sturdier option. 

It’s a great thing to see a less-is-more mindset being promoted. As more of us practice this and turn the trend into an actual life philosophy, we accomplish many positive things: save money, create less waste, become more practical, and to some degree, even support the brands and businesses that make it a point to create quality items made to last rather than sell us flimsy things for quick profit. 

In Manila, you can check out brands that create clothing from upcycled fabrics, sustainable style swapping brands, and sustainable fashion brands. You can also check out sustainable beauty brands to support now.

Despite core culture not going away any time soon, we’re hoping that some cores appeal more strongly to the right audiences more than others—underconsumption-core being one of them.